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Top 5 Properties of Electroless Nickel

As experts in the process of nickel plating, the us staff are highly experienced and knowledgeable regarding the use of this innovative plating technique. There are many benefits to using nickel plating over other metal finishing techniques, many of which are outlined below.

1. Uniformity of Coating

The deposit formed by electroless nickel plating is based on a chemical reaction, causing the deposit to collect in equal thickness over all the part, regardless of its shape.

This completely uniform coating is a perfect solution for critical high-end engineering items including those used in the defence, healthcare, automotive and aerospace industries.

2. Ultimate Corrosion Resistance

Electroless nickel coatings are often used in functional applications because of the excellent corrosion resistance it provides. Nickel coatings are able to withstand the combination of abrasion and corrosive chemicals, even in the very corrosive conditions encountered in drilling and producing oil wells.

3. Wear Resistance

Electroless nickel has excellent levels of wear resistance. As a barrier layer, it is used on oil field valves, drive shafts, electrical tools and industrial machinery. The life of any metal exposed to harsh environments can be extended using this type of plating, therefore reducing the cost of repair and replacement parts. It basically extends the life of everything it coats! And with the appropriate heat treatment, electroless nickel can be hardened up to 950vhn, which makes it ideal for areas exposed to friction and wear.

4. Excellent Adhesion

A high level of adhesion can be achieved on a wide range of substrates, including steel, copper, and aluminium. The typical bond strengths reported for electroless nickel on copper and iron alloys range from 50 to 60,000 psi. The bond strength on light metals such as aluminium tends to be lower, somewhere in the range of 15 to 35,000 psi.

Heat treatment at a low temperature is commonly used to improve the adhesion of electroless nickel on all metals, especially on light metals such as aluminium or titanium. During this heat treatment, diffusion occurs between the atoms of the coating and the substrate.

The surface preparation and activation of the electroless nickel plating is one of the most important factors for producing excellent adhesion.

5. Cost Effectiveness

Specialist electroless nickel plating is much cheaper than you would imagine. us now have 7 dedicated nickel plating lines and can offer reasonable quotations based on drawings or photos sent to us.

As you can see from the points made above, electroless nickel plating has many huge benefits that make it the plating method of choice for many industries. Call us , email us at  or visit the contact page on our website to make an enquiry.

Bikes, Nickel Plating and the Yorkshire Grand Depart, Tour de France 2019

As you are no doubt aware, the Tour de France will be sweeping into Yorkshire this July as it stages the Grand Depart. Here at us, we’re really excited about the region hosting such an iconic event and the interest and visitors it will bring to the area.

The Yorkshire roads will host the first stage of the tour, which starts in Leeds and finishes in Harrogate on 5 July. The second stage will leave from York and finish in Sheffield. After that, the riders race from Cambridge to London before the Tour moves on to the French stages.

Stage One of the Tour de France

The race will start on the Headrow in Leeds and then head out of the city north towards Harewood. It will also to visit Ilkley, Otley, Ripon, Skipton and Hawes before finishing Harrogate. This stage is a total 118 miles (190km).

Stage Two of the Tour de France

Stage two will start in York and go through Knaresborough, Keighley, and over Holme Moss into the Peak District National Park. It finishes after 124 miles (200km) at Sheffield Arena.

Electroless Nickel Plated Bike Frames

We’ve always been interested in the use of electroless nickel for plating bike frames a way of keeping it rust and scratch free. Road bikes and mountain bikes alike are exposed to a variety of conditions through general use including being exposed to mud, water and salt.

Here at us, we often receive requests to nickel plate bike frames on behalf of our customers as the process ensures that the frame will be immune to rust, scratches and corrosion forever. We charge £185 to nickel plate a bike frame, and we can have it nickel plated and scratch and corrosion resistant in just 5 days of receiving it.

All you have to do is disassemble your bike, send us the handlebars and frame, and we’ll electroless nickel plate the parts and return them to you for reassembly. To find out more about having your bike frame electroless nickel plated, contact the team at us today on (0)845 224 3571 or visit our website at for more information.

