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Meet
ETL: Your headquarters for innovation
Metal coaters
worldwide are recognizing the benefits of a relationship with Electroplating
Technologies, Ltd., in growing numbers. Thats because ETL possesses
world class, state-of-the-art technology related to electroplating of
sheet and/or strip substrate materials, which can be implemented in
"greenfield" operations (i.e. new process lines) or retrofitted
at low cost into existing facilities.
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| Pennsylvania
Governor Tom Ridge with James L. Forand, President and CEO of ETL
in San Paulo, Brazil during a state trade mission to Argentina,
Brazil and Chile in December 2000. |
Technology
for efficiency
Our primary focus is on methods and apparatus related to electrochemical
processing and the means of significantly improving the efficiency and
profit of such processing. While most of ETL's R&D work has been directed
toward the electroplating of continuous reel-to-reel sheet metal in coil
form, the company has expended significant effort on enhancing other electrochemical
processes as wellincluding, but not limited to, electrochemical
cleaning, anodizing, electrolytic pickling, and commercial gas generation.
In fact, ETL's proprietary and patented technology has doubled
and even tripled the rate and efficiency of such electrochemical
processes. A few of our achievements: tripling the deposition rate in
sheet and strip plating processes, doubling the cleaning rate in electrochemical
cleaning, and doubling the process rate of anodizing.
We have
developed two main method and apparatus technologies: ElectroJet®
and HydroJet. Both processes "sweep away" the barrier
layer commonly found in electrochemical processes. That is, the barrier
layer made up of such items as gas bubbles, thermally overheated zones,
and micro-ion depletion layers is wiped off the surface of the electrodes
(i.e. the anode and/or cathode).
Expert
knowledge
Author of numerous published papers and 15 U.S. patents and numerous
foreign patents as well, ETL president and CEO James L. Forand offers
over 40 years of experience in the metals industry. Prior to forming
ETL, Mr. Forand was the CEO and board member of several companies, including
Bethlehem International Engineering Company (BIEC, the international
engineering/intellectual property subsidiary of Bethlehem Steel Corp.),
BIEC International Inc., and ASCP Pacific Inc. (both subsidiaries of
BHP Australia).
To complement
his knowledge, ETLs Advisory Board is comprised of Mr. Angelo R. Borzillo, world renowned
expert in the field of coated sheet metal products and co-inventor of
Galvalume® sheet steel, the world's fastest-growing sheet
steel product; and Mr. Vincent Dieter, owner and president of Lehigh
Machine Company, which performs machining, welding and fabrication services
for its customers.
ETL also
has strategic business alliances with some of the worlds largest
metals companies and electronic materials companies.
ETLs
clients and reach
ETL owns and controls several U.S. Patents as well as foreign patents
(including numerous pending patents) related to the subject matter described
above. We have a number of licensees in the United States and abroad,
only three of which have been made public by the licensees. These include:
- Apollo
Metals, Ltd. (AML) (part of Corus International Group), of Bethlehem,
Pennsylvania
- Armco
do Brasil S.A. (ABSA), of San Paulo
- Precision
Plating Company, INC. (PPC) of Chicago, Illinois
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| ETL
was invited to participate in the Pennsylvania Tradel Mission to
Hong Kong in 1999. Mr. Forand is pictured with Jimmy Kwak, Managing
Director of Rambo Chemicals (H.K) Ltd. |
The first
two companies mentioned above produce and sell "specialty coated
ferrous sheet metal products," such as copper-plated, nickel-plated,
nickel/chromium-plated, brass-plated, and zinc-plated sheet steel, which
are used for a myriad of functional and decorative applications. For example,
nickel/chromium-coated sheet steel is used in the manufacture of kitchen
appliances such as toasters, toaster ovens, and coffee makers. Brass-plated
sheet steel is used for outdoor lighting fixtures and supplies, trophy
plaques, and decorative trim.
PPC and
other ETL licensees produce specialty coated non-ferrous sheet metal
products, such as tin-coated copper alloy sheet metal and nickel-coated
copper alloy sheet metal for applications in the electrical and electronics
industries (primarily for connector components). The electrical connector
and electronic connector markets represent the greatest applications
for ETL's technologies and services package in the field of non-ferrous
sheet metal electroplating.
Another
market segment being aggressively pursued by ETL and its licensee/potential
licensee-partners is the merchant electrogalvanizing market. End products
such as computer "boxes" and VCR casings are significant consumers
of merchant electrogalvanized sheet steel. Such product is also used
for impact door beams and bumpers in cars and light trucks. In the prepainted
condition, the product is used for various building components such
as office walls, partitions, and panels.
Spanning
the Globe
ETL truly has global reach through its 18 agents and representatives,
who cover 33 countries. Our people are located in some of the major
business communities in the world, including Toronto, Tokyo, Seoul,
Beijing, Singapore, San Paulo, Buenos Aires, Santiago, Monterrey, Johannesburg,
Sydney, London, Frankfurt, Brussels, Prague and Jerusalem.
With host
country citizen staff, who are familiar with the local customs, language
and commercial practices, it makes business partnering an easier task
for ETL.
About
our CEO
Below is a brief summary of the career of James L. Forand, CEO of
ETL.
Executive
Positions:
- Electroplating
Technologies Ltd. President, CEO and Board Member
- Global
Steel Services Ltd. President, CEO and Board Member
- BIEC
International, Inc. President, CEO and Board Member
- ASC
Pacific, Inc. Board Member
- Bethlehem
International Engineering Corporation Executive Director
- MetMex
Board Member
Functional
Positions:
- R&D
13 years at Inland Steel Company and Bethlehem Steel Corp.
- Marketing
7years
- Intellectual
Property Licensing 25 years worldwide
Education:
- BS ME
at Worcester Polytechnic Institute
- MS Materials
Science at Worcester Polytechnic Institute
- MBA
at Lehigh University
- Senior
Management at Harvard University
- Honor
Societies: Sigma Xi & Pi Tau Sigma
Awards:
- Best
Paper at SAE Conference
- Best
Paper at Galvanizers Committee
- 20 US
and overseas Patents
- Current
Professional Societies: AESF and LES
ETL was
established as an R&D/Technology Licensing Company. The company
was chartered in Delaware in July of 1994. Its principal offices and
operations are located in the Whitehall-Coplay area of the Lehigh Valley,
Pennsylvania.
Galvalume®
is the registerd trademark of BIEC International Inc.
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