Automotive
Automotive Plating Services
Manufacturers in the auto industry continuously seek solutions to protect their products from the potential damage caused by wear and corrosion. Because vehicle components face exposure to contaminants like salt, sand, dirt, animal droppings and acid rain, the parts underneath a vehicle and below the hood are susceptible to corrosion. Without protective measures, rust can spread quickly and eventually destroy these valuable components, leaving the vehicle inoperable.
KC Jones Plating Company specializes in surface finishing and metal electroplating services for automotive parts across various applications in the automotive industry. Besides offering industry-best corrosion resistance, our plating services provide metal finishes that increase hardness and durability while enhancing a part’s overall appearance. We have delivered high-performance plating solutions to automakers for decades, including the operation of multiple rack and barrel systems for the Big 3 Automotive and Tier 1 suppliers.
Benefits of Automotive Electroplating Services
Our surface finishing and metal plating processes offer many benefits for automotive components, including the following:
CORROSION RESISTANCE
Corrosion Protection is the most significant advantage that metal plating and surface finishing provide. These plating processes enable vehicles to stay on the road longer by reducing the maintenance and repair costs associated with rust and corrosion.
WEAR RESIStance
Applying the optimal plating to critical automotive components increases hardness and limits the impact of wear and tear, resulting in extended life spans. Longer intervals between repairs and replacements lead to increased cost savings and lower consumer ownership costs.
conductivity
Nickel coating processes with low phosphorus content work well for improving conductivity in electronic components while increasing bonding capabilities and maximizing resistance to alkali solutions.
Improved adhesion
In processes like electroless plating, some coatings enhance the adhesion of overlying plated metals or secondary protective coatings.
Enhanced appearance
Many surface finishing processes add smoothness, luster and shine to automotive components, increasing the aesthetic appeal and overall product appearance.
Automotive Plating Solutions & Services
We offer several surface finishing and metal plating processes for automotive components, including the following:
zinc-nickel plating
Zinc and nickel form an alloy that's one of the most effective solutions against corrosion and offers superior performance in elevated temperatures, plus exceptional abrasion and scratch resistance. These coatings often combine with passivation layers to provide increased protection.
Electroless nickel-phosphorus plating
Electroless nickel-phosphorus plating delivers excellent lubricity, superior hardness and uniform thicknesses, making it an ideal protective solution for wear and corrosion. These surface treatments work well for auto parts like pistons, heat sinks, engine bearings, hose couplings, exhaust systems and other engine components. KC Jones features three electroless nickel plating lines with aluminum coating capabilities at our Hazel Park location in Michigan, and a fourth in Columbus City, Indiana.
OEM Automotive paint coatings
Original equipment manufacturer (OEM) coatings protect a vehicle's exterior surface while enhancing its aesthetic appearance. These coatings can be solvent- or water-based, offering excellent protection in harsh environments and extreme temperatures.
thread sealing and locking
Thread sealants lock and seal threaded fittings to resist leakage and the effects of vibration, moisture, engine fluids and fuel. These sealants stand up to high temperatures while offering superior lubrication that promotes easy assembly and disassembly.
BEV Solutions
As the use of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) becomes more popular, KC Jones is implementing advanced coating methodologies to protect their most critical components. We offer BEV coating solutions to protect parts like batteries, electrical connectors and power conversion inverters from impact, corrosion, extreme temperatures and fire. KC Jones plating processes beneficial to BEVs include multilayer systems containing copper, nickel, tin or silver.
custom coating development
Our engineers enjoy tackling the surface challenges of unique applications. We have extensive experience developing customized coatings and processes to serve your specialized needs.
Why Trust KC Jones as Your Automotive Electroplating Partner?
The KC Jones team does whatever it takes to satisfy our customers, from offering customized plating processes to providing additional assembly services to performing integrated inspection procedures. We believe in honest and transparent communication from the earliest consultation phases to final product delivery.
Besides our personalized high standards for performance and consistency, we possess multiple industry accreditations, including ISO 9001:2015 certification and accreditation from the National Aerospace and Defense Contractors Accreditation Program (Nadcap). Many of our plating processes meet specifications and regulations for initiatives such as the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS), Automotive End of Life Vehicle (ELV) and Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE).
CONTACT THE PLATING EXPERTS AT KC JONES TODAY
At KC Jones, we take a solutions-based approach to our automotive metal-finishing process for companies in the Michigan area and beyond. Our team works closely with clients to choose the optimal plating method that meets their needs. Get in touch with us today to learn more about our services and how they can benefit your application.
