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Gemini Expands Anodizing Capabilities
Cannon Falls, Minnesota—Thanks to a recently completed expansion at its Fallon, Nevada plant, Gemini Incorporated is now able to provide faster service to sign designers throughout the western United States and Canada.
The expansion added a 2,100 square-foot anodizing room to Gemini’s western facility and brings to four the number of fully operational and qualified anodizing operations. (The other anodizing facilities are housed in Gemini plants located in Decorah, Iowa; Taylor, Texas; and Farmville, Virginia.) With the addition of a fourth facility in Nevada, Gemini is able to better serve the needs of its West Coast customers by delivering their orders within just a few days.
Gemini performs all of its own anodizing in order to ensure letters within the same order maintain precise color consistency. Gemini uses aluminum alloy #5052, which offers good cutting, welding, and corrosion resistance. It is excellent for anodizing and has a superior hardness rating of H32.
Anodized finishes are not just coatings—they are actually part of the finished aluminum letter. Anodizing is an electrochemical conversion process in which the surface of the aluminum is converted to cellular aluminum oxide, an extremely hard property. In fact, the hardness of the aluminum oxide layer rivals that of a diamond, greatly improving its abrasion resistance. The aluminum oxide surface is also corrosion resistant, making it suitable for industrial, humid and marine atmospheres.
Anodizing also serves as a base for color absorption to create custom finishes. Dyes are imbedded into the microscopic pores in the surface of the letter and then sealed. The result is a highly desirable, rich, intense, permanent color finish. Color options include clear, medium bronze, dark bronze, gold, or black anodic.
Gemini has been a world leader in the development and production of dimensional letters, logos and plaques since 1964. For more information, call Gemini toll-free at 800/538-8377 or visit www.signletters.com.
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