BPW axles and wheel hubs are passed through a modern KTL cathodic electro-dip process, a surface treatment which significantly protects the equipment against corrosion.
BPW uses a zinc phosphate cathodic treatment - rather than the alternative iron-phosphate treatment - because zinc provides five times better corrosion protection.
Axles and running gear parts are fed into the process, which starts with a cleaning and priming procedure before the components are immersed in the 35 cubic metre cathodic electro-dipcoat immersion tanks.
The process takes around 4 hours to complete.
This treatment provides: -
- At least five times more anti-corrosion protection than the conventional priming processes used.
- Increased resistance to the impact of stones and grit, to temperature and chemicals, as well as brake fluid and fuel.
- BPW axles passed the 504 hours salt-spray tests without damage. To simulate the same conditions as the salt spray tests a trailer would need to be parked in the North Sea for several weeks.