The Biggest Electroless Nickel Plating Line in Europe Well Under Way

Here is the latest photograph of the new factory extension which is soon to be completed at us. After lots of hard work and extensive building work, the new factory extension will create an extra 3,000 square foot of space, and create another electroless nickel plating line. In fact, we have a suspicion that it will be the biggest plating line in Europe, making us industry leaders in the process.

Specialist Large Capacity Electroless Nickel Plating Line

The specialist electroless nickel plating line should be fully operational in the next few weeks and will include the installation of a state of the art crane, allowing us to handle components of up to 20 tonnes. Marcus Hill, the Commercial Director at us said: “The market is growing rapidly and our new plating line means that we can accommodate more work in response to this growth. We are really pleased to be able to respond even more quickly to our customers’ plating needs.”

Increasing Demand for Nickel Plating

“Due to the increasing demand for a nickel plating line that can take very large components, we have met the needs of our customers with exactly that. The new nickel plating line will adhere to our usual high standards of quality and safety, and will mean that size will never be a limit for plated parts. We believe that we now have the largest electroless nickel plating tank in Europe, with the capacity to plate items 12 metres in length.”

Metal Finishing Services at us

Here at us, we have more than 30 years of experience specialising in the electroless nickel plating process and we also offer a variety of other surface treatments. Just last year, we expanded our services to include nickel PTFE plating,nickel diamond platingtin plating and nickel boron plating, in addition to our already well established services of diffused nickel platingcopper plating and electroless nickel plating.

All our line staff are time served in their own disciplines, meaning that every job is managed by personnel with a knowledge and understanding of the specialist process of electroless nickel plating. For more information, please call us or email 

FAQs for Electroless Nickel Plating, Shot Blasting & Heat Treatment

 

What is electroless nickel plating?

Electroless nickel plating is the process by which nickel or a nickel alloy is deposited onto a component. It is carried out without the use of an externally applied current, unlike electroplating. The nickel is deposited onto the component from the aqueous solution created by the chemical reaction.

What are the advantages of electroless nickel plating?

Corrosion resistance and corrosion protection

One of the most common reasons for the use of electroless nickel coatings in functional applications is its excellent corrosion resistance. In the very corrosive conditions encountered in drilling and producing oil wells, for example, electroless nickel has the ability to withstand the combination of corrosive chemicals and abrasion.

Wear resistance

With the appropriate heat treatment, electroless nickel plating can be hardened up to 950vhn. This makes it ideal for areas exposed to friction and wear.

Hardness

A great feature of electroless nickel plating is its hardness. Hardness values for electroless nickel deposits are in the range of 450-750 VHN, depending on the phosphorous content of the deposit.

Lubricity

Electroless nickel plating has natural self lubricating properties, which eliminates the need for liquid lubricants on components.

Solderability and bondability

Electroless nickel-phosphorus alloys are easily soldered with a highly active acid flux.

Uniformity of deposit regardless of geometries

Electroless nickel plating has a completely uniform coating. It’s a perfect solution for critical high-end engineering items including defence, healthcare, automotive and aerospace. Electroless nickel can be deposited to produce a wide range of coating thicknesses, with uniformity and minimum variation from point to point.

This uniformity can be maintained in plating both large and small parts and on components that are fairly complex, with recessed areas. Electroplating of such parts, on the other hand, would produce thickness variation and possible voids in the plating when coating holes and inside diameters.

Nonmagnetic properties of high-phosphorus nickel alloy

Electroless nickel deposits containing greater than 8 percent phosphorus are considered to be essentially nonmagnetic as plated.

How long will it take for my order to be completed?

As a specialist plating company our capacity and turnaround is fast and efficient. Depending on the size and scale of the order, our standard lead time is 5 days.

Where do us deliver to?

We frequently deliver throughout the UK, Europe and the world.

Can you provide a quote based on an email?

We are able to provide customers with comprehensive quotes based on drawings and photographs that have been emailed to us. We aim to respond to enquiries within 48 hours.

How hard is electroless nickel plating?

Electroless nickel deposits have hardness values in the range of 450 – 750 VHN, depending on the phosphorus content in the deposit. Generally, the higher the phosphorus content, the lower the as deposited hardness.

Heat treatment can be used to increase the hardness of electroless nickel coatings, achieving in excess of 1000 VHN. This makes the deposit hardness comparable to that of hard chrome, with the advantage of an even coating which will not require post plating machinery.

