Metal Plating

Corrosion protection.
Electrical conductivity.
Cosmetic finishes.

Complete metal plating services: zinc (corrosion), electroless nickel (uniform coating on complex geometry), hard chrome (wear resistance), decorative chrome (cosmetic), gold and silver (electrical contacts). Matched to application requirements.

Plating Quote All finishes

5+ plating types RoHS compliant 5–25 µm thickness Functional + cosmetic

01 · What it is

How Plating works.

Metal plating deposits a thin layer of one metal onto the surface of another metal substrate. The plating layer provides specific properties that the substrate lacks: corrosion resistance, hardness, wear resistance, electrical conductivity, solderability, or decorative appearance. Most plating processes use electrochemical deposition (electroplating), where electric current drives metal ions from a solution onto the part.

Common plating types and their purposes: zinc plating — corrosion protection on steel, often sacrificial. Electroless nickel — uniform coating on complex geometry, corrosion + mild hardness. Hard chrome — extreme wear resistance (65 HRC), hydraulic cylinders, gun barrels. Decorative chrome — cosmetic bright finish. Gold — electrical contacts, corrosion in harsh environments. Silver — electrical conductivity, bearing surfaces.

Plating selection depends on: substrate material, service environment, aesthetic requirements, functional needs (conductivity, hardness, corrosion), regulatory requirements (RoHS, REACH). We match plating type to application based on these criteria.

02 · Specifications

Capability specs.

5–25 µm

Typical thickness

Thickness varies by application. 5–8 µm decorative, 12–25 µm functional

RoHS

Compliance

RoHS-compliant chemistry available for European and consumer markets

±2 µm

Thickness tolerance

Thickness uniformity across parts. Depends on geometry and process

Any conductive

Substrate

Steel, stainless, brass, aluminum (with special preparation), zinc

Rack / barrel

Processing modes

Rack plating for larger parts, barrel plating for small parts at volume

Bright / matte

Appearance options

Both finishes available through chemistry and additives

Masked areas

Selective plating

Masking techniques preserve unplated areas (threads, contacts)

$0.50–20

Cost per part

Depends on plating type, thickness, and part size

03 · Applications

Where Plating excels.

Zinc plating (corrosion)

Steel fasteners, brackets, industrial hardware — sacrificial corrosion protection

Electroless nickel

Complex geometry requiring uniform coating — molds, tooling

Hard chrome

Hydraulic cylinders, gun barrels, shafts — extreme wear resistance

Decorative chrome

Automotive trim, plumbing fixtures, appliance hardware

Gold plating

Electrical connectors, contacts — corrosion resistance + conductivity

Silver plating

High-current electrical contacts, RF hardware — conductivity

Tin plating

Solderable electrical components, food contact hardware

Copper plating

Base layer before other plating, EMI shielding, electrical

Black oxide

Steel corrosion protection + flat black appearance — low-cost functional coating

04 · When not to use it

Not suitable for:

Every process has its limits. Being honest about where Plating isn\'t the right answer saves time and money.

Very thick coatings (> 50 µm) — plating is typically thin; thicker coatings from spray or other processes
Aluminum without special surface preparation (zincate process needed before plating)
Parts requiring specific coated dimensions (must account for plating thickness in design)
Environmental regulations forbidding specific chemistries — check compliance requirements
Porous or cast parts (plating may be uneven or blistered on porosity)

FAQ

Plating questions.

Corrosion protection outdoors: zinc (with chromate topcoat for extended life) or electroless nickel. Wear resistance: hard chrome (highest hardness). Electrical conductivity: silver for RF, gold for corrosion-prone contacts, tin for solderability. Decorative: bright chrome or nickel. We recommend plating based on application during DFM review — specify the service requirements and we match chemistry.

Plating: thin (5–25 µm) layer, chemically bonded to substrate, preserves part geometry, adds specific functional properties (hardness, conductivity, corrosion resistance). Powder coating: thicker (50–120 µm), applied polymer coating, adds color and thicker corrosion protection but alters dimensions more. For functional surface properties, plating. For cosmetic appearance with corrosion protection, powder coating. For maximum corrosion protection, sometimes both: zinc plate then powder coat.

Important for fit tolerances. Typical plating thickness 5–25 µm (0.005–0.025 mm) adds to all surfaces. For precision fit applications (bearings, press fits, threads), specify plating thickness in drawing and design to machined dimensions minus expected plating. Example: Ø10 H7 hole that will be plated 12 µm needs machining to Ø10.012 before plating. Standard practice for plated assemblies.

Yes, with caveats. Plating thickness affects thread fit — too much plating causes threads to bind. For critical threads: either mask threads during plating (preserving unplated diameter), or machine oversize to compensate for plating thickness. For fasteners where thread fit matters less (grade 5 bolts, general industrial), threads can be plated without masking.

We provide RoHS-compliant plating for European and consumer market applications. Standard: trivalent chrome (RoHS-compliant) instead of hexavalent chrome (RoHS-restricted). Lead-free solder for tin plating. Compliant gold plating chemistry. Check specific requirements — some industrial applications still permit traditional chemistry, but most new designs require RoHS compliance. Specify on RFQ.

Plating typically adds 3–7 business days to overall manufacturing lead time. Rack plating of larger parts: 3–5 days. Barrel plating of small parts at volume: 5–7 days. Specialty platings (gold, silver, hard chrome): 5–10 days. Documentation packages with plating records, thickness verification available for aerospace and medical applications at additional time.