How Surface Finishing Can Add Value to Your Product
Adding a surface finish to your product can add value to it in a variety of ways. Keep reading to find out how.
Read MoreDecorative Finishing vs. Functional Finishing
Surface finishing is a key method for adding value to a component. Both functional and decorative finishing can add value to a product: how are they different?
Read MorePlating on Plastic: Causes of Common Imperfections
There are a variety of conditions during the molding, handling, and plating of plastic components which could potentially lead to imperfections in the finished product. What causes them?
Hexavalent vs. Trivalent Chrome Plating
What’s the difference between traditional hexavalent chrome plating and trivalent chrome plating? Let us provide some clarity.
3 Ways to Save Time and Money When Sourcing Parts
Sourcing components for your products can be a lengthy and costly ordeal. Read on for a few ways to minimize the hassle and expense of part sourcing.
What are the Differences Between Electroplating and PVD?
Have you ever wondered what the differences are between electroplating and PVD? While both types of finishing provide many of the same benefits, there are some big differences you should be aware of. Difference in process, environmental impact, and the benefits each offer are all key factors to consider when choosing the best option for […]
PVD Methods Explained
PVD (physical vapor deposition) is a highly technical coating process performed in an artificial vacuum, known for its aesthetic and performance benefits. There are several different methods for producing PVD coatings, including cathode arc evaporation, magnetron sputter, electron beam evaporation, ion beam sputter, and laser ablation. Here we’ll discuss those PVD methods. Cathode Arc Evaporation […]
Kitchen Trends and Decorative PVD
Every year in January the attention of designers and manufacturers turns to what is new in kitchen and bath trends at the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS). All manufacturers of kitchen or bath related items hope to correctly predict the next big design ideas in order to produce the best products to meet upcoming […]
What is Passivation?
After stainless steel part has been manufactured, an important additional step needs to be taken in order to make the part rust-resistant. This vital next step is called passivation which keeps the metal from corroding. What is Passivation? Passivation is a process which enhances the corrosion resistance of metal components. During the process, parts are […]
ECF Achieves DecoKlad Certification
In September 2020 MacDermid Enthone presented Electro Chemical Finishing with our DecoKlad license. We are very pleased to announce that we are now an authorized chrome plating applicator for MacDermid Enthone Fashion Finishes®. What Is DecoKlad? MacDermid Enthone is the world’s leading supplier of plating chemistries to the automotive industry. In order to ensure that […]
Popular Luxury Fixture Finishes
In our last blog we talked about Kitchen trends, focusing on home design trends and how fixtures fit into that greater picture. There is a demand among homeowners for specific types of fixtures and luxury fixture finishes that stand out from the ordinary and make an aesthetically pleasing impact on a kitchen or bath space. […]
Decorative PVD for Automotive Parts
Due to increasingly tighter government regulations, the auto industry has been compelled to increase the fuel efficiency of the vehicles they manufacture. One of the ways they have accomplished this is to reduce the weight of the cars they produce by using plastic materials instead of metal for many of their decorative touches. There are […]
Satin Nickel Finish vs. Brushed Nickel Finishing
ECF offers a wide range of finishes for parts, including a variety of choices for satin finishes. Some of the terminology of these finishes can be confusing, however, so in this blog we will discuss how a satin nickel finish is different from brushed nickel and what that means for the finished parts. Why Are […]