For more information about electroless nickel plating and more great reasons to choose nickel as your plating material, visit the us website, become a fan of our Facebook page, or why not follow us on Twitter?

Quality electroless nickel plating

Here at us, our staff are thoroughly committed to providing a quality electroless nickel plating service.

All employees at us are responsible for making sure that Quality Assurance techniques are applied to their work. They are also responsible for achieving the specified quality levels at all stages of work.

In accordance with the requirements of BS EN ISO 9001:2008we are committed to following our Quality Assurance Program, which is outlined in our Quality Manual.

us is also well equipped for all aspects of quality control and product testing. We have invested in facilities and equipment meaning that the staff at us have the ability to carry out non destructive testing for thickness and hardness on components.

Work is regularly processed to the following specifications:

  • Defence Standard 03-5
  • Aerospace Material Specification AMS 2404B
  • US Military Specification MIL-C-26074B
  • International Standard ISO 4527

We are able to tailor numerous in-house specifications in order to meet the customers’ exact requirements. Our policy statements are available to read online by clicking the links below:

View us’s Quality Policy here.

View us’s Health and Safety Policy here.

View us’s Environmental Policy here.

For more information about the services that we offer including electroless nickel plating, copper plating, and diffused nickel plating, please visit the us website, call our friendly team of staff on our phone number or email: 

Nickel Plate Outdoor Metal Sculptures for Corrosion Resistance

As specialists in the electroless nickel plating process, we have previously worked with metal sculptor David Mach, and have nickel plated a few of his pieces. For example, we nickel plated his spaceman and gorilla sculptures which are both made from coat hangers.

Electroless nickel can coat metal such as mild steel or stainless steel and make it last for years – that’s why the process of nickel plating is simply perfect for outdoor sculptures. Its corrosion resistance properties and its ability to withstand adverse weather conditions make it the perfect plating solution for metal garden sculptures, and any other sculpture that will be displayed outside.

Large Capacity Electroless Nickel Plating Tanks

The process of electroless nickel plating deposits a uniform coating on to whatever it is plating, and compared to stainless steel, it is also relatively cheap. Our huge nickel plating tanks that are big enough to accommodate very large pieces of sculpture, such as garden sculptures and bespoke pieces such as those plated for David Mach.

The main reason Mach decided on electroless nickel plating to plate his pieces was due to its excellent corrosion resistance and the assurance that gave him that the piece would look stunning for years to come, no matter where it was located. In fact, the corrosion resistance offered by electroless nickel plating is actually better than stainless steel!

A Great Alternative to Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is very resistant to corrosion, and can therefore be used when the levels of hardness of the metal are important. But using electroless nickel plating as an alternative to stainless steel has many advantages. Mild steel or cast iron with an electroless nickel coating is a much more cost effective way of achieving high levels of hardness and corrosion resistance.

The process of electroless nickel plating is a great way to prevent corrosion from occurring on outdoor sculptures made from metal. If you are interested in the process as a cheaper alternative to stainless steel, contact us on 0845 2243571 or email  and we’ll show you how much you can save.

Copper Plated Benches and Patinated Copper Archways for the Chelsea Flower Show

The 2019 Chelsea Flower Show is now in full swing, and this year’s entries are as strong as ever! The show is held for 5 days in May by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London. As the most famous and celebrated flower show in the UK, it attracts garden designers and visitors from all over the world.

Copper Plating for the Brewin Dolphin Garden

Last year, we were lucky enough to be involved in copper plating benches and patinated copper archways for The Brewin Dolphin Garden at The Chelsea Flower Show. The garden won a Silver-gilt medal and featured fresh, lush planting, copper plated features and generous paths and sculpture.

Gold Medal for the Brewin Dolphin Garden 2019

This year, The Brewin Dolphin Garden was designed by Darren Hawkes Landscapes and built by Bowles and Wyer with Wheelbarrow. The garden features over 40,000 pieces of hand-cut slate that form the surface of the suspended platforms. There is also an underground stream that is glimpsed through well openings, one of which is illuminated by sunlight shining through a hole in the platform above. It was announced this morning that this year’s garden beat it’s Silver-gilt medal from last year with an impressive Gold!

