Capability
Surface Finishing Services
Plating, anodising, powder coating, passivation and mechanical finishing – the last operation that decides how your part looks and how long it lasts.
- Since 1991Metal parts made in our own factory
- 60+ machinesPresses, laser cutters, CNC centres and casting machines
- ISO 9001 + IATF 16949Certified quality management system
- 24-hour quotationDrawing review and DFM feedback on weekdays
Parts we produce
- Plated parts: brackets, terminals, contacts, fasteners and conductive components
- Anodised aluminium: enclosures, panels, heat sinks and visible machined parts
- Powder coated parts: frames, housings, covers and outdoor equipment
- Passivated and pickled stainless steel parts for cleanroom, food and medical use
- Mechanical finishes: deburring, tumbling, brushing, polishing and bead blasting
- Laser marking of part numbers, logos and traceability codes
Capability at a glance
| Zinc plating | 5 – 15 µm, clear / blue / yellow / black trivalent passivation, RoHS compliant, 48 – 96 hours salt spray |
|---|---|
| Nickel plating | 3 – 10 µm, bright or matte, good for wear resistance and soldering, can be layered under silver or gold |
| Silver plating | 1 – 5 µm, used for conductive contacts and busbar interfaces; adhesion and solderability tested |
| Tin plating | 1 – 10 µm, solderable finish for terminals and PCBA parts, matte or bright |
| Anodising | Type II 5 – 25 µm clear or colour; Type III hard anodising 25 – 50 µm for wear surfaces |
| Powder coating | 60 – 100 µm, RAL colour matching, gloss or matte, inside and outside surfaces coated where reachable |
| Passivation / pickling | For stainless steel 304 and 316, removes free iron and restores corrosion resistance |
| Black oxide | 1 – 3 µm for steel fasteners and tooling parts, with oil or wax post-treatment |
| Mechanical finishing | Deburring, vibratory tumbling, brushing, polishing, bead blasting, Ra down to 0.4 µm |
Materials we work with
| Material | Typical range and notes |
|---|---|
| Steel and stainless | Mild steel, SPCC, galvanised sheet, 304 / 316 stainless, spring steel and tool steel |
| Aluminium | 5052, 6061, 6082, cast aluminium ADC12 / A360 – anodising quality depends on alloy and silicon content |
| Copper alloys | C11000 copper, C2680 brass, phosphor bronze – plated or passivated for corrosion and solderability |
| Zinc die castings | Zamak 3 / 5 – plated, chromated or powder coated after tumbling |
| Compliance | RoHS and REACH compliant processes, with coating and material declarations available |
| Appearance control | Colour and gloss reference samples agreed before production so that the appearance does not shift between lots |
How the process runs
1. Requirement review
The drawing, the environment of use and the appearance requirement decide the finish. Salt spray hours, coating thickness and colour are agreed before parts are processed.
2. Pre-treatment
Degreasing, pickling, descaling and surface preparation are matched to the substrate. This stage controls adhesion, which is where most finishing failures originate.
3. Finishing
Plating, anodising, powder coating or mechanical finishing is carried out with process parameters recorded per batch.
4. Measurement
Coating thickness is measured on every batch. Colour and gloss are compared against the approved sample.
5. Corrosion testing
Salt spray testing is arranged for parts used outdoors or in humid environments, with the number of hours stated on the report.
6. Packing
Parts are packed so that coated surfaces are not scratched in transit, with the finish reference recorded on the packing list.
Design for manufacture: what to check before you send the drawing
- Specify the finish, its thickness and the colour on the drawing. "Natural finish" is not a specification.
- Remember that plating and coating add thickness. Threads and bores that must remain in tolerance need allowance or masking.
- Anodising aluminium changes the colour of different alloys differently. Approve a colour sample on the actual alloy and temper you will use.
- Masking costs money. Tell us which surfaces must stay conductive or uncoated and design a masking feature where possible.
- For welded parts, specify weld dressing before coating. Coating cannot hide an unrepaired spatter or a sharp weld toe.
- State the salt spray requirement in hours instead of asking for "good corrosion resistance".
- Galvanising, e-coating and powder coating protect cut edges differently. Tell us if the part will be used outdoors for years.
Quality control
The factory operates a quality management system certified to ISO 9001 and IATF 16949. Inspection records, material certificates and coating reports travel with the shipment.
| Stage | What is checked |
|---|---|
| Pre-treatment | Bath concentration and process time checked against the process sheet |
| Thickness | Coating thickness measured on each batch with a magnetic or eddy-current gauge |
| Adhesion | Cross-hatch or bend test on coated and plated parts |
| Corrosion | Salt spray testing with a report stating hours to white or red rust |
| Appearance | Colour and gloss compared against the approved reference sample under standard lighting |
| Documentation | Coating report, RoHS declaration and material certificate supplied on request |
FAQ
Which finish should I choose for an outdoor part?
Galvanised or zinc plated steel with a painted or powder coated top layer gives the longest life, while anodised aluminium is the usual choice for aluminium used outdoors. Tell us the environment and the expected service life, and we will recommend the thickness and the finish rather than guessing.
Do you provide salt spray test reports?
Yes. Salt spray testing is carried out for plated and coated parts on request, and the report states the hours achieved before white or red rust appears.
Can you match a specific RAL colour?
Yes, powder coating is matched to RAL colours, and a sample is approved before production so that the appearance does not shift between batches.
Will plating change my part dimensions?
Yes, plating and coating add thickness, typically 5 to 15 µm for zinc plating and 60 to 100 µm for powder coating. Tolerances on threads and bores need to account for it, and masking is available where a surface must remain conductive.
Can you finish parts that we produce elsewhere?
Yes. We finish parts supplied by you, provided the substrate and surface condition are suitable. Send a sample so that we can confirm adhesion before processing the whole batch.
Is the finishing RoHS compliant?
Yes. Trivalent chromate passivation and RoHS compliant plating processes are used, and declarations are available for your compliance file.
Send your drawing, get a quote in 24 hours
STEP, DWG, DXF, PDF or a rough sketch is enough to start. You receive a price, lead time and DFM feedback – no obligation.
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