Plating, anodizing, powder coating, passivation
Metal coating services, matched to your part and spec
Send one RFQ with the drawing, base material and finish. We pass it to up to 3 shops that already run that spec on a line big enough for your part. Reply within 24 business hours.
- Carbon steel substratebase
- Zinc-nickel deposit, 12 to 15% Ni8 to 13 µm
- Trivalent passivateunder 1 µm
- Sealer or topcoat1 to 3 µm
Typical for brackets, fasteners and hydraulic fittings that see road salt or outdoor exposure.
- Aluminum 6061 substratebase
- Zincate pretreatunder 1 µm
- Electroless nickel, mid phosphorus12 to 25 µm
Even thickness inside bores and threads. Common on valve bodies and housings that need wear and solderability.
- Aluminum substratebase
- Oxide grown into the partabout 25 µm
- Oxide built above the surfaceabout 25 µm
- Seal (optional on Type III)in pores
The oxide grows out of the aluminum. About half the thickness builds outward, half goes into the part.
- Steel substratebase
- Zinc or iron phosphate1 to 3 µm
- Polyester powder, cured60 to 100 µm
Thick and cosmetic. Threads, bores and ground contacts are masked before spraying.
Why buyers send finishing work here
It comes down to the match: shops that fit your part, from the first quote.
Matched by specialisation
Your RFQ goes to up to 3 shops that run your process every week, picked for your finish, spec and part size. Not a general directory.
Professional suppliers
Shops in the network quote to your drawing and spec, communicate clearly and keep you updated while your parts are finished.
You deal with the shop
Quotes, terms and delivery are agreed between you and the shop. Free for buyers.
Which finish family fits your part?
Pick the base material and the one thing the finish must do. You get two or three finish families to ask about and the one detail that usually goes wrong on the drawing.
Finish families to ask about
- Zinc-nickel plating
- Zinc plating to ASTM B633
- Powder coat over phosphate
Watch forPlating adds thickness on threads. State whether the thread class applies before or after plating.
Nothing is sent. This check runs in your browser. Send your RFQ and the shops confirm the right finish for your part.
Barrel, rack or line: how your parts are handled
The same finish can run three ways. How the part is held through the tanks decides the price, the marks it leaves and which shop can take the job. A barrel shop cannot quote a 2 metre frame, and a big line will not want 5,000 loose screws.
Barrel
Parts tumble loose in a rotating barrel through each tank.
- Screws, nuts, pins, small stampings
- Lowest cost per part
- Contact marks and some nicking
- Flat parts can stick together
Rack
Each part is hung on a wire or fixture and moved tank to tank.
- Larger, heavier or cosmetic parts
- Better thickness control
- A small rack mark where it hangs
- More labor per part
Conveyor line
Parts hang on hooks that run through wash, spray and cure ovens.
- Powder coat and e-coat
- Sized by the largest part that fits the line
- Needs a hang hole or hook point
- Masking done by hand before the line
Common finishes, specs and typical thickness
What buyers usually write on the drawing for each finish. These are typical ranges, not promises. The shop that quotes you confirms the class and thickness for your part.
| Finish | Common spec | Typical thickness | Base materials | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zinc plating | ASTM B633 | 5 to 25 µm | Carbon and alloy steel | Cheapest corrosion finish for steel. Clear, yellow or black passivate. |
| Zinc-nickel | ASTM B841, AMS 2417 | 5 to 15 µm | Steel, hardened steel with bake | Several times the salt spray life of plain zinc. Common cadmium replacement. |
| Electroless nickel | ASTM B733, AMS 2404 | 5 to 75 µm | Steel, aluminum, copper, stainless | Even thickness in bores and threads. Phosphorus level sets hardness and corrosion. |
| Hard chrome | AMS 2460 | 12 to 250 µm | Steel | Wear surfaces and rods, usually ground after plating. Fewer shops run it. |
| Anodize Type II | MIL-PRF-8625 Type II | 5 to 25 µm | Aluminum | Dyeable. Sealed for corrosion. Color varies by alloy. |
| Hard anodize Type III | MIL-PRF-8625 Type III | 25 to 75 µm | Aluminum | Wear resistant. About half builds outward, half penetrates. |
| Chem film | MIL-DTL-5541 | Under 1 µm | Aluminum | Keeps electrical conductivity. Good primer base. |
| Passivation | ASTM A967, AMS 2700 | No build-up | Stainless steel | Removes free iron left by machining. No dimensional change. |
| Black oxide | MIL-DTL-13924 | About 1 µm | Steel, stainless | Matte black with oil or wax. Mild indoor corrosion only. |
| Powder coat | Customer spec, AAMA 2603 to 2605 | 50 to 100 µm | Steel, aluminum | Thick and cosmetic. Mask threads, bores and ground points. |
| PVD | Customer spec | 1 to 5 µm | Hardened steel, stainless, titanium, carbide | Hard, thin coatings such as TiN, CrN and DLC. Runs at elevated temperature. |
Parts and industries we match finishing work for
Each industry brings its own paperwork. Mention salt spray targets, PPAP, bake certificates or cleanliness rules in the RFQ so we match shops that already work that way.
Fasteners
Barrel zinc, zinc-nickel and zinc flake on screws, bolts and nuts, often with bake.
