Operating A Plating Company: Basics And Future Outlook

by | Dec 11, 2015 | Business

Electroplating is big business. A plating company can handle entertain the requests of various manufacturers for diverse processes. It can also establish a solid reputation by adhering to certain specialized forms of metal plating. The result has been a field in which companies compete in their specific areas for a market that has seen growth over the past few decades.

The Nature of Electroplating

Electroplating is an integral ingredient in the current manufacturing sector. In certain industries, it is one means through which a manufacturer can improve the overall quality of the parts of their products. Through electroplating, a plating company can improve such characteristics as:

* Durability
* Solderability
* Corrosive resistance
* Electrical conductivity
* Thermal conductivity
* Friction resistance
* Improve the overall appearance

For manufacturers, electroplating can accomplish this in a cost-effective manner. It can reduce the overall price of producing a product or component of a precious metal. For example, a layer of gold may be plated over a less expensive metal. The result has all the qualities associated with the properties of gold but without the cost.

Types of Plating

For any metal plating company, the choices of methods can vary. Each procedure demands proper equipment and a specific skill set. Companies may specialize in certain treatments or focus on specific methods. They may elect to serve the needs of the automotive, military, medical or aircraft industry among others. In essence, however, they all provide their products through two basic types of plating. These are electroplating and electroless plating. The former is also called electro deposition; the latter electroless deposition.

Within these two methods of plating or coating, a plating company can utilize several methods. These include barrel plating, rack plating, manual plating and automated plating. All are designed to achieve a very specific result. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. Rack plating, for example, is best when components are large, fragile and/or complex. Barrel plating is excellent if the parts are small and require less finesses.

Yet, no matter what form the plating takes, it involves the same process. A coating is applied to the surface of a substrate. The layer may be thin or thick. What is applied is based on the requirements of the product and the specifications of the client.

The Future for a Plating Company

In the field of electroplating, growth seems to be consistent. Industrial statistics seem to indicate this is an area of prevailing expanding markets and demands. For those who service large industrial concerns, this pattern will continue to increase over the next five-year period. For a plating company, it may well prove to be profitable times from today until at least 2020.

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