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Zinc Nickel Plating: Industry Applications & Protection Benefits

From the Experts at EC Williams

At EC Williams, we’ve spent the last 100 years becoming one of the UK’s most trusted electroplating specialists. When it comes to zinc nickel plating, we offer more than just a coating—we offer a solution. Designed to support automotive, electrical, and precision engineering manufacturers, our high-performance zinc nickel coatings deliver outstanding corrosion resistance and long-term value.

Whether you need to meet REACH and RoHS compliance, improve the lifespan of components, or scale high-volume production, we’ve built our service around your needs.

 

What Is Zinc Nickel Plating?

Zinc nickel plating is an advanced alloy coating applied using an electroplating process. Typically composed of 12–15% nickel and the remainder zinc, this coating is engineered to offer:

  • Exceptional corrosion protection
  • Uniform thickness even on complex parts
  • Compatibility with both rack and barrel plating techniques

This makes it ideal for use in automotive assemblies, electrical contact systems, and components exposed to harsh industrial environments.

 

Why Choose Zinc Nickel Over Standard Zinc?

Corrosion Resistant Plating That Goes Further

Our coatings consistently exceed 1000+ hours of neutral salt spray performance when combined with trivalent passivation and topcoat treatments. This makes zinc nickel plating particularly suitable for underbody parts, brake lines, and structural fasteners.

Long-Term Cost Efficiency

Though the upfront cost is higher than traditional zinc plating, zinc nickel reduces your risk of product failure, downtime, and costly recalls—especially when used on safety-critical parts.

Zinc Alloy Coatings That Meet Industry Standards

We work to the latest automotive and electronics plating specifications, including PSA, Renault, and BMW standards. Our finishes are REACH compliant, RoHS safe, and regularly audited by OEMs.

 

Where Is Zinc Nickel Plating Used?

Automotive Components

Zinc nickel plating is widely specified across automotive manufacturing due to its ability to withstand road salt, vibration, and exposure to moisture.

Commonly plated parts include:

  • Brake and fuel system connectors
  • Suspension bolts and pins
  • Powertrain brackets
  • Airbag housing components

Electrical & Electronics

Electrical contact surfaces benefit from the low contact resistance and high corrosion barrier provided by zinc nickel coatings. It supports conductivity while preventing oxidation in:

  • Busbars
  • Terminal blocks
  • Power distribution assemblies
  • General Engineering

Industrial equipment, hydraulic systems, and fasteners in harsh environments also benefit from the alloy’s durability, sacrificial protection, and long-lasting surface integrity.

 

Why EC Williams for Zinc Nickel Coating?

Our facility in Birmingham has recently undergone a major investment in automated zinc nickel plating lines, designed to:

  • Deliver consistent results across high production volumes
  • Accommodate complex geometries with rack or barrel setups
  • Reduce turnaround times while maintaining quality

We don’t just plate—we partner with you to optimise surface finishing for your component design, usage environment, and commercial priorities.

 

FAQs

1. Why should manufacturers use zinc nickel plating instead of zinc?

Zinc nickel plating provides 5–10x more corrosion protection than zinc alone. For safety-critical parts, it reduces long-term costs by preventing failures, warranty claims, and replacement.

2. Is zinc nickel plating compliant with REACH and RoHS?

Yes. All our zinc nickel processes are REACH and RoHS compliant, using trivalent passivates and no hexavalent chrome.

3. Can EC Williams handle high-volume automotive plating contracts?

Absolutely. Our plating lines were designed for scalability and repeatability, supporting automotive Tier 1 and OEM clients with large-volume needs.

4. What’s the lead time for zinc nickel plating at EC Williams?

Depending on volume and rack/barrel requirements, we offer standard turnaround of 3–5 working days, with express options available for urgent jobs.

5. Does EC Williams provide salt spray test certification?

Yes. We provide full documentation including salt spray performance data, thickness readings, and compliance reports for every batch as required.

 

Let’s Talk Zinc Nickel

Want parts that last longer, perform better, and meet every compliance box?

📞 Call us on 0121 236 2524
🌐 Visit www.ecwilliams.co.uk to request a quote