Professional Copper Plating Services in Chesterfield, UK

As you can see, bright copper plating can be used decoratively, giving a highly polished copper-pink appearance. Our metal plating experts also have a range of lacquers available for copper plating solutions which prevent tarnishing of the copper plating, if it is intended for a decorative purpose.

Here at us, we’ve been asked to carry out some great copper plating jobs for a variety of clients. For more information about the copper plating services available at us, copper platers in Chesterfield, contact us or email

Salt Spray and Corrosion Resistant Coating

The effects of salt spray on metal coatings can result in corrosion of the surface of the metal. Metal surfaces that are exposed to marine environments need to be fit for use in sub-sea conditions to prevent this type of corrosion from occurring.

Here at us, we aim to keep at the forefront of our industry by developing products to solve problems such as these. We needed to come up with a product that would be a cost effective answer to extend the life of mild steel exposed to a marine environment.

Components operating in conditions such as these need to last a long time, as the simple act of just replacing them can result in downtime and can be very expensive.

Through years of research, development and testing, we’ve created a product that protects mild steel from salt spray corrosion for an unprecedented amount of hours – SeaTEC 100. It’s a really exciting achievement within the engineering industry, and is ideal for use in sub-sea conditions.

SeaTEC 100 can be used to plate metal components, valves and connectors used in marine environments. It is able to increase the strength of items such as pipeline connectors, which is ideal because these are the points at which the material is at its weakest level.

It has also been tested to withstand salt spray conditions for over 25,000 hours, an unprecedented amount of time within this industry. It is also available in a variety of colours.

SeaTEC100 is an ideal plating for oil rigs and pipes used to transport oil and gas as it can substantially extend the life of materials such as mild steel. This means that downtime as a result of corroded parts is severely reduced or avoided altogether, and the cost of repairing, replacing or maintaining parts is reduced too.

us also specialise in the process of electroless nickel plating, copper plating, and shot blasting and heat treatment. To find out more about SeaTEC100, electroless nickel plating and the other services we offer, please visit the us website, call us or email: 

Prevent and Eliminate Microbial Growth with Copper Plating

In our last blog post we discussed the antimicrobial action of copper and its power to inhibit the growth of micro organisms.

But the process of copper plating isn’t just limited to laboratory equipment such as the incubator that we copper plated on behalf of New Brunswick. Copper is also used in a variety of everyday products to effectively prevent and eliminate microbial growth, including the following:

  • Copper -sulfate and -chelate aquacades control aquatic pests in ponds and municipal water supplies.
  • Copper based pesticides are widely used to control fungi, algae and nematodes.
  • Brass (copper/zinc alloy) used in machining coolant filters removes bacteria and algae.
  • Copper can be incorporated into cement or paint. This can be particularly useful when used in basements which tend to be very humid and sometimes damp, as it prevents the growth of bacteria and fungus.
  • It is used in cooling systems and towers to reduce bacteria and algae.
  • Plumbing pipes that contain copper have been proven to reduce the threat from the bacteria Legionella pneumophila. The Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research carried out a study showing that copper piping reduces the growth of these particular bacteria, which is the causative agent of Legionaire’s Disease.

Pure Copper Touch Surfaces in Incubators

Copper is a recognised approach for preventing microbial growth in the incubator. Copper has recently enjoyed a popular resurgence within the clinical sciences, and in 2018 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency certified that pure copper “kills 99.9 percent of bacteria within two hours.” Copper has also been proven to be effective against bacterial spores.

The cell culture research community now strongly back the use of incubators featuring copper interior chambers in recognition of copper’s effective antimicrobial activity. Copper is often used in C02 incubators because it is understood that the higher the temperature and relative humidity, the better the effectiveness of coppers antimicrobial action.

If you are looking for a reliable copper plating service for laboratory equipment such as the interior chambers of incubators, us can help. Call us to speak to a member of our team or

Copper Plated Medical Clipboards Kill Bacteria on Contact

As specialists in metal finishing and copper plating, us endeavour to keep up to date with recent developments in the industry and adapt our services accordingly. Our most recent service is the process of copper plating medical clipboards for use in hospitals.

