Our Processes

Black Oxide Coating

Black oxide is a conversion coating for ferrous metals that provides a uniform black finish with minimal dimensional build-up. It is commonly used when appearance, mild corrosion protection, and tight dimensional tolerances are required.

During the process, parts are immersed in a heated alkaline bath containing sodium hydroxide and oxidizing agents. This chemical reaction converts the metal surface into magnetite (Fe₃O₄), creating a durable porous layer that bonds directly with the base metal.

Because black oxide itself offers limited corrosion protection, a post-treatment sealant is applied to improve durability and appearance.

Available sealants include:

• Wax
• Water Displacing Oil
• Clear lacquer
• Amine sealers

When sealed, black oxide produces a deep, lustrous black finish with improved corrosion resistance and lubricity.

We offer both rack and barrel black oxide processing to accommodate various part sizes and production volumes.

Compliance:
REACH, ROHS, ELV, and WEEE compliant.

Dip / Spin Coating (Mechanical Coating System)

Dip/spin coating is an economical, environmentally friendly finishing method used primarily for high-volume small parts such as fasteners.

This system offers several advantages:

• Increased corrosion resistance
• Reduced or eliminated hydrogen embrittlement
• Consistent coating coverage
• Efficient high-volume processing

The process involves placing parts into a mesh basket, immersing them in coating material, and spinning them to remove excess coating before curing in an oven.

Steps include:

1. Parts are loaded into a rotating basket
2. The basket is submerged in coating material
3. The basket spins to remove excess coating
4. Parts are cured in a controlled oven

Dip/spin coatings are commonly applied over phosphate coatings, but can also be applied directly to bare metal surfaces.

We offer several coating colors including:

• Black
• Yellow
• Blue

Our dip/spin process is ROHS, REACH, ELV, and WEEE compliant.

Zinc Phosphate Coating

Zinc phosphate coatings are commonly used to provide:

• Corrosion resistance
• Lubricity for moving parts
• An excellent base layer for paint or other coatings

The coating is created by immersing metal parts in a phosphoric acid solution containing zinc salts, which chemically reacts with the metal surface to form insoluble crystalline phosphate layers.

Three coating weights are typically used:

Light Weight (≤ 200 mg/ft?)
Used for applications requiring lubricity, such as gears and moving components.

Medium Weight (1000–2500 mg/ft?)
The most common coating used in automotive and industrial applications.

Heavy Weight (≥ 5000 mg/ft?)
Provides enhanced abrasion resistance for demanding applications.

Phosphate coatings are frequently used as a base for oils, sealers, paints, or dip/spin coatings.

Available finishes include:

• Standard Gray
• Black

Available topcoats include:

• Oil
• Wax
• Clear sealers

Our zinc phosphate process is ROHS, REACH, and ELV compliant.

Zinc Electroplating

Zinc plating is one of the most widely used methods for protecting steel and iron components from corrosion.

Zinc acts as a sacrificial coating, meaning it corrodes before the underlying steel, helping extend the life of the part.

At our facility, we use an acid chloride zinc plating process, which provides:

• Bright, attractive finishes
• Uniform coverage
• Reliable corrosion protection
• Cost-effective plating compared to nickel or chrome

Parts are first cleaned and pickled to remove oils and oxides, then immersed in the plating bath where zinc is electrochemically deposited onto the surface.

Typical plating thickness ranges from:

0.0001" – 0.001", depending on specification and required corrosion protection.

Post-plating treatments can significantly improve performance and appearance.

Available options include:

• Trivalent chromate passivate (Cr?+)
• Polymer sealers
• Oils
• Waxes
• Torque-control coatings

Available chromate colors:

• Clear
• Yellow
• Black