All Categories
This section provides an overview for nickel plating as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 39 nickel plating companies and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked nickel plating companies as of December, 2024: 1.Freedom Metal Finishing, Inc., 2.Sanchem Inc., 3.Commercial Electro Plating Inc..
Table of Contents
Categories Related to Nickel Plating
1987~1991: Engaged in research on wire covering materials at Polymer Materials Laboratory.
1991~1997: Worked as a patent Engineer at Koike International Patent Office.
1997~2005 Worked as an intellectual property member at GE Yokogawa Medical System, currently working as a writer.
Linkedinhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/%E8%A3%95%E5%AD%90-%E9%88%B4%E6%9C%A8-92b21a234/
researchmap
https://researchmap.jp/0315rs2017
Nickel is widely used as a plating metal because it is rust-resistant and chemically very stable. Nickel plating is often used to protect the surface of electrical components and decorative objects.
There are two main types of nickel-plating methods.
The first is called electro-nickel plating, which uses electricity to cause an oxidation reaction on the nickel anode and a reduction reaction to deposit nickel on the cathode (the material to be plated).
The second method is called electroless nickel plating, which uses chemicals instead of electricity to cause a chemical reaction to deposit nickel on the plated material.
Electrolytic nickel plating has a long history and was first developed in the 1830s. In Japan, the first nickel plating is said to have taken place in 1892. In the early days, electrolytic nickel plating did not have a shiny surface, and polishing was performed after the plating process to give it a shiny surface.
Nickel plating methods include electrolytic nickel plating and electroless nickel plating.
Electrolytic nickel plating is a plating method in which electricity is passed through a solution to electrolyze nickel, the plating metal, causing a chemical reaction.
The plated object (material to be plated) is immersed in a nickel sulfate solution with the cathode and the nickel plate as the anode. When the nickel plate is energized, an oxidation reaction occurs and nickel ions dissolve into the solution, combining with electrons in the solution to cause a reduction reaction, depositing nickel on the surface of the plated material at the cathode and forming a film.
Electrolytic nickel plating is used in a wide range of plating processes, from artistic to electrical components. There are three types of electrolytic nickel plating: bright nickel plating, semi-bright nickel plating, and matte nickel plating.
Typical applications for bright nickel plating include surface treatment of household electrical outlets and connectors.
Semi-bright nickel plating is mainly used for soldering and welding.
Matte nickel plating is less shiny and less attractive than bright nickel plating, but unlike bright nickel plating, it does not require additives to make it shiny. Therefore, a very stable and dense nickel plated film can be obtained without being affected by additives, making it suitable for plating internal components.
Electroless nickel plating is a method of forming a film on the surface of the plated object by depositing nickel through a chemical reaction between two chemicals in a plating solution.
The plated object is immersed in the plating solution. The plating solution consists of nickel sulfate, sodium hypophosphite, pH buffer, complexing agent, stabilizing agent, etc. Nickel ions in the plating solution cause a reduction reaction, depositing nickel on the surface of the plated object and forming a film.
Nickel chrome plating is a silver-colored, slightly bluish-white plating often used for water faucets. Nickel-chrome plating is also known as decorative chrome plating. It is often used as a finish on top of nickel plating because of its good corrosion resistance, hardness, weather resistance, and good light and heat reflectivity.
Naturally, nickel-chrome plating is more resistant to impact and corrosion than nickel plating alone, and an oxide film forms on the surface of the chromium in the atmosphere, protecting the interior from corrosion while at the same time preserving its appearance.
Nickel-chromium plating is a treatment method widely used in addition to the above-mentioned water faucets, etc. because the luster of nickel plating combined with the silvery-white metallic appearance of nickel-chromium plating is popular as a decorative feature.
Chromium is classified into trivalent chromium and hexavalent chromium depending on the oxidation number. Hexavalent chromium is a substance whose use is prohibited by the RoHS and RoHS2 directives due to its reported environmental pollution and toxicity to the human body. Although plating with hexavalent chromium has been the mainstream plating process in the past, in recent years, due to its toxicity, plating with trivalent chromium has been widely used. The trivalent chromium plating process is superior in uniformity and has been developed to have the same corrosion resistance as the conventional process. In addition, it is a plating method that is harmless to the human body and easy to use in terms of workability, etc.