Copper plating is often used in hospitals and laboratories due to its natural ability to kill bacteria on contact.

us’s commercial director Marcus Hill believes that copper plating clinician’s clipboards can help to provide an effective defense against the spread of infections such as MRSA in hospitals.

Hospital-acquired infections are not only very common, but they cost the NHS huge amounts of money every year. Research carried out by the University of Southampton has proven that metallic copper surfaces kill microbes in a matter of minutes by causing membrane damage to the bacteria.

Copper has been proven to prevent the horizontal gene transfer in bacteria, which is to blame for antibiotic resistance, in turn increasing the number of health care associated infections. Horizontal gene transfer often takes place in hospitals on surface that are frequently touched. Copper plating therefore contributes to the prevention of infection spread and gene transfer.

Copper plated clip boards are a logical step forward in the quest to reduce the spread of bacteria and provide extra protection alongside the standard hygiene practices in the hospital environment,” said Marcus.

Slippery Nickel: Electroless Nickel PTFE Plating

Electroless nickel PTFE, otherwise known as slippery nickel, is a composite nickel/PTFE coating that offers a huge range of benefits to a variety of industries. The main reason that nickel PTFE is so popular is due to its properties of low friction and self lubrication, making it a great choice for sliding wear applications and other instances where conventional lubricants cannot be used.

The Co-Deposition of Electroless Nickel PTFE

During the co-deposition process of nickel PTFE, Teflon particles are plated along with the electroless nickel and become part of the plated coating itself. This technique ensures that the plated coating has high lubricity throughout the life of the plated part, because as the coating wears, PTFE particles are exposed continuously. That means that the Teflon particles are present throughout the entire thickness of the coating.

Release Properties and Uniform Coverage

Nickel PTFE improves the “release” or anti stick properties of molds and dies due to its self lubricating properties. It also increases the efficiency of, and reduces the sound made by slides, bearings and cylinder or piston assemblies. This property also facilitates the reliable operation of moving parts when they are continuously exposed to solvents or are working in cryogenic temperatures. Nickel PTFE provides an exceptionally uniform coverage, including corners, threads and bores. There’s also no need for post-plating finishing.

Common Applications of Nickel PTFE

A comprehensive list of the common applications of nickel PTFE is published below.

  • Rubber and plastic molds
  • Transmission components
  • Core pins
  • Couplings
  • Slides
  • Frozen food molds
  • Camera shutters
  • Valve stems
  • Rotating cores
  • Fiber and yarn guides
  • Gears
  • Hydraulic cylinders
  • Fuel system components
  • Clutch components
  • Tablet punches
  • Pistons
  • Pump rotors
  • Bearings
  • Spray nozzles
  • Air caps
  • Security bolts
  • Pneumatic equipment
  • Hydraulic equipment
  • Shafts

What Substrates can Nickel PTFE be Applied to?

Nickel PTFE can be applied to a variety of substrates including copper alloys, titanium, aluminium, mild steel and stainless steel.

If you are looking for a metal coating that is self lubricating, corrosion resistant and wear resistant, Ni-PTFE is the perfect solution. Call us , email us at  or visit the contact page on our website to make an inquiry.

Underwater Corrosion Protection for the Oil and Gas Industry

As experts in coatings that provide high levels of underwater corrosion resistance, our services are used for a variety of applications in the oil and gas industry. Components and parts used in such industries are exposed to extremely harsh and demanding environments. As such, corrosion problems occur related to sea water, aggressive chemicals, galling and seizure of threads and wear protection.

Industry Leaders in Metal Coatings for Oil and Gas

Here at us, we are industry leaders in metal coatings that provide underwater corrosion protection for the oil and gas industry. We have extensive expertise in characterising and understanding the process of wear and corrosion, so that we can work with our customers to ensure that the most effective metal coating solution is identified and carried out.

Salt Spray Testing

We also have our very own laboratory on site that specialises in salt spray testing, which can effectively assess the reliability of a product by simulating these environments, therefore ensuring that the coating will survive in the environment it is intended for. The standard salt spray test method is used to check the corrosion resistance of coated samples, substrates, and components which may be prone to suffering from degradation as a result of salt corrosion. We have the facilities to carry out salt spray testing to the specification of ASTM B117.

