The New Face of Chrome Plating
New technology taking the place of chrome plating with the
ability to chrome plate metal as well as non-metal surfaces
(plastic, fiberglass, wood, virtually any surface). Without the
pitfalls of conventional chrome plating and its environmental
hazards. Used in a wide range of industries chrome plating has
become increasingly difficult in recent years. Regulations
designed to protect against the safety and environmental hazards
of hexavalent chrome have increased the cost of chrome plating
and burdened facilities performing plating services.
Conventional chrome plating has several limitations and cannot
be used to chrome plate many surfaces. While industry downsizing
and consolidation has led to the closure or offshore relocation
of as many as half of the chrome plating shops in North America
due to EPA regulations. Europe is ambivalent and Asia is largely
unconcerned with regulating chrome plating pushing much of North
America chrome plating over seas. The need has arisen for an
alternative to chrome plating that does not have the
environmental and safety issues of conventional chrome plating.
Chemical metalizing uses a chemical process instead of an
electrical process to attach metal to a substrate. One advantage
is nonmetal as well as metal can be chrome plated (plastic,
fiberglass, wood, virtually any surface). There is also more
flexibility in the parts making for fewer failures due to flex.
The added flexibility is due to the thinness of the coating.
With conventional chrome plating the thickness of the different
layers of metals applied does not allow for flexibility this can
result in a failure of the part. The process does not use
hexavalent chromium the main environmental problem of
conventional chrome. It can also be tinted to achieve colors
such as gold, black chrome, even red, blue or green. The only
down side of this new process is that the durability is
comparable to that of a high-end industrial or automotive
finish. Chemical metalizing has not yet reached the level to
take over all of hard chroming uses but is now a viable solution
for most chroming needs. To learn more or find out if our
process could work for you please contact me.