As a method to improve the resistance of nickel plated film to the salt air in the sea, etc., hypophosphite is used as a reducing agent during electroless nickel plating to deposit the plating.
This nickel plating film is called electroless nickel-phosphorus plating, but the major problem with this electroless nickel-phosphorus plating film is that the film is damaged in a short period when sea salt in the atmosphere is relatively low, leaving the metal bare and rusting.
Research has shown that when sulfate ions derived from sulfurous acid gas in the atmosphere come into contact with the surface nickel layer, a hydrate of nickel sulfate is formed, which is the substance responsible for the progressive corrosion of the surface nickel layer.
To address this issue, we have developed two-layer nickel plating (electrochemically protecting the underlying plating or material from corrosion by slowly oxidizing the upper plating layer) and three-layer nickel plating with bright nickel containing 0.1-0.2% sulfur in between the two-layer plating. In addition, the aforementioned nickel-chromium plating, etc. has also been developed. Nickel-chromium plating, as mentioned above, is also useful.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Sort by Features
Sort by Area
Sanchem Inc. is an ISO-9001 certified manufacturer of rust preventative coatings and unique surface treatments, founded in 1965, and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, United States. The company provides advanced products and cost-effective systems to stop corrosion problems in all industries. Some of the products offered by Sanchem Inc. include NO-OX-ID rust preventative coatings, SafeGard CC conversion coating, SafeGard water-based rust preventatives, and chromate-free plating systems. These products are used to prevent metals from corroding in the most severe environments, including salty, humid, and acidic conditions.
Freedom Metal Finishing, Inc., established in 1944 and headquartered in Clearwater, Florida, is a manufacturer specializing in metal finishing and coating services. Its offerings include anodizing and hard coat plating for enhancing oxide layers on metal surfaces, cadmium plating with corrosion resistance, electroless nickel plating for intricate shapes, tin plating for protecting various surfaces, and zinc plating. These services find application in industries like aerospace, defense, medical, space, and machining. The company holds ISO-9001:2008, AS-9100, and NADCAP certifications and has received several awards such as the Apollo/Saturn V Roll of Honor and the Shop Award by Product Finishing Magazine.
ENS Technology was established in 1995 and is a manufacturer company of metal plating and finishes based in Santa Clara, California, United States. The company offers a range of plating types, such as electroless nickel plating, copper plating, plating on plastic, exotic metal plating, and titanium plating. These products have been applied in industries such as military, medical, aerospace, aviation, and commercial. The company also provides additional services such as analytical lab and FAA certified repair station for the products.
Commercial Electro Plating Inc. was established in 1956 and is a manufacturer and supplier of production zinc plating products based in Fresno, California, United States. The company is capable and specializes in various production zinc plating, such as zinc rack and barrel plating services, electroless nickel plating services, stainless steel electropolishing and passivation services, and tin plating services. The company has previously worked on projects including zinc plating of steel transfer case mount and rack zinc plating of steel pump flange. The company also offer discount for large volume orders.
Rochester Overnight Plating LLC, established in 1977, and located in Rochester, New York, is a custom manufacturer of Zinc & Electroless Nickel Platings. Its custom product services includes plating services, coating services, passivation services, and finishing services, which serve to industries such as automotive, medical, military, oil field, and marine industries. The company's services offers protective and corrosion-resistant coatings through electroless nickel and zinc rack plating, enhancing the durability and longevity of metal components used in various industries.
Val-Kro Industrial Plating, Inc., established 1960, is a manufacturer and supplier based in North Tonawanda, New York, specializing in industrial plating solutions. The company offer a comprehensive range of plating services, including precision coatings, finishes, and surface treatments for various industries. Val-Kro's knowledge and advanced processes enhance durability and performance. Their services find application in critical sectors, from aerospace to electronics, ensuring components withstand harsh conditions. As a principal partner, Val-Kro Industrial Plating plays a pivotal role in enhancing the quality and longevity of parts used in diverse applications, showcasing a pledge to excellence and dependability
Unitech Industries, Inc. is an American contract manufacturer specializing in metal plating and finishing since its founding in 1988 in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. The company offers plating services using different materials like gold,copper, tin, and electroless nickel for enhancing conductivity, corrosion resistance or solderability. They also provide black oxide coating services for protecting fabricated parts without altering their weight or dimensions. Unitech Industries chiefly serves client companies in the aerospace, automotive, marine and oil, and plumbing sectors.