Marine Corrosion Protection Coating

Our product SeaTEC 100 is an industry leading product that protects mild steel from salt spray corrosion and marine corrosion for an extensive period of time. The coating is ideal for use in sub-sea conditions and can be used to increase the longevity of components used in subsea conditions. SeaTEC 100 effectively increases the strength of items such as pipeline connectors, where the material is at its weakest level, and has been independently tested to withstand salt spray conditions for over 25,000 hours, a period of time that is unprecedented within this industry. It effectively plates metal components, valves and connectors, making SeaTEC100 a cost-effective way of extending the life of mild-steel operating in marine environments.

SeaTEC 100 Marine Corrosion Protection

For more information about underwater corrosion resistance SeaTEC 100 and its ability to extend the life of parts exposed to subsea conditions, please contact the expert team at us by calling our phone number or email us at .

us Electroless Nickel Plate Extruded Benches for Thomas Heatherwick

us have been lucky enough to be involved in the nickel plating of a number of extruded benches for English designer Thomas Heatherwick.

Known for his innovative designs and creative use of engineering and materials to produce public monuments and sculptures, Heatherwick works across the disciplines of architecture, art and design.

These amazing extruded benches began life in Heatherwick’s design and architecture studio when working on a project that involved manufacturing aluminium components through an industrial process called extrusion.

Extrusion and the Production of Contorted Shapes

The process of extrusion involves squeezing heated metal through a shaped hole which is known as die. The heated metal produces straight aluminium lengths with a precisely shaped cross section. Extrusion often produces contorted shapes when the metal initially squeezes through the die because the metal is inclined to snag warp as it struggles to fit through the gap. The form eventually straightens out and usually during this process; the contorted end is chopped off and melted back down.

But Heatherwick considered the mutated sections to be more interesting than the straight parts, and decided to produce more warped lengths of extruded aluminium on a much larger scale! The designer then wondered if it would be possible to use the extrusion process to create seating, much of which was needed at the time to furnish new airports and stations being built around the world. Heatherwick saw it as a simple but effective alternative to ordinary furniture that needed to be  made up of several components and materials. These extruded seats could be made all in one go, with the legs and back of the seat formed all at once.

Nickel Plating Aluminium Benches

So, the Heatherwick studio hunted for a machine capable of making this dream a reality for more than 16 years, until they finally came across a new extrusion machine that had been built in the Far East. The machine was designed for use in the aerospace industry and had the capability of exerting ten thousand tonnes of pressure. The factory it came from could not actually guarantee the outcome of the experiment because the machine had never been used to its full capacity.

Using this specialised die, Heatherwick and his studio staff made a series of aluminium benches with straight, extruded lengths, and contrasting raw, contorted ends. We were asked to carry out the electroless nickel plating of the benches in order to provide a high quality surface that would be very resistant to wear.

For more information about our recent case studies and details of other great projects that we’ve been lucky enough to be a part of, check out the metal plating case studies page on the us website.

Copper Plating a Laboratory Incubator to Prevent Cell Culture Contamination

Here at us, we love sharing our recent plating projects with our blog readers. This copper plating job has a particularly interesting story behind it!

We were asked by New Brunswick, producers of laboratory products, to copper plate the interior of this incubator in order to prevent bacteria escaping and cell culture contamination.

Incubators such as this provide the perfect environment for cell cultures to grow. However, these warm, humid conditions can also encourage and sustain the growth of microorganisms that can cause contamination. This is where copper can help.

Antimicrobial Action of Copper

Copper has the power to inhibit the growth of many different micro organisms. It can, in fact, slow or stop the growth of bacteria, fungi, algae and yeast. Copper ions are able to bond to contaminants and disrupt the key proteins and processes that are critical to microbial life.

The Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research (CAMR) has recently carried out a study that explored the suppression of bacterial colonization by solid copper, proving that copper piping reduces the growth of Legionella pneumophila, causative agent of Legionaire’s Disease.

The Use of Copper in Incubators

Copper reduces microbes in a wide range of laboratory equipment, including medical and scientific devices such as incubators. Testing, studies and experience have shown that copper wire, copper sulphate or even a simple penny added to a water reservoir of carbon dioxide incubators can significantly inhibit microbial growth. And