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Color is chemistry, not varnish<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
PVD stands for Physical Vapor Deposition: a dry process where the coating is vaporized in a vacuum chamber without the use of dissolved metal salts. The color is not painted on. It occurs when atoms from a source material react with a process gas and condense on the surface of the part as a chemical compound, for example chromium nitride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At Chem-Tec Plating, we form chrome and black chrome with chromium as the source material, while gold, brass and copper are formed with zirconium. By varying the source material and process parameters, we control the color with a precision that makes series 40 identical to series 1. The coating is glossy as standard. If a matte look is desired, we glass-blow the parts before plating, so that a matte black faucet and a glossy brass shower can come from the same chamber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The layer is thin, typically between 0.1 and 4.0 \u00b5m, but it is also significantly harder and more durable than a coating applied solely by galvanic processes. The surface is corrosion-resistant and maintains a stable appearance over time. In practice, this means a faucet that looks the same in the showroom and in the bathroom five years later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Your brass house is not a problem.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Most fixture housings are cast in brass. This is no problem. PVD can be applied directly to stainless steel and titanium, and with a galvanic undercoat of nickel we also coat brass, copper, aluminum and steel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For items that come into contact with drinking water, nickel is a regulated field, and this is exactly what the consultancy should clarify early on: where on the item nickel can and cannot be placed, and how the coating structure should be designed according to your approval requirements. We will decide on this together with you on the specific issue, not as a general guarantee on a website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The combination is a point in itself. An undercoat of electroplated nickel or pearl nickel adds corrosion protection and depth to the finished look, while the PVD layer delivers the hardness and color. Because we perform both the electroplating processes and the PVD coating in-house in Uldum, the transition between the two is done without additional freight and without responsibility being divided between multiple suppliers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The dimensions cover the vast majority of items in the kitchen and bathroom: up to 1000 mm x \u00d8 300 mm for chrome, copper, brass and gold, and 800 mm x \u00d8 300 mm for black chrome. We are happy to discuss larger items.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What happens in the chamber<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The workpieces are mounted on hangers in a vacuum chamber together with sheets of the source material. PVD is a line-of-sight process, so the coating only hits the surfaces that are directly exposed. Therefore, the hangers rotate on two axes, so that the surface is as uniform as possible all the way around a cranked spout or a hand shower head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The chamber is heated and a vacuum is created. An arc vaporizes the source material, a process gas such as nitrogen is converted into plasma, and the released atoms react with the plasma and condense on the workpiece. The result is a homogeneous surface with a high bond to the base material. It is the bond that provides durability: the coating is firmly embedded in the metal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Experience from industries where the eye judges first<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
We have been working with surface treatment since 1986, and we invested in our own PVD plant in 2024. It is a deliberate sequence: four decades of electroplating and decorative surface treatment are the foundation on which the PVD capacity is built. Today, we surface treat, among other things, for customers whose end customers are uncompromising when it comes to cosmetics: manufacturers of designer lamps, designer furniture and exclusive audio equipment. This experience is directly transferable to fittings. A tap run is inspected at the same distance as a lamp base, and the defects that must not be allowed to pass are the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Therefore, quality assurance is built into the entire process with checks before, during and after production, fixed procedures for careful handling and a very low rejection rate, regardless of whether the series consists of ten items or ten thousand. Our own laboratory documents that the coating meets the requirements, and we publish an environmental report every year that your purchasers and ESG managers can rely on. From Uldum in Central Denmark, we cover Denmark, the Nordic countries, Germany and the rest of Europe with door-to-door logistics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Five things to clarify before the series starts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If collaboration with a paving partner is to go smoothly, it helps to have the answers ready in advance:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- The basic material.<\/strong>\u00a0Stainless steel and titanium can be coated directly. Brass, copper, aluminum and steel require a nickel undercoat, which we handle in the same flow.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The geometry.<\/strong>\u00a0Line-of-sight means that interior surfaces and deep holes are not coated. This determines how the item is constructed and hung.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The expression.<\/strong>\u00a0Glossy or glass-blown matte must be selected per item before the coating is applied.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The color reference.<\/strong>\u00a0An approved sample from the actual plant beats any color code on paper.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The documentation.<\/strong>\u00a0Clarify requirements for tests and measurements early so that the laboratory can plan them in from the first prototype.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
If you don't have the answers yet, that's exactly what the consultancy is for. We develop tailor-made solutions adapted to the product and the requirements for functionality, durability and aesthetics, and we prefer to do this before the drawings are locked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From prototype to series color<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Color trends in kitchens and bathrooms are going to change again. The key for you as a manufacturer is to be able to keep up without compromising durability, and without tying the color choice to one specific alloy or one specific base material. PVD gives that freedom. The color can be changed without the house having to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- The geometry.<\/strong>\u00a0Line-of-sight means that interior surfaces and deep holes are not coated. This determines how the item is constructed and hung.<\/li>\n\n\n\n