There are many different options for finishing steel and other types of metals. The specific type of part or component combined with the environment or system in which it will be used are all essential factors when considering the right electroplating option.
When it comes to protecting metal surfaces across a wide range of industries, including the automotive industry, zinc plating is perhaps one of the most commonly used options. The new technology of zinc electroplating provides exceptional corrosion protection, even distribution of the deposit, and it no longer uses cyanide, which makes it compliant for both domestic and international use as a plating solution.
Increasing Demand
Thanks to ongoing research and development of the non-cyanide zinc plating technology, this is a global industry that is on the increase. It is estimated that by 2026 the global market for electroplating will reach over $21 billion US. The increased ability to use consistently thin applications of the electroplating makes it ideal for precision parts and components.
The largest users of zinc plating and other electroplating technologies will continue to be in the automotive and in the electronic manufacturing industries. As these industries, and particularly electronics, continues to grow, the demand for electroplating is also going to continue to increase.
Another important trend is the addition of passivates as a post-treatment option for parts and components that have gone through the zinc electroplating process. This adds to the corrosion resistance of the part by adding a self-healing film, eliminating the corrosion that can occur without the passivation process.