Sunnen and ANS Enter Joint Agreement

Sunnen Products Company (St. Louis, MO) and Applied Nano Surfaces AB (ANS; Uppsala, Sweden) have entered into a joint market development agreement to advance technology and applications based on the unique Triboconditioning® process recently patented by ANS. The process reduces friction and wear on various steel and cast iron surfaces while improving surface finish, preventing seizures, and enhancing product life.

“ANS is on the leading edge of friction reduction technology,” said Chris Miltenberger, the president and chief executive officer of Sunnen. “We are excited about working with them on the development of new products and surface finishing methods which will bring unique solutions to all segments of the manufacturing industry.”

Triboconditioning is a combined mechano-chemical surface treatment process which uses a machining procedure to level off surface peaks and apply a friction- and wear-reducing compound to the component surface. Unlike spray coatings, the compound becomes an integrated part of the component structure at a nano level. The process is mechanically simple and, in most cases, can be done with Sunnen precision honing equipment. It is very cost-efficient in mass production environments, making it perfect for in-house manufacturing as a part of component manufacturers’ production lines.

Key applications include automotive engine components such as valve train parts, cylinder liners, crankshafts and connecting rods, as well as industrial applications such as hydraulic motors, rock drills, pumps, chains, gears and compressors.

“We are looking forward to combining our knowledge of friction reducing technology with their expertise in surface finishing,” said Christian Kolar, the chief executive officer of ANS. “The solutions under development have the potential to be a real game-changer in component efficiency and product lifetime.”

www.sunnen.com