Dekalb Metal

When you’re researching zinc electroplating, you will eventually encounter the concept of clear zinc plating. There is some confusion about what that term actually means, however. Is the zinc truly clear? Clear zinc plating essentially does mean “colorless” or “transparent” and is essentially a “color” choice which shows the natural metallic color of the zinc coating.

Electroplating is a process whereby a metal object is coated with another metal in a thin layer using electrolysis. This type of coating is typically 5um to 12um thick, gives a metal object an improved appearance and protects it from rust, corrosion, and wear. Many kinds of objects require electroplating including automotive parts, aerospace parts, and parts for general industries. If you require electroplating services, it is important to hire a respected plating company, like DeKalb Metal Finishing, that has been in business for many years. We use plating techniques that are environmentally friendly, such as ROHS-compliant alkaline electroplating and use only trivalent passivates.

Zinc alloy plating’s mainstream popularity originated in the 1980s. Before then, zinc alloy plating, with the exception of zinc-brass plating, was not heavily used in the industry. Thanks to further refinement and improved production techniques, a variety of zinc alloy plating processes have become commercially acceptable since then. Among them is

The process of Plating has been around for many years. While electroplating companies ascended out technological advances made during the English Industrial Revolution, the actual act of plating emerged prior to that time. These early ventures and inventions provided the means through which today’s companies are able to provide clients with the ability to improve the quality and capability of their components. Today, DeKalb Metal Finishing is proud of the role it continues to play in advancing the industry.

Zinc is a shiny metal capable of being alloyed with various other metals. One of these is iron. Zinc-iron resembles zinc in color and other characteristics and both are popular plating metals. Yet, although we perform both types of plating at DeKalb Metal Finishing, some clients actually prefer, zinc-iron plating. They select it more often than straight zinc plating because its properties are more advantageous in several ways including ease of further finishing.

When it comes to plating, an increasingly popular choice is zinc nickel alloy plating. It has become a favorite for those who want to retain high corrosion resistance, improve substrate functionality, reduce the risk of galvanic corrosion, and improve rubber to metal bondability. Prior to using this alloy, the use of cadmium was most often employed. Cadmium has since lost popularity as it involves the use of highly toxic substances such as cyanide.

For a long time, cadmium plating saw a great deal of use, especially in marine and automotive applications. It provided excellent resistance to corrosion and lubricating properties. However, there are some definite drawbacks to using this heavy metal. For one, it has created a great deal of environmental concerns. Many companies have been seeking alternatives to cadmium (like zinc nickel alloy plating) for some time. In fact, zinc alloys are replacing cadmium in many industries today and here are some reasons why.

Many industries today are taking advantage of zinc-nickel plating for its superior corrosion resistance. In fact, it is an especially important component of the marine and automotive industries where rust and corrosion are constant concerns. Here are some of the benefits of choosing zinc-nickel.

When you need parts plated for your business, there are several things to consider before choosing the best plating company for you. Not all plating services are the same, but how can you tell the good from the bad ones apart? Here’s a small list of important things to look for, and several reasons why DeKalb Metal Finishing may be your best choice.

Finding the Right Services

A good plating company provides more than just plating options. The added services some of those companies offer can tremendously enhance your experience in satisfying more than just your plating needs, beyond the simple application. At DeKalb metal, we provide the following services to our customers:

– Bar coding
– Masking
– Sorting
– Inspections
– Trucking (to either your company or your customer’s)

Quality

Nothing is more important than delivering quality products. But how can you tell if a company is qualified enough? Look for certifications. For example, DeKalb Metal is ISO/TS16949 certified. This certification is extremely important for any company within the automotive industry. When you work with a company that has this certification, you can rest assure they will follow strict standards such as:

– Emphasis on defect prevention
– Waste reduction
– Complete quality management system

Non Hazardous Materials

Another important quality feature to look for, is RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) compliance. This compliance insures the services employed do not use hazardous materials which may sometimes be found in the electronics and other industries. This includes materials like mercury, cadmium and phthalates.

Financial Responsibility
When looking to start a long-term partnership with a company, you’ll of course want to be sure they will be there for you next week, month, and far into the future. This is why you should consider DeKalb Metal Finishing: we are a debt free company that has been providing quality services for decades, with a 10+ year uninterrupted track record of on-time delivery.