Where the
world gathers for metal finishing
Q&As since 1989


-----

We want to sell plating chemicals

December 11, 2010

Dear Sir,

I want to start business of providing chemicals to local Electroplating Companies. Here in my city following plating on Brass Components can be done;

1. Nickel Plating
2. Zinc Plating
3. Silver Plating
4. Natural Brass Plating

So, I want help regarding chemicals used in this industry. I want to know which chemicals are used in above said plating. And from where I can get those chemicals?

Look forward for kind response.

Viral Shah
supplier - Rajkot, Gujarat, India

---

Hi, Viral. If I skip through something that you don't understand, let me know. And if it seems that I am "talking down to you", forgive me, but It's not clear to me what you know about the industry and what you don't know yet, so I don't want to skip things.

In most of the world, although maybe not in every city, electroplating is a well-developed industry which relies on patents and trade secrets to make possible the supply of highly developed electroplating processes to plating shops. That is, you don't make most plating baths from generic chemicals; rather you distribute and locally stock nickel plating baths or zinc plating process, etc., which are the products of major world-wide plating process manufacturers like Atotech, Chemetall, Degussa, Enthone, EPI, Heatbath, Henkel, Luster-On, Macdermid, Surtec, Technic, etc.

As a potential distributor you would research which of these companies do not have local distribution in your city, or are dissatisfied with the distribution they have, and you would make arrangements to become their distributor. Joining organizations like the Indian Association of Metal Finishing and subscribing to the industry journals like Metal Finishing will help bring you up to speed on what you need to know. Good luck.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
December 23, 2010