|: Tool & Die Industry :|: IMAGINEERING Metal Finishing Technologies :|: South Bend, Indiana, USA :|

Tool & Die

Mold and Die Solutions for Enhanced Profitibility

Benefits of using Electroless Nickel on
Tools and Dies

Deposit Uniformity
	Unlike chrome or other electroplating processes, complex design geometrics such as deep recessed cavities, mold cores and core pins, guide pins, through holes, and extrusion die surfaces can be plated using EN without distortion.
Controlled Thickness
	Tolerances can be maintained within +/- .00005", regardless of the plating thickness.
Customized Properties
	Customized Electroless Nickel chemistries provide a broad range of unique characteristics such as abrasion resistance, corrosion resistance, lubricity, and release properties.
Eliminate Post-Plate Machining
	EN coatings eliminate "edge-buildup" or "dog-bone" effect.
Composite Coatings
	EN/PTFE, EN/Silicon Carbide and EN/Boron produce exceptional coefficient of friction and wear resistance properties compared to most conventional plating or coating processes.
Preventative Maintenance Plans
	Regularly-scheduled stripping and re-plating of molds and dies can limit wear and other damage to the plated layer, eliminating costly unscheduled downtime and expensive tooling repairs.
Wear Resistance
	Electroless Nickel (EN) provides exceptional resistance to wear due to high surface hardness combined with low coefficient of friction values. Harness values over 72 Rc are attainable with properly heat treated EN/Phosphorus deposits.
Salvage
	Using EN to salvage worn or improperly machined components provides a cost effective alternative vs. replacement tooling. Additionally, tools repaired with EN plating usually perform better than unplated molds and dies.
Corrosion
	Electroless Nickel provides superior corrosion resistance on critical molding surfaces and inside of internal water passages.
Lubricity and Release
	EN's unique lubricity and release properties minimize the use of mold release compounds, allowing faster cycle times and fewer rejects. EN can also reduce or eliminate the need for cleaning of plastic residue on mold cavities between cycles, reducing downtime and ongoing maintenance expenses.


What Our Customers Say...
	"We use Electroless Nickel plating to make our tooling last longer and perform better. We've used other plating process, including hard chrome, but we have found that Electroless Nickel is much more controlled. When the tool comes back from plating, it is ready for use. We can salvage worn tooling with Electroless Nickel for a fraction of the cost of new tooling. In some cases, the savings can be as much as 75 to 80%!" "We send molds and dies to Imagineering because of their quality, technical capabilities, and because they are easy to do business with. Their staff communicates extremely well with us, and they frequently bail us out with fast turnaround when we get in a jam. There are several plating companies located closer, but we prefer working with Imagineering because of the excellent service they provide. " Max Doctor, Shop Supervisor Gordon Tool, Inc. Payne, OH
	"Imagineering provides straight-up advice and technical support. We call upon their expertise for a variety of wear, corrosion, release, or dimensional concerns. Calculating shrinkage rates of various molded materials can be unpredictable, and occasionally we need to add thickness to the dimensions of a critical mold detail. Electroless Nickel provides a cost-effective solution to build up undersized core pins and other mold components. The fact that Electroless Nickel is extremely uniform makes it ideal for intricate and complex shapes. Ultimately, the time and money we save by using Electroless Nickel and Imagineering helps us to remain competitive and assist our customers by reducing cost and minimizing downtime." Ron Scope, President J.M.S Mold and Engineering, Inc. South Bend, IN