Industrial robots provide a safe, cost-effective alternative to manual drossing.
Steel is galvanized by dipping it into a bath of molten zinc. This process causes solid impurities (metal oxide) called dross to form at the surface of the bath. Dross-skimming is the a metal oxide removal method.
When handled manually, drossing can be a tedious and dangerous job. Robotic drossing, on the other hand, offers some serious advantages:
Stay Safe with Robotic Drossing:
Manual dross-skimming can be very hazardous to workers. The zinc bath is kept at an average of 860 degrees Fahrenheit and the area surrounding the bath can reach temperatures of 100 degrees Fahrenheit and above. There is always the danger of burns, so workers wear protective clothing. This protective gear in turn makes the job even more taxing and warm. The reaching and lifting required with manual skimming can be straining and labor-intensive.
Robotic drossing provides a safe alternative. Robots can withstand high temperatures and splashes of molten zinc. Instead of tiring and endangering 
workers, robots work consistently without wearying.
Robotic Drossing Conserves Material
Because manual drossing is so dangerous and so taxing on workers, consistency can be difficult to achieve. Zinc can be unnecessarily wasted. At the same time, product can be marred when the zinc bath isn't thoroughly skimmed. When this happens, metal oxide often adheres to the steel, streaking and marring the finish.
With industrial robots handling the dross-skimming, material can be conserved and the process is consistent. The robot will always remove dross at the same rate.
RobotWorx offers a variety of new and used robots suitable for robotic drossing. Examples include the Nachi SA series as well as many Fanuc models such as the M-710i model.
Looking for a robotic drossing solution? Contact RobotWorx at 740-251-4312 for more information.
