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An insight into UK gold plating

May 09, 2023

With electronics playing a part in everyday life, from cars to washing machines, computers to telephones, the UK gold plating industry is in high demand.


What is gold plating?

Gold plating is a form of electroplating whereby a thin layer of gold is deposited on a substrate to improve its properties. The component which is to be plated is placed in an electrolyte bath which contains gold atoms. An electrical current is then passed through the bath to achieve a chemical reaction whereby the electrolyte splits up and some of the gold atoms are deposited on to the component.

Why gold plating?

With superior electrical conductivity and solderability combined with its resistance to corrosion, gold plating is ideal for use in a variety of commercial and industrial applications.


Gold is completely indestructible and therefore ideal for use in electrical connectors and contacts for automotive, aerospace and electronics industries where quality and reliability are a key factor. It is also environmentally friendly. In a throwaway culture, gold is fully recyclable, which means it can be used again and again as technology changes and improves.


Where components are subjected to a number of outside factors such as air, water and oxygen, it is important that it is protected from them, especially when used in highly sensitive industries such as aerospace. Unlike some metals, gold is completely resistant to these factors and will not rust or corrode when subjected to them.

UK gold plating for a quality you can rely on

There are many UK and European regulations that govern the UK gold plating industry and the surface coating sector as a whole. From restrictions on the use of certain chemicals and metals to health and safety legislation, all UK gold plating companies have to comply with these fully.


In addition, companies carrying out gold plating believe in delivering only high quality gold plating solutions, and this philosophy is often supported by various accreditations. These include:


  • ISO 9001. This is a certified quality management system accredited by BSi. It demonstrates to customers that companies can consistently provide high quality products and services.
  • AS9100 quality management standard for the aerospace industry.
  • National Aerospace and Defence Contractors Accreditation Programme for chemical processing (Nadcap)


The UK gold plating industry works hard to ensure that only high quality plating solutions are supplied to their customers, whilst at the same time protecting their workforce and the environment.

Apart from gold plating what other forms of surface coating are available in the UK?


Electroplating

Although gold plating is a popular form of electroplating for many industries, there are a number of other metals which can be used to improve components and enhance their properties. These include, but are not limited to, silver, tin, zinc, copper, cadmium, chromium, nickel, platinum and lead.


Anodising

Hard anodised and sulphuric anodised coatings are used for durability, wear and corrosion resistance, as well as decorative finishes.


Electroless nickel coatings and nickel boron coatings

With these coatings it is possible to plate both metallic and non-metallic substrates such as ceramics and glass. These coatings provide corrosion and chemical resistant surfaces.

Frost Electroplating is an industry leading surface coating provider based in the West Midlands. Our customers around the world depend on us to provide solutions to problems and improve the performance of their products using a number of surface coating technologies. We are able to provide plating services for any combination of size, production volume and specification for a large number of diverse industries.


To find out more about gold plating and the many other services we provide, please browse our website. If you would like specific help with your project, please telephone us on 0121 433 3091.

UK silver plating

UK Silver Plating

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Excellence in the UK silver plating industry The UK has a reputation for engineering and manufacturing excellence, and this is no truer than in the surface engineering industry. The UK has many forward-thinking, innovative companies working in this technically demanding industry. UK silver plating has been used in one form or another for over 200 years, first to provide cheaper alternatives to items that would originally have been made from solid silver such as candlesticks, serving platters, cutlery etc. In the 19th Century, however, new methods of plating were introduced such as electroplating which allowed a number of metal substrates to be plated for industrial purposes. During this time, a number of electroplating companies were formed, some of which are still going strong today. So what does it take to be one of the leading surface engineering companies in the country, providing high quality UK silver plating and other electroplating and anodising services?

Industrial Silver Plating Service

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Choosing an industrial silver plating service There may be a number of reasons why you choose to have your products silver plated rather than choosing another form of surface coating. However, you need to be sure that the company you choose to carry this process out for you is providing the best possible service available. You may be looking for a silver plating service provider for a new product, or you might not be happy with your existing provider and are looking for a change. Here, we explore just what you should be looking for when choosing an industrial silver plating service. Experience and reputation In the surface coating industry, experience and reputation are key. Make sure that you choose a company who has a great reputation for providing a high quality silver plating service over many years. Look for other indicators that the company supplies excellent products with a great service, such as accreditations from industries they supply, or recognition from industry peers.

Silver Plating Fasteners Service

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Improving the performance of your product with silver plating for fasteners The role of the humble fastener has changed significantly over the last few years. With new technologies and industries, the fastener is now required to perform under a number of stresses, over a range of applications. From extremes of temperatures to exposure to chemicals, the fastener has to withstand a lot during its lifetime. Critically, manufacturers need to know that they can rely on its performance over the lifetime of their products. Traditional methods for modern applications Many manufacturers in industries such as aerospace, automotive, defence and electronics have turned to the traditional method of silver plating to provide them with superior performance for many modern applications.

Why electroplating bolts and other fasteners is important

13 Mar, 2019
Whatever the industry you work in, staying ahead of your competitors is a key factor that we all face. Your customers expect that the products they source from you are fit for purpose, reliable and of a high quality. It is therefore extremely important that any components you buy in from other manufacturers to use within your products, even down to the tiniest screw, meet this criteria also. Why should you use electroplated bolts and other types of fasteners? Your customers need to be able to rely on your products. It’s not acceptable that bolts or screws that are used to assemble a product don’t perform how they should – poor plating can lead to corrosion and shearing. This is not only costly to customers, but can also be costly to the company, who would have to rectify the job. Electroplating bolts and other types of fasteners can improve their performance and their properties. Depending on the type of plating you choose for your bolts – silver, gold, zinc etc. – there are a number of improved properties that can be obtained. From chemical corrosion resistance to low friction and galling resistance, improved conductivity to high hardness, oxidation resistance to extreme heat resistance, all of these can be achieved by electroplating.
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