At EC Williams, we have been providing specialist electroplating services for over a century, offering high-quality, custom solutions to meet the diverse needs of industries such as automotive, engineering, and electronics. Our team of experts is dedicated to delivering superior finishes that enhance the durability, corrosion resistance, and performance of your components. We offer a wide range of plating services, ensuring that you receive the optimal solution for your specific requirements:
Our Zinc Nickel Plating services provide superior corrosion resistance and meet the rigorous requirements of major automotive specifications. This alloy finish is ideal for components exposed to harsh conditions, including marine environments and high-temperature applications. EC Williams has extensive experience in delivering zinc nickel plating to automotive and aerospace industries.
Copper Plating is often used as an undercoat for tin, silver, or nickel plating, enhancing corrosion resistance and providing a strong base for additional coatings. It can also be used as a finish in its own right, offering conductivity and aesthetic appeal. Whether for decorative or functional purposes, our barrel and rack plating facilities ensure a uniform and high-quality finish.
Nickel Plating provides a highly durable finish with excellent corrosion resistance and wear properties. At EC Williams, we offer barrel Nickel Plating for a variety of substrates, including steel, brass, and zinc die-cast components. Nickel is frequently used in applications requiring both aesthetic and functional performance, such as electrical components and fasteners.
At EC Williams, we provide both bright and matt tin plating options, depending on your application. Tin plating offers excellent corrosion resistance, solderability, and electrical conductivity, making it ideal for use in electronics, power distribution, and automotive components. Our jig and barrel plating facilities can accommodate projects of various sizes, ensuring flexibility and precision.
Zinc Plating is one of the most versatile electroplating finishes available. At EC Williams, we provide zinc plating with a range of passivates, including clear, yellow, black, and olive drab, to suit various applications. Zinc plating offers excellent corrosion resistance, making it ideal for fasteners, brackets, and automotive components.
Our JS500 zinc plating offers enhanced corrosion resistance by applying a zinc-plated finish with a silicate sealant. This process meets the requirements of both the ELV and RoHS directives, making it a popular choice in the automotive industry for components that need to withstand harsh environmental conditions.
This Trivalent Yellow Passivation process enhances the corrosion resistance of zinc-plated parts. It is chromium(VI)-free, making it an environmentally friendly option that complies with modern safety standards, including RoHS directives. This finish is ideal for automotive and industrial applications requiring reliable corrosion protection without hazardous substances.
Our Stainless Steel Coating services include passivation, which enhances both the appearance and corrosion resistance of stainless steel parts. Passivation removes contaminants from the surface of the steel, forming a protective oxide layer that prevents rust and improves longevity in aggressive environments.
Additional Services
In addition to our wide range of electroplating services, EC Williams offers several specialised treatments designed to enhance the performance, appearance, and durability of your components. These additional services allow us to provide comprehensive surface finishing solutions that meet the stringent requirements of industries such as automotive, aerospace, electronics, and defence.
Passivation of Stainless Steel
Passivation is a critical process for enhancing the corrosion resistance and appearance of stainless steel components. By removing free iron and contaminants from the surface, passivation creates a protective oxide layer that prevents rust and prolongs the life of your components, especially in harsh environments. This service is particularly valuable for industries where stainless steel integrity is vital, such as in medical and food-grade applications.
Phosphating
At EC Williams, we offer zinc phosphating services that improve the corrosion resistance and wear properties of small metal components. Phosphating creates a robust, adherent surface that is ideal for subsequent painting or the application of lubricant coatings, commonly used in the automotive and engineering sectors.
Black Oxide Coating
Our black oxide coating (also known as chemical blacking) provides a durable, aesthetic black finish for mild steel components. This treatment is ideal for applications where low reflectivity is desired, such as defence and machinery parts. We offer this finish with or without an oil treatment, depending on the specific corrosion resistance and appearance requirements.
Hydrogen De-Embrittlement
Hydrogen de-embrittlement is a crucial post-plating process, especially for high-strength steel components. During electroplating, hydrogen atoms can become trapped within the metal structure, leading to potential brittleness and fractures under stress. Our heat treatment process effectively removes this trapped hydrogen, ensuring your components maintain their strength and durability, particularly in high-stress applications like fasteners and automotive parts.
Lubricant Coatings
For components requiring specific torque control or corrosion protection, we offer a variety of lubricant coatings. These coatings, including de-watering oils, torque control fluids, and lanolin coatings, are designed to reduce friction, enhance corrosion resistance, and improve mechanical performance. This service is particularly beneficial for automotive and industrial applications, where precise torque specifications are critical.
JS500 Zinc Plating
JS500 is a specialised zinc plating process that combines a zinc coating with a silicate sealant to provide enhanced corrosion resistance. This finish is ideal for automotive components and fasteners that must meet RoHS and ELV directives. JS500 offers a superior alternative to traditional zinc finishes for components exposed to harsh environments and is designed to ensure long-lasting performance.
