Fischer: New inline measuring device for metal concentration in electroplating baths

Electroplating baths are subject to process fluctuations that have a considerable influence on the deposition behavior and the resulting coating thickness. This is precisely where the measurement technology specialist Helmut Fischer comes in. The new inline measuring device Fischerscope XAN Liquid Analyzer is based on the X-ray fluorescence method (XRF) and enables fully automatic as well as continuous analysis of the metal concentration of up to four electroplating baths. The precision here is unique on the market. The heart of the Fischerscope XAN Liquid Analyzer is the sophisticated and patented flow cell. This does not need to be changed, which is a clear advantage over other systems. Thanks to its innovative design and choice of materials, the low-maintenance inline measuring device impresses with a high availability of around one year. Thanks to fully automatic, preventive flushing, monitoring and calibration processes, contamination is prevented and maximum operating times are achieved.

"With the Fischerscope XAN Liquid Analyzer, we are setting new standards in XRF-based process control for the electroplating industry. Customers can now monitor their baths continuously and reliably without having to rely on wet chemical analysis or manual spot checks. This not only saves time and money, but also contributes to the sustainable use of consumables - and significantly improves the quality and safety of coatings," explains Dr. Martin Leibfritz, CEO of the Helmut Fischer Group. It doesn't matter whether it's zinc, nickel, zinc/nickel, gold, chromium, palladium, rhodium or other solutions. The measurement results are provided and documented in real time so that they can be used for bath control without any detours. The new device with intuitive touch display can be used as a simple inline measuring device as well as a complex multi-channel inline measuring system with full integration into a local production control system (MES). It has a fieldbus interface that enables connection to higher-level control systems. All this and many other clever features ensure higher process reliability, better coating quality and reduced costs in the industry as of now. Thus, the new Fischerscope XAN Liquid Analyzer is the perfect complement for the market-leading Fischerscope X-RAY benchtop instruments, with which the layers of the components can be measured with high precision after treatment in the bath.