5. Conclusion

The ministerial decrees of September 26, 1985 and June 30, 2006 have encouraged and continue to encourage surface treatment manufacturers to limit pollutant loads and water consumption by implementing the best available techniques at acceptable costs.

The techniques presented here can achieve these objectives when companies have the spatial, technical and financial capacity to implement them in situ. To be effective, they must be combined with :

• to operating methods that respect the "rules of good practice":

  • maximum reduction in drag-out, by limiting dripping and optimizing draining,

  • process loss feedback wherever possible,

  • optimal bath life extension ;

• rinsing...