Products Finishing Inc., established in 1960, and located in Erie, Pennsylvania, is a custom manufacturer and supplier of fabricated metal products. The company's range of custom services includes plating, machining, grinding, assemblies, and horning, which serves in industries such as textile, military, aerospace and glass industries. Its custom services enhances surface properties, creates precise components, achieves fine surface finishes, combine parts for functional products, and refines internal surfaces for optimal performance.
Ace Roll & Shaft, which opened its doors in 1952, is a supplier of CNC machining and plating services, and it is located in Erie, PA. The CNC services include machining, milling, grinding, turning, and honing, whereas the plating services include selective plating, electroless nickel plating, mold plating, hard & black chrome plating, and arm coat plating with benefits such as improving lifespan, corrosion resistance, self-lubricating, favourable adhesion, and heat & cold resistance. The company offers repairs and salvage services for hydraulic pistons.
NiPro Optics Inc., founded in Irvine, CA , in 2005 is a optical components and thin film coating. The company's product portfolio includes tenses, mirrors, prisms, filters, beam splitters, and polarizers. Their products are used in sed in fiber optics, laser communication systems, and telecommunication networks, medical devices, imaging systems, and diagnostic instruments, and military optics, avionics, and space exploration applications. The company provides services such as Product Selection Guidance, Engineering Support, and Custom Manufacturing.
RePliForm, Inc., founded in 2000, and headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, is a custom manufacturer, specializing in electroplating 3D Printed plastics. The company adapts electroplating processes to various materials and complex geometries to increase the stiffness and strength of parts, improving overall durability. RePliForm assists in selecting the combination of base material and plating sequences that suits project requirements. The company has been awarded for their advancements in 3D printing, including the AMUG Innovators Award.
Advanced Plating Technologies (APT) is an American contract manufacturer specializing in metal plating and finishing services that was originally founded in 1948 as the Artistic Plating Company before rebranding in 2013. Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the company offers plating services using various metals such as gold, electrolytic nickel, and electroless nickel. They also provide finishing and surface treatment capabilities including passivation, cleaning, and powder coating. APT chiefly serves clients in the power transmission and distribution, telecommunication, electric vehicle, and ammunition and firearms industries.
Storm Power Components (SPC) is an American ISO 9001 and ITAR compliant contract manufacturer of bus bars and connectors founded in 1990. Based in Decatur, Tennessee, the company manufactures custom bus bars in various sizes, shapes, and finishes. They also produce insulators, circuit board stiffeners, and flexible braided connectors. SPC products are RoHS, REACH, DFARS compliant, and primarily serve clients in the aerospace, defense, and telecommunications industries. The company also offers in-house electroplating, powder coating, fabrication, and testing services for prototyping as well as mass production orders.
Techmetals, Inc., established in 1968, is a global service provider of metal plating and coating, based in Dayton, OH, USA. The company operates from a 160,000 square foot facility. It is in compliance with NAS 9100 Rev D, FAA Repair Station, ISO 9001:2015, ISO 13485:2016, DRG3, and more. With over five decades of expertise in metal plating solutions, Techmetals assists diverse industries such as Aerospace, Defense, Medical, Automotive, and Manufacturing, providing dependable and cost-effective services. With around 200 employees and an in-house R&D, they provide customization services to meet specific project needs.
Reliable Plating Corp., established in 1954, and located in Chicago Illinois, is a custom manufacturing company, specializing in electroplating and metal finishing services. The company's product range encompasses electroplating solutions like chrome, cadmium, copper, nickel, and tin plating, catering to diverse industries including aerospace, automotive, medical, military, and telecommunications. With ISO 9001:2015 certification, the company offers quality services that uphold their name as a provider in the field of surface coatings.
Pioneer Metal Finishing, founded in 1945, is a US-based supplier headquartered in Green Bay, Wisconsin specializing in metal finishing services. The company offers various metal finishing solutions including adhesives, coatings, plating, anodizing and proprietary finishing services such as ARP Acid Etch, ChroLube and NorKote.The company’s solutions cater to diverse industries, including aerospace, automotive, medical, military, and more. The company holds ISO 9001:2015 and Nadcap accreditation and complies with RoHS requirements. With 11 facilities across the United States and Mexico. Pioneer serves customers across the country and worldwide.
