Leading Marine Hinge Manufacturers

The first step in the manufacture of marine hinges is the selection of the type of metal. Most obviously, most metals are not appropriate for harsh wet conditions due to their propensity to rust and corrode. To provide producers with guidance and standards for the types of metals for marine use, the American Bureau of Shipping publishes a list of metals that are suitable for the manufacture of marine equipment and products.

Though marine conditions may seem restrictive, the majority of metals can be adapted to fit the conditions of a marine environment including stainless and alloyed steels to aluminum and brass. To meet the necessary specifications, metals are blended with other metals that have all of the required qualities of rust and corrosion resistance.

Common steels used for marine hinges are AH.36, DH36, and EH36, which have exceptional tensile strength, durability, and endurance. These steels are weldable and can be formed and shaped to fit any application making them perfect for use as hinges. For most producers, steel is the first choice for producing marine hinges and products.

The adapting of a metal for marine use involves the application of some form of coating. Though this may seem to be a simple process, the EPA has very strict regulations regarding the types of chemicals and compounds that are acceptable to be combined for coating materials. These requirements have caused producers to be constantly and changing their processes.

When choosing a metal and its coating, for a hinge, there are a couple factors that need to be consider. First is the positioning of the hinge, whether it will be immersed or above the water line. This factor determines if the metal will need treatment beyond a coating, which could include cathodic treatment.

A normal process used to condition selected metal hinges for marine use is anodizing, a process that produces an oxide layer on the hinge. As has been found with aluminum, an oxide layer is rust and corrosion resistant. The anodizing process creates a hard, long wearing coating that enhances the hardness and strength of certain metals.

There are a wide variety of hinges that include butt, piano, glass, concealed, or mounted. Though they are normally found in other applications, they have to be specially conditioned for marine applications. Unlike their hardware store counterparts, they are more expensive due to the processing necessary to make them adaptable for marine conditions.