Brass Plating
For a more decorative finish, EC Williams offers brass plating. Applied over a nickel undercoat, brass provides an attractive, golden finish that is often used in architectural fittings, musical instruments, and decorative hardware. Our brass plating service ensures a durable, lustrous appearance while also offering moderate corrosion resistance.
Chrome Alloy Plating
Chrome Alloy Plating is a modern, barrel-plating alternative to traditional chrome plating. This finish is ideal for small components and fasteners where a bright, durable finish is required. It offers the advantages of traditional chrome plating, such as wear resistance and aesthetic appeal, while being more suitable for complex parts due to the flexibility of the barrel plating process.
At EC Williams, our additional services complement our core electroplating offerings, ensuring that we can meet the most demanding specifications across various industries.
For more information about these services OR to discuss how we can tailor a solution to meet your needs, please contact us today at 0121 236 2524.
Your Key questions answered
What are the key advantages of working with EC Williams for industrial electroplating?
At EC Williams, we combine over a century of expertise with ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications, ensuring top-quality electroplating that meets both industry and environmental standards. Our advanced processes cater to a variety of industrial applications, offering tailored solutions in corrosion resistance, electrical conductivity, and wear protection. We take a consultative approach, working closely with our clients to deliver results that match their exact requirements, whether for the automotive, aerospace, or defence sectors.
How does EC Williams ensure that electroplated components meet exact industrial specifications?
EC Williams utilises precise control systems and rigorous quality assurance processes to ensure that every electroplated component meets the strict specifications required by industries such as automotive, electronics, and engineering. Our advanced facilities can monitor plating thickness, uniformity, and adhesion strength, ensuring that each batch conforms to required tolerances. We provide full traceability of materials and processes to guarantee compliance with relevant standards.
How does EC Williams handle large-scale industrial electroplating projects?
At EC Williams, we are equipped to handle large-scale electroplating projects with high-volume capacity, thanks to our state-of-the-art barrel and rack plating facilities. We regularly serve global manufacturers in the automotive and defence sectors, ensuring quick turnarounds without sacrificing quality. Our systems are scalable, and our supply chain management capabilities enable us to deliver reliably, regardless of project size.
Can EC Williams provide electroplating solutions for components used in extreme environments?
Yes, EC Williams specialises in electroplating solutions that offer high-performance protection, for components exposed to extreme environments, including high humidity, saltwater, and temperature fluctuations. We offer services like Zinc Nickel plating, which provides superior corrosion resistance, and black oxide coating, ideal for components requiring low reflectivity and durability in harsh conditions, such as those in the defence and marine industries.
What industries does EC Williams cater to, and how do you customise electroplating solutions for each?
At EC Williams, we serve a wide range of industries, including automotive, defence, aerospace, electronics, and engineering. Each industry has specific needs, and we offer tailored solutions to meet these. For example, our tin plating is widely used in electronics for its conductivity and solderability, while our JS500 Zinc plating is ideal for automotive fasteners requiring high corrosion resistance. We adapt our processes based on the component’s end-use environment and function.
How does EC Williams address environmental concerns in its electroplating processes?
Sustainability is a key focus at EC Williams. We use lead-free and RoHS-compliant processes wherever possible, including in our lead-free tin plating. Our facilities are certified to ISO 14001, ensuring that we meet the highest environmental management standards. We are also continually improving our waste management and recycling systems, reducing our environmental footprint without compromising the quality of our electroplating services.
What role does hydrogen de-embrittlement play in EC Williams' services, and why is it important?
Hydrogen de-embrittlement is a vital process for ensuring the integrity of high-strength steel components after electroplating. During plating, hydrogen can become absorbed into the metal, potentially leading to brittleness and failure under stress. At EC Williams, we offer post-plating heat treatment to effectively remove hydrogen, ensuring that critical components - such as those used in aerospace and automotive applications - maintain their full strength and durability.
How does EC Williams' electroplating extend the life cycle of automotive components?
EC Williams provides specialised Zinc Nickel, tin, and phosphating services that significantly enhance the corrosion resistance and wear durability of automotive components. Our electroplating solutions are designed to meet the exacting standards of the automotive industry, protecting parts from the effects of rust, heat, and mechanical stress. This not only extends the life cycle of components but also reduces long-term maintenance costs for manufacturers.
What technical support does EC Williams offer to ensure smooth project execution?
We provide extensive technical support to our clients, from the initial consultation through to the final delivery of electroplated components. Our team of experts offers guidance on material selection, plating processes, and post-treatment options to ensure your project meets its performance goals. In addition, we offer ongoing support for any required adjustments or refinements to meet evolving industry standards or unique project specifications.
How does EC Williams ensure traceability and compliance with industry standards?
At EC Williams, we operate with full traceability across all our processes. Every component is tracked from the initial material selection to the final plating, ensuring compliance with industry-specific regulations like ISO 9001, RoHS, and ELV directives. This commitment to traceability provides our clients with complete confidence in the quality and compliance of the components they receive, making us a trusted partner for critical projects in regulated industries such as aerospace, automotive, and defence.