Alexandria Metal Finishers, established in 1962, based in Lorton, Virginia, is a NADCAP certified supplier of metal finishing. The company offers various metal finishing services, including precious metal plating, exotic substrate plating, aluminum anodizing, electroless nickel plating, and electroplating services. The metals used in the finishing services range from precious metal plating to hard anodizing and multi-plating on unusual alloys and special set-ups. The company provides metal finishing services to the aerospace, telecommunications, electronics, medical, packaging, defense and commercial industries.
New Method Plating Co., Inc. founded in Worcester, MA in 1940 is distributor of Steel and Steel Services. The company's product portfolio includes Hot-rolled steel sheets and coils for various applications, Cold-rolled steel with precise dimensions and surface finish, Galvanized and coated steel for enhanced corrosion resistance, Structural steel for construction and engineering projects and Stainless steel. Their products are used in industries such as construction, Automotive, Transportation and aerospace and Defense.
Peninsula Metal Finishing, Inc., established in 2004, is a Florida-based company, and a distributor of electroplating and metal finishing services to various industries, including Aerospace, Automotive, Electronic, Industrial, Medical, and Military sectors. The capacity to efficiently handle a range of production tasks, including processing a single item or a large number of items with various finishes, while maintaining a consistent and repeatable level of thickness, color, and quality guarantees that you will consistently receive identical parts across different production batches. The consistent quality observed can be attributed to the unwavering assurance towards process control in plating chemistry and manufacturing procedures.
Rohde AG, established in 1925 in Norten-Hardenberg, Germany, is a manufacturer of advanced aluminum, stainless steel, and plastic handles. The company offers an array of products including metal handles, bow type handles, tubular handles, ledge handles, and plastic handles. These handles provide benefits such as durability, corrosion resistance, and ergonomic design, resulting in enhanced usability and aesthetics. The products are used to provide safe and comfortable grip solutions in appliances and furniture, as well as automotive and industrial equipment industries. Surface treatments such as electroplating, eloxal, electropolishing, and blasting are also offered as services to customers.
Qingdao Chifine Machinery Co. Ltd. is a Chinese custom manufacturer of metal casting and machining products established in 2005 and located in Qingdao, Shandong. The company primarily offers custom steel, aluminum, and iron casting products. These include cast iron metal casting counterweights, steel marine connection hardware, and trailer half-axles for agricultural machinery. It also offers machine components including crown bevel gear and pinion shafts, precision machine wheel transmissions, and mechanical steel CNC lathe parts. The company serves clients from a wide range of industries including petroleum, agriculture, and mining.
Dalic, founded in 1932 and headquartered in Vitré, France, is a manufacturer and supplier of selective electroplating technologies. The company's products include Dalistick brush plating equipment with no leakage of chemicals, Dalipump electrolyte flow systems, and measurement instruments for measuring coating thickness. It also includes consumables and accessories, including bonnettes (fabric covering the anode), aluminum and vinyl Kapton tapes, and sanding paper. The company joined the French family group Protex International SA, which specializes in chemistry and biochemistry for different sectors of the industry, in 2018.
Multinal Group, established in 2000 and headquartered in Zuid-Holland, Netherlands, is a manufacturer of surface treatments and industrial cleaning services. The company offers solutions for metal surface treatments, including pickling and passivation, electrolytic polishing, and electrolytic galvanizing for metals like steel, stainless steel, and aluminum. It offers non-toxic pickling products and operates water purification systems for waste treatment. It provides industrial cleaning services, including chemical cleaning of pipelines and heat exchangers, pressure testing, and toilet system cleaning. The company serves manufacturing, shipping, and construction industries, and also provides services to McDonald's, mega yachts, and navy vessels.
Silga S.p.A., founded in 1974 and headquartered in Castelfidardo, Italy, is an electroplating treatment provider and products and solutions desinger and manufacturer for various industries. The company provides electroplated products and solutions for fashion, furniture, window systems, and many other sectors. It offers product treatment production, including traditional galvanic, anodizing, and varnish protection systems used in the automotive industry. Its services include the provision of sampling, global supply, and transportation logistics.
