Plating is often used for protection and appearance to ensure a long-life and aesthetic appeal for car parts – it’s a key component to your product integrity and brand reputation.
Auto plating and electrolytic plating are two approaches to achieving a high-quality, durable coating for car and vehicle parts. a metal coating for protection and appearance, while electro-painting uses an electrically applied paint layer to provide corrosion resistance and an even base for further coating.
Alloy wheels are one example of where plating adds both strength and style. The plating increases a vehicle’s visual appeal while providing a barrier against brake dust.
WHAT IS AUTO PLATING?
Auto plating involves applying a thin surface layer of metal to motor vehicle parts. It’s a coating technique in which a thin surface layer of metal is deposited using a chemical dip process. The layer is thinner than electrolytic plating but of an extremely high quality. It is suited to applications where durability with a high quality aesthetic are most important – like luxury interior components, chrome bumpers and detailing.
BENEFITS OF ELECTROLYTIC PLATING VEHICLE PARTS
Electrolytic plating, uses an electric current to achieve a hard wearing yet still attractive result. Compared to traditional auto plating, electrolytic plating is able to withstand high levels of stress and exposure to harsh elements. This makes it useful for engine components, exhaust systems, and underbody parts.
HIGH-QUALITY CUSTOM PAINT FINISHES
WHAT IS ADVANCED ELECTROPAINTING?
Electropainting (also known as e-coating or electrophoretic painting) is a method where an electric current is used to deposit a layer of paint. Unlike electrolytic plating, which deposits metal, electropainting applies a thin, even coating of paint.
KEY BENEFITS OF E-COATINGS FOR AUTO PARTS
Electropainting is often used for priming automotive parts, offering excellent corrosion protection while serving as a base coat for further finishing with powder coating or wet spray painting.
CUSTOMISATION POSSIBILITIES
Together electropainting, powder coating, and wet spray painting offer options for both finish and designs.
Electropainting achieves a flawless, uniform base coat – even on complex shapes. Customising colour choices provide a durable and corrosion-resistant base for further finishing.
Powder coating provides a wealth of options from matte to gloss, smooth or textured effects, in a wide range of colours. Durable and resistant to chips, scratches, and wear, powder coating is ideal for both decorative and functional parts like wheels and doors.
Wet spray painting provides even more flexibility for custom designs, with options to create metallic, pearlescent, or multi-layered finishes to really vary the look within a range.
FUTURE TRENDS IN AUTO PLATING AND CUSTOMISATION
Manufacturers are always looking for new ways to streamline production while maintaining the highest standards in aesthetics, safety and protection.
At the same time, improvements in the motor industry are being driven by a push toward greater sustainability and efficiency. Emerging trends include the development of eco-friendly coating and plating processes, which reduce the environmental impact of traditional methods by using fewer harmful chemicals and recycling materials more effectively as well as the increasing use of lightweight materials for electric vehicles (EVs).
By incorporating advanced surface plating and painting techniques manufacturers can create lighter parts that enhance energy efficiency without compromising on durability or appearance.
