News & Events

A large equipment manufacturer was struggling to trace masking issues through their paint line. They asked CFS if we would be able to produce kit die cuts with QR codes that could be scanned at each step in the paint process. With our new Domino printer installed on the Delta Modtech - this was not an issue! 

For this die cut 3M 401+ Crepe tape was used. First step is to print the QR codes on the tape. Next, the tape runs though the rotary die where it is cut and laminated to the clear liner in one step then the liner is through cut to product sheets. The Delta has the ability to stack those individual sheeted die cut kits in pre-set quantities for easy and accurate packaging. 

Read more about variable data printing...

Q. We are having issues with plug loss and leakage during coating. Rework is expensive – how can we mitigate this?

A. Excellent question! There are many factors that influence plug loss or leakage. Here are some recommendations for avoiding plug loss, leakage and rework.

Use the correct plug size
Incorrect plug size selection issues are surprisingly common, especially when manufacturers only convey hole or thread sizes to the purchasing department. In immersion or heat cycles, building pressure can trap large air pockets. If you do not select plugs with this problem in mind, a “perfect fit” on paper may be the wrong choice, and a slightly oversized option may prove better. Alternatively, if a...

Below is an excerpt from a featured article written for pfonline.com. Read the entire editorial HERE.

What differentiates CFS as a masking products supplier is the extent to which work with finishers on finding solutions to process problems. Masks generally fail due to inappropriate application, poor sizing or excessive wear. For these cases the solution is often simply finding a better standard product for the job. But there are other cases where solving a root masking problem requires developing a custom solution.  In either case it requires broad knowledge about masking products...

Our customers love the convenience of having 24/7 access to their account at CFS. Orders can be placed when it's convenient for YOU and are processed within 1 business day. A Fast Track account is an extension of your in-house account. While you can certainly order online with CFS as a guest, getting set up with a Fast Track account has many advantages and it is FREE to our customers:

Order on Account – CFS customers that have terms may place their orders with us online using the same terms as if a PO was submitted with a representative directly.

View Negotiated Pricing – For our customers with deviated pricing, your Fast Track account will automatically have that linked online for all sta...

Q – We use silicone masking caps and plugs in our powder coating line. After a few uses the paint builds up and begins to flake off during the subsequent wash cycles, contaminating the finish. How can we clean these to get the most use out of them?

A – This is a common question we receive. The answer is not as straightforward as it may seem. Just because you can clean them, should you? Let’s explore this a bit.

First, we never recommend chemically stripping masking materials. Depending on the cleaning agent used, it could damage or alter the mask – potentially changing its fit and, ultimately, effectiveness. Additionally, we have seen that if those cleaning agents are not...

With the explosive growth in Medical Wearables, clean room die cutting services are highly sought after. There are a some very large converters who handle the vast majority of the extreme volume products (like bandaids, anti-snore strips, etc). Few medical tape converters handle smaller volume runs. Long known as a converter with the capability to handle the toughest tape converting issues with short lead times , the addition of a clean room at CFS seemed like a natural extension of our capabilities. CFS received ISO 14644-1:2015 Class 7 Cleanroom certification of our 800+ sq. ft clean room in July 2020. 

In December 2017, a Delta ModTech...

Long known for our ability to convert non-metallic materials, producing the materials for the shields is not out of the ordinary. On any given day you can find foam being cut on our flash machines or plastic sheeting being punched or die-cut. However, this project holds special significance. As the PPE shortage became apparent, CFS decided to step up and help.

"We felt an intense desire to give back," commented Henry Asik, VP of CFS. He describes how producing masks and donating them to our local hospitals was the most immediate way he felt CFS could help our community.

In a matter of a few days, the design was created and approved. Raw materials including the shielding plastic, foam, and elastic were procured and delivered...

Chromic acid anodization (CAA) is the one of the oldest and most widely used processes in the aerospace and metal finishing industries. Type I Chromic Acid Anodizing is an electrochemical process that creates a thin aluminum oxide film by rapidly controlling the oxidation of an aluminum surface. The resulting aluminum oxide film is electrically non-conductive. CAA produces a thinner film than Type II and Type III Anodizing (hard coat) and produces enhanced drawing and forming characteristics and is often is used for flight-critical aluminum components that are subjected to high stresses.

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Masking caps and plugs need to fit properly in order to work as anticipated. Part III dives into what happens if those aren't quite right.

A new vehicle cab rolls down an e-coat line with 65 threaded holes which needed to be masked. A call is placed by a purchasing agent to a supplier that sells masking plugs. The size of the holes is relayed to the supplier who sends a variety of masking solutions for the holes in each part. Sounds simple right?

Not so fast… CFS was invited to evaluate why the current supplier’s plugs had failed - causing extensive tapping of all threaded holes after being coated. We quickly determined that the masking did not fit properly. Some were too small, others too big. The original supplier did not...

In Part I we discussed how masking can fail as the part surpasses it's life cycle. In Part II we will discuss what happens when the mask is not the correct one for the process being used. 

Often when our team members are on-site with large customers, we are presented with opportunities in new departments or on different production lines. We hear “it’s what we had on hand and it worked…kinda”. Sometimes having masking experts take a look can be a game changer.

For a recent customer, we saw a very cumbersome, mechanical masking solution being utilized. It required a bit of finessing to insert, the use of an impact wrench to apply and a tremendous amount of torque for it to expand and fill the void. Unfortunately, this pr...