E-Fab Inc. is an American ISO 9001 certified contract manufacturer specializing in photochemical machining that was originally established in 1982. The company has been operating as a subsidiary of The Partner Companies (TPC) since 2019. Based in Santa Clara, California, the company's ITAR registered facilities are equipped with various machine capabilities including photochemical etching, bonding, electroplating, and finishing of a wide range of materials. These include copper, steel, iconel 600, and high-frequency laminates. E-Fab Inc. also offers R&D, engineering, and prototyping services to clients in the medical, defense, communications, and green energy sectors.
Metal Forming Industries is a manufacturer of component parts for a wide range of industries and applications. The company was established in 1991 and is based in Russellville, Indiana. Metal Forming Industries specializes in providing impact extrusion and cold forming for parts including grounding ferrules, specialty connectors, semiconductor components, and battery terminals. The company is a major supplier of copper battery terminals for industrial & aircraft batteries, brazed copper solenoid terminals for commercial vehicles, and copper grounding ferrules for utility grounding cables.
Texas Precision Plating, Inc., founded in 1966, is an American manufacturer based in Garland, Texas, specializing in plating services. Its range of offerings covers plating processes such as copper, gold, nickel, silver, tin, and zinc plating. Additionally, the company undertakes chromic, sulfuric, and hard anodizing—a technique for generating oxide coatings on aluminum substrates. Black oxide coatings are also provided, along with phosphate coatings to enhance corrosion resistance. The company further engages in bright dipping for brass and copper, as well as passivation to eliminate corrosion from stainless steel surfaces. The company serves various industries, including aerospace and military, automotive, commercial, and electronics.
HEF Groupe, established in 2007 and headquartered in Andrézieux-Bouthéon, France, is a manufacturer and B2B supplier of advanced engineering technologies and surfacing products. The company's core products include bushings and joints, vacuum deposits, and treatment salts. Its range of bushings includes composite, spherical, and spherical bushings. These products are commonly used in construction equipment, agriculture, and across the cement industry. The company offers extensive OEM and ODM services, custom production of bushings and components, and after-sales support.
Electro-Coatings, established in 1947 and headquartered in Baywood, Houston, Texas, USA, is a provider of surface engineering and coating solutions. The company's main activities encompass the supply of metal coatings, roller services, electroless nickel plating, hard chrome plating, and thermal spray coatings. Electro-Coatings serve industries such as oil and gas, aerospace, petrochemical, and manufacturing. Its coatings are applied to components like valves, pumps, and machine parts to improve corrosion resistance, wear resistance, and overall performance. In addition to coating expertise, Electro-Coatings offers value-added services like precision machining and grinding.
Adolf Föhl GmbH + Co KG is a manfuacturer and supplier of zinc die casting and hybrid components for automotive, mounting, and electronic sectors. Its components serve vital roles in various industries, enhancing performance and structural integrity in automotive systems, supporting stability in mounting applications, and for functionality in electronic devices. With an annual output of approximately 490 million parts across facilities in Germany and China, the company also adheres to DIN ISO 9001:2015 and IATF 16949:2016 standards.
Ranking as of December 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Freedom Metal Finishing, Inc. |
13.3%
|
| 2 | Commercial Electro Plating Inc. |
8.5%
|
| 3 | Sanchem Inc. |
7.4%
|
| 4 | ENS Technology |
6.9%
|
| 5 | Rochester Overnight Plating, LLC |
5.3%
|
| 6 | NiPro Optics Inc. |
4.3%
|
| 7 | Unitech Industries, Inc. |
4.3%
|
| 8 | Techmetals, Inc. |
3.7%
|
| 9 | Ace Roll & Shaft, Inc |
3.7%
|
| 10 | Val-Kro Industrial Plating, Inc. |
3.7%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the nickel plating page as of December 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
| Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
|
United States of America
|
21 | 67.7% |
|
Germany
|
2 | 6.5% |
|
France
|
2 | 6.5% |
|
China
|
1 | 3.2% |
|
Netherlands
|
1 | 3.2% |
|
Italy
|
1 | 3.2% |
|
United Kingdom
|
1 | 3.2% |
Austria
|
1 | 3.2% |
Japan
|
1 | 3.2% |
