Production facilities for electroplating and surface technol

Pretreatment is a crucial step in electroplating. During the manufacturing of components, oils and fats are used to facilitate the machining of the workpieces and temporarily protect the metal surface from corrosion. Before the electroplating process, these oils and fats must be removed from the workpiece to be plated, as any residues can lead to coating defects. A thorough pretreatment is an important prerequisite for a high-quality coating. Depending on the process sequence, pretreatment may involve multiple steps. In this group of processes, Schlötter offers boiling or hot degreasing, electrolytic degreasing for a variety of base materials such as steel, copper, brass, as well as pretreatments for aluminum and zinc die casting.

Electroplated metal surfaces are found in all areas of daily life and are used not only for technical purposes but also for decorative ones. For this, metallic coatings made of copper, nickel, nickel alloys, chrome, silver, and gold are used, which can offer both a matte and a high-gloss appearance. The most common application areas for decorative surfaces are found in the automotive industry, in sanitary areas for items such as fittings, but also in the consumer goods industry, thus combining functionality with appealing aesthetics.

The smallest electronic components, such as chips or connectors, present special challenges for electroplating coatings. In addition to the conductor pattern construction in the manufacturing of printed circuit boards, copper processes are used for filling blind microvias (blind holes) and metallizing through holes. Good metal distribution is necessary even with unfavorable geometry. The most important application areas are found in the automotive industry, telecommunications, and consumer goods industry, but also in the field of e-mobility.

Anodizing stands for electrolytic oxidation of aluminum and is a process for strengthening the natural oxide layer present on aluminum through anodic oxidation. Unlike traditional electroplating processes, anodizing dissolves the top layer of aluminum and converts it into aluminum oxide. The resulting oxide layer protects the underlying workpiece from corrosion.