Industrial and functional metal plating
Gold, silver, nickel, nickel-phosphorus, copper, palladium and special metal plating solutions.
We provide technical surface plating for defence, aerospace, electronics, telecom, automotive and medical. The right process is chosen by weighing substrate, geometry, operating conditions and technical requirements together. For special substrates such as titanium and Ti-6Al-4V, surface preparation and layer systems are assessed per project.
Layer systems are set per part: substrate, geometry, operating conditions and specification.
Plating is more than a final layer.
In functional plating, performance is set by substrate preparation, activation, interlayers and barriers, thickness and process conditions together.
“Which coating do you want?”
“Where, and under what conditions, will the part work?”
Not every metal coating does the same job.
Since 1993 Galtek has provided industrial and functional metal plating in İkitelli Organised Industrial Zone, Istanbul. For defence, aerospace, electronics, telecom, automotive and medical customers we apply technical processes such as gold, silver, silver-graphite, nickel, nickel-phosphorus, copper and palladium.
Each coating system is assessed against the part’s base material, geometry, environment, target thickness and functional requirements. Depending on geometry and quantity, rack or barrel plating may be used.
Materials engineer + chemist
Plating processes are run directly by the technical team and assessed against each project’s requirements. The team lead has more than 25 years of process experience in metal plating.
- 1993
- Founded
- 25+
- Years of process experience
Plating planned to specification, verified by measurement.
We run process control, measurement, testing and documentation to ASTM, MIL-DTL and customer specifications.
Technical review
Review of substrate, operating conditions, drawing and specification requirements.
Process control
Surface preparation, layer-system planning and regular bath analysis.
Verification and documentation
Project-appropriate measurements and tests, technical reports and a CoC where conformity is achieved.
Industrial and functional plating processes
We choose the right surface system for the technical requirement.
- Gold PlatingHard and soft gold for reliable electrical contact surfaces.
- Silver PlatingSurfaces that need high electrical and thermal conductivity.
- Palladium PlatingHigh-cycle electrical contact and wear requirements.
- Rhodium PlatingApplications that need high surface hardness and wear resistance.
- Platinum PlatingChemical resistance and special surface performance.
- Silver-Graphite PlatingElectrical contact with controlled friction behaviour.
- Nickel PlatingSurface hardness, corrosion resistance and barrier layers.
- Nickel-Phosphorus PlatingFunctional surface properties by electrolytic and electroless methods.
- Copper PlatingElectrical conductivity and an interlayer for multilayer systems.
- Bronze PlatingTechnical copper-tin-zinc alloy plating.
- Tin-Zinc PlatingTin-zinc alloy plating focused on corrosion resistance.
- Zincate Pre-treatmentPreparing aluminium surfaces for the next plating layer.
- Protective LayerProtection that delays tarnish and surface corrosion.
Where our coatings work
About metal plating
What is industrial metal plating?
Industrial metal plating applies a controlled metal layer to change a part’s surface properties, for example electrical conductivity, contact stability, corrosion resistance, hardness, wear resistance or solderability.
How does functional plating differ from decorative plating?
Decorative plating is mainly about appearance; functional plating is about the technical performance expected from the surface: thickness, hardness, adhesion, contact behaviour or corrosion performance.
Which materials can be plated?
Copper and copper alloys, brass, steel, stainless steel, aluminium, titanium and various engineering alloys can be plated with suitable pre-treatment and activation. The process is chosen according to the substrate.
Should I choose gold or silver plating?
It depends on the application. Contact conditions, current level, friction, corrosive environment, operating temperature and cost should be weighed together. There is no single right coating for every case.
How is plating thickness determined?
By the coating type, the part’s purpose, operating environment, wear requirements, technical specification and cost.
What is the difference between rack and barrel plating?
In rack plating parts are fixed individually, which suits delicate, large or selectively plated parts. In barrel plating many small parts are processed together, an advantage in series production. The choice depends on geometry, quantity and surface sensitivity.
Can you plate small batches or prototypes?
Yes. Special barrel and rack options are available for small batches. The method is set on samples; before series production, repeatability and acceptance criteria are verified again.
Can titanium be plated?
Yes, technically. Titanium and Ti-6Al-4V requests are assessed project by project through surface preparation, activation, sample plating and adhesion verification. Because titanium’s stable passive oxide re-forms very quickly after surface treatment, timing between steps must be tightly controlled.
What do you need for a quotation?
Ideally the technical drawing, part material, required coating, target thickness, surface to be plated, quantity and any relevant specification. Describing operating conditions also helps us choose the right process.
Expert support for your plating needs
Let’s review your part’s base material, operating conditions and plating requirements together, and find the right surface solution from sample to series.