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Cost Competitive Electroless Nickel possible in USA?
Q. My name is Mark Simpson. I am an engineering manager. My company manufactures large telecommunication type equipment which uses Nickel coatings on some sheetmetal components for EMI shielding. The design is controlled in Japan and we manufacture for the North America market place.
One of my engineering groups requirements is to locally build components for our use. We locally procure as long as the cost and quality meet our requirements. We are successful in this for all sheet metal parts that require no post finish (certain e.g., or galvanneal sheetmetal designs) or have painted finishes (like powder coat/e-coat finishes).
We consistently fail to meet our cost targets when the sheet metal requires Nickel plating.
Is there a fundamental reason Nickel coating is the US should be higher than what is produced in Japan? Some Federal or local government regulations that increases US producers costs?
Any "rule of thumb" for the price range per square inch or square feet for plating Nickel (Electroless Bright Nickel ASTM B733) in the US. Our plating thickness is approximately 8-10 microns.
Engineering Management - Norman, Oklahoma, USA
December 17, 2009
December 21, 2009
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A. Mark, A lot of variables control the cost of EN on parts.
The cost of nickel is very high right now, The cost of labor doubles about every 10 years and is greatly different in different areas of the country. Because of environmental rules, EN in CA will be more than most states.
Then we come into the shape of the part. How much handling does it take, is it easy to rack, does it cup liquids, will it trap gasses during plating? Then you get into the size of the order and the required QC on the job. Is it a one time job? How soon a turn around to you demand. How far are you willing to ship it? How well does it need to be packaged for shipment?
Many years ago, EN averaged about $15 a mil sq ft. I would expect double to triple that in today's market.
- Navarre, Florida
A. Our price around $ 0.3-0.7 / square decimeter [ed note: $2.79 - $6.50 per sq. ft ... but is this for a full mil thickness, Mike?]. But we are in China.
Mike Dil- ShangHai, China
December 31, 2009
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