Electroplating Service
MOLDITQUICK provides electroplating as a value-added surface treatment for molded and machined parts — improving corrosion resistance, conductivity, wear resistance and brand finish.
Zinc Plating
5–25 μm zinc deposit with clear, blue, yellow or black passivation. Corrosion protection for fasteners, brackets and hardware, typically passing 72–240 h salt spray.
Nickel Plating
5–50 μm bright or electroless nickel (Ni-P) with hardness up to 200–600 HV. Wear and corrosion resistance for precision components and E/E parts.
Hard Chrome Plating
10–500 μm hard chrome at 800–1,100 HV. Low-friction, extreme wear resistance for hydraulic rods, shafts, molds and tooling.
Gold Plating
0.1–3 μm soft or hard gold for low contact resistance and corrosion-free contacts — connectors, terminals, RF housings and premium cosmetic parts.
Copper Plating
5–50 μm ductile copper undercoat for adhesion and conductivity, typically layered beneath nickel and chrome in automotive trim and hardware.
Anodizing (Aluminum)
5–25 μm Type II or 25–150 μm hardcoat on aluminum, 300–650 HV, in clear, black or dyed finishes for housings and precision aluminum parts.
What Is Electroplating?
Electroplating deposits a thin metal layer onto a part surface using an electric current in an electrolytic bath. The part acts as the cathode and metal ions from the anode (or the solution) plate out as a dense, adherent coating. It is one of the most widely used surface treatments in manufacturing because it simultaneously protects against corrosion and wear, adds electrical conductivity and upgrades the visual finish of a component.
For molded and machined parts, plating is usually specified for one of three reasons: function (conductivity, wear, corrosion resistance), appearance (bright chrome, satin nickel, gold accents) or both. Because the deposit is electrically applied, it follows complex geometry — threads, blind holes and internal bores — far more uniformly than paint or spray coatings, which makes it the default choice for fasteners, housings, terminals and precision hardware. See our full range of surface finishing services for how plating fits with other finishes.
Key Parameters
Typical working ranges for the processes we apply; final values are set against your drawing and test requirements.
| Parameter | Typical Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit thickness | 0.1 – 500 μm | 0.1–3 μm for gold, up to 500 μm for hard chrome build-up |
| Coating hardness | 60 – 1,100 HV | Zinc is softest; hard chrome and Ni-P are hardest |
| Colors / finishes | Silver, blue, yellow, black, gold | Passivation color and bright/satin level are selectable |
| Salt-spray resistance | 72 – 240 h | Zinc with passivation; nickel/chrome for longer duty |
| Dimensional effect | ±0.005 – 0.05 mm per side | Allowance defined during DFM review |
Applications
Plated parts appear across every industry we serve — automotive trim and fasteners, electrical terminals and connectors, medical instrument components, consumer electronics hardware and industrial fittings. Typical examples:
- Automotive: plated knobs, bezels, brackets and under-hood fasteners with salt-spray certification.
- E/E: gold-plated contacts and terminals for low and stable contact resistance.
- Industrial: hard-chrome shafts, rods and mold components where wear life drives the spec.
- Consumer: bright nickel/chrome cosmetic parts for appliances and hardware.
Many of these components are produced on our injection moldingand CNC machining lines before finishing, so dimensional and plating specifications are managed under one roof.
Why MOLDITQUICK
MOLDITQUICK (Dongguan Guohong Precision) operates 10,000 m² with 280 employees under IATF 16949, ISO 13485 and ISO 9001 quality systems. Plating is managed through vetted, regularly audited finishing partners, and every batch is verified against thickness, adhesion and appearance requirements before shipping.
Because our in-house tool shop supports molding, stamping and machiningalongside finishing, we remove the classic hand-off problem: parts arrive at the plating line with the right surface condition, and any plating-allowance change is made in the tool before steel is cut. Prototype and small batches ship in 7–12 days, mass production in 25–30 days, worldwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you plate parts that are molded or machined in-house?
Yes. Most plated parts start on our own injection molding or CNC machining lines, so we control the part, the surface condition and the plating in one supply chain — one PO, one quality file.
Does plating change the dimensional tolerance?
Thin deposits add roughly 0.005–0.05 mm per side depending on the process. We flag plating allowance during DFM review and adjust the tool or machining program so the finished part lands inside your tolerance.
Which plating is best for outdoor corrosion?
For steel parts, zinc with yellow or black passivation is the economical workhorse; nickel or hard chrome is specified where abrasion resistance matters. We recommend based on the environment, salt-spray target and cost.
Do you provide salt-spray and coating thickness reports?
Yes. Each batch can be shipped with thickness measurement (X-ray or coulometric), adhesion testing and salt-spray results, supporting IATF 16949 and ISO 13485 documentation needs.
What MOQ and lead time apply to plated parts?
There is no strict MOQ — we run small batches from 7–12 days and mass production in 25–30 days. Plating itself typically adds 3–7 days to the part lead time.
Can you mask surfaces that must stay unplated?
Yes. Threads, sealing faces, machined bores and press-fit diameters are masked before plating so the deposit goes exactly where it is specified.