Stamped parts
Brackets, clips and shields in barrel or rack zinc, e-coat or powder.
Machined parts
Anodize, electroless nickel and passivation on housings, manifolds and shafts.
Hydraulics
Zinc-nickel on fittings, hard chrome on rods, electroless nickel on valve bodies.
Enclosures
Powder coat and chem film on sheet metal boxes, panels and chassis.
Automotive
Zinc-nickel and zinc flake to OEM corrosion specs, with PPAP paperwork.
Electronics
Tin, silver, gold and nickel on contacts, busbars and heat sinks.
Medical
Passivation and electropolish on stainless instruments, anodize on aluminum devices.
Architectural hardware
Powder coat and anodize on handles, rails and exterior fittings.
Finishes, specs and paperwork per industry: finishing applications. How each base metal takes a finish: finishing by base material.
How it works
One RFQ from you. A short list of finishing shops that fit. No bidding platform and no middleman on the order.
Send the drawing and finish
Upload the drawing or photos and tell us base material, finish, spec, lot size and any masking. Takes about three minutes.
We match up to 3 shops
We check the spec and pick shops that run the process, hold the approval and have a tank or line that fits the part. You hear from us within 24 business hours.
Shops quote you directly
Each shop contacts you with a price and lead time. You send parts to the one you choose and pay them directly.
What drives the price of plating and coating
Finishing is priced by the load, not by the kilo of metal. If a quote looks high, one of these is usually the reason, and several you can change on the drawing.
- Surface area and loadShops price by how many parts fit on a rack, in a barrel or on a line hook. Awkward shapes that hang one at a time cost more.
- Lot chargeEvery run carries a minimum. Small lots of 20 parts often pay the same as a full rack.
- MaskingPlugging threads, taping ground points and masking bores is hand work. It can cost more than the coating itself.
- Spec and paperworkA named military or aerospace spec means process control, test coupons and certs. Salt spray or adhesion testing adds more.
- Embrittlement bakeHardened steel needs hours in an oven after plating. That adds cost and a day of lead time.
- ThicknessThicker deposits take longer in the tank. A tight thickness band means more measuring and more rework.
- Stripping and reworkParts that arrive oily, rusty or with an old finish must be stripped or cleaned first.
- PackagingCosmetic parts packed individually cost more than bulk parts in a bin.
Parts ready for finishing?
Send the short version now. We will ask for anything missing. To give the spec, masking and part size up front, use the full RFQ form.
Your files go only to the shops we match. Ask for an NDA and nothing is shared until it is signed.
Run a plating, anodizing or coating line? Get RFQs that fit it.
Shops see a preview of each request, with finish, spec, part size and lot, before paying for it. You talk to the buyer directly and we take no commission on the order.
Sell plating chemistry, powder, racks or line equipment to finishing shops? Become a partner supplier.
Countries we cover
Buyers in these countries can send an RFQ and shops there can register. On the RFQ you pick a preferred supplier region and we match within it when a registered shop fits your process, spec and part size. Country not listed? Send the RFQ anyway. If no shop fits, we tell you within 24 business hours.
- North AmericaUnited States, Canada and Mexico
- EuropeGermany, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Poland, Czechia, Sweden, Denmark and Portugal
- JapanJapan
- KoreaSouth Korea
- Rest of AsiaChina, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines and India
Questions buyers ask
Something else? Email .
Is this service free for buyers?
Yes. You pay nothing to send an RFQ or to receive quotes. Finishing shops pay us for matched requests. Price, terms and delivery are agreed between you and the shop.
Do you plate or coat parts yourselves?
No. We are a matching service, not a plating shop. The shops that quote you run the tanks and lines, and you place the order with them directly.
Who sees my drawing?
Shops first see a short preview with substrate, finish, spec, part size and lot size. It does not include your name, company or files. Your contact details and files go only to the shops we match, up to 3. If you ask for an NDA, we hold the files until it is signed.
What if I do not know which finish I need?
Describe what the part has to survive: outdoor exposure, wear, electrical contact, a tight fit. Add the base material and hardness. We pass that to shops that can recommend a finish and quote it, and the self-check on this page gives you a starting point.
How many quotes will I get?
Up to 3. Tank size, line type and the specs a shop is approved for narrow the list fast, so some parts get one or two quotes rather than a padded list.
Where are the shops located?
That depends on the part and on the region you pick on the RFQ form. Finishing is often done close to where the parts are made, so tell us where your parts ship from and we match on that.
Guides for buyers of coated parts
- Specs
EN 1811 Nickel Release: What the Limits Mean for Plated Parts That Touch Skin
EN 1811 nickel release limits explained: 0.5 and 0.2 micrograms per cm2 per week, the two-year coating rule, EN 12472 wear tests and how to write it on an RFQ.
- Finishes
Zinc Flake Coatings for Fasteners: When to Specify Them and What to Check
Zinc flake coating explained for fasteners: no hydrogen embrittlement, typical thickness, salt spray targets, torque-tension control and when to choose it.
- Finishes
Wear Surfaces: Choosing Between Hard Anodize, Nitriding and Hard Chrome
Wear resistant coating options compared: hard anodize, nitriding and hard chrome by base metal, case depth, hardness, distortion, hydrogen risk and typical use.