NZG

Technical

Committed to the environment

We pride ourselves on providing the best overall zinc plating service in the UK.  To enable us to provide this second-to-none service, we are continually addressing environmental issues associated with this industry.  We are always aware of our duty to maintain the very highest standards of conformity at all times.

We work closely with local and national regulatory bodies and we are proud to have have attained the first full IPPC permit in partnership with our customer on site at our County Durham location - leading the way to a cleaner environment.

NZG are at all times committed to constantly reviewing materials and chemicals utilised in all processes to minimise the impact on our environment.  we aim to reduce waste produced and increase our capacity to recycle materials.

Processes

The European Union's "end-of-life" vehicle (ELV) directive effectively will result in the elimination of hexavalent chromium in automobiles.  The major consequence of this is that traditional "zinc with yellow chromate" used extensively in the automotive industry will be eliminated.  Nottingham Zinc Group's non-hexavalent chromium processes use a passivate which gives equivalent corrosion protection.

Our plants use world-leading alkaline processes - world leading alkaline non-cyanide zinc plating.  We offer both rack zinc finishing processes - up to 3m long and 2m deep at one of our many plants - as well as barrel plating.  The process ensures a bright, stable finish and a more even coating than with acid zinc, is more environmentally-friendly and conforms to ELV specifications.  Salt spray resistance conforms to BS1706, achieving three times the recommended salt resistance.  Alternatively, components may be plated with a commercial coating, up to a thickness of 20µ.

Zinc Plating Specification

All parts requiring BZP Clear and Gold passivation are electroplated in high efficiency alkaline zinc solution to
 EN12329 - 2000 Fe/Zn8/a/c.  

Passivation
All parts requiring clear passivation are coated in NZG Tru-Blue  - high corrosion protection which complies with the EOLV Directive. 
Gold and Straw passivate is coated to give the unique NZG deep bronze appearance. 

Topcoat
All parts are coated in NZG Topcoat to enhance the life of the products to give increased corrosion resistance.

This is a thoroughly tested, stable and production proven zinc plating process, providing better zinc metal distribution than traditional zinc plating systems.  Deposits are ultra bright and ductile over a wide current density range.  The deposits readily accept all top coat finishes, suitable for lacquering, painting or powder coating.  The process was developed to replace cyanide zinc plating without sacrificing the quality of the zinc deposit and Nottingham Zinc Group were first electroplaters in the UK to introduce these processes.  We were one of the first to transfer to green technologies.