Discussing what’s big on the MFAI agenda this year, in a recent interview, the current president, Mr. Sunil Goel informed, “We want to establish a smart industrial hub in and around Mumbai that will be completely pollution-free. Once commissioned, it can be replicated across electroplating clusters in India.”

The Metal Finishers Association of India (MFAI) was established some four decades ago by a group of Mumbai-based electroplaters. Since then the organization has been working collective in the aid of electroplaters through their publications, training programmes, and other knowledge resources.

Of late, looking at the increasing environmental concerns associated with the plating industry, MFAI has resolved to address pollution and waste conservation in a concerted manner to reduce the carbon imprint of the surface finishing and electroplating industry.

Research claims that there is heavy metal toxicity in Indian rivers. This is disturbing because –

• Many Indians still use water from the river for domestic use
• River water is also used for irrigation
• Irrigation transfers the polluting contaminants to the crop and vegetables
• This adversely affects the health of the Indian population
• It also adds to the problem of water shortage – availability of clean and pure drinking water.

There are research reports according to which plating and surface finishing industries rank among the major sources of metal pollution in water. In view of the pressing need for environmental conservation, the Indian government is now enforcing stringent pollution laws and policies to regulate all pollution-causing industries.

MFAI has volunteered to support these government measures and volunteered to self-regulate.

In the words of Mr. Amit Agarwal, the Secretary of MFAI, “The main agenda for me as a secretary along with my council is to develop a state-of-the-art industrial hub where metal finishing can be carried out, under one roof keeping in mind the guidelines issued by the Pollution Control Board.”

The Need for Pollution Control 

According to Illinois.edu, waste in the electroplating and surface finishing industry – particularly water waste – comes from rinse water, thermal spray from paint, combustion waste – such as from electric torch – and evaporation during ion exchange among other things.

Moreover, when toxic and corrosive chemicals contact the human body, they can create serious adverse reactions. Healthfully.com claims that “Workplace electroplating results in 20 percent to 25 percent of industry-related injuries, such as bruising and strain from lifting heavy chemical tanks.” This means the electroplating is hazardous and affects not only those working within the industry but also the general population.

On the contrary, green surface finishing has several, distinct advantages –

• Cost reduction through the reduction of water and electricity use
• Cost reduction through the reduction in the cost of waste disposal
• Ease of regulatory compliance through reduced waste reporting
• Employee safety and consequent benefits from better workplace and motivation
• Competitive edge with improved efficiency
• Better alignment with corporate customer goals
• Potential for new customers because of low carbon footprint and better quality

The MFAI Plan 

The Metal Finishers Association of India (MFAI) has set plans afoot to reduce the carbon footprint and environmental hazards from the surface finishing and metal plating process.

As a first initiative, MFAI plans to establish a smart industrial hub in Mumbai. The new hub will be

• Equipped with CETP (Common Effluent Treatment Plant)
• Will have Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD)

The benefits of this initiative are diverse, namely –

• Cost reduction through the joint effort of all units within the hub
• Availability of workspace for new units
• Benefit of contributed efforts which facilitate better waste management and disposal
• The benefit of professionally trained individuals who can help with the operation of waste disposal and environmental control
• Organized and single-source disposal of sludge and wastewater
• Reduced burden of compliance

Introducing CETP may not be viable for individual entrepreneurs and small plants but with this joint effort, MFAI hopes to reduce the carbon footprint and take electroplating and surface finishing to the next level of maturity and environmental responsibility.

MFAI is proud to be the premier professional body of electroplaters and metal finishers in our country

Upcoming Events 

MFAI was a co-organiser of APAC (Asia PACific) Interfinsh 2018, held at Shanghai from 31 Oct – 2 Nov

MFAI represents India in the IUSF (International Union of Surface Finishers) exhibition to be held in 2020.

To know more about these and upcoming events call or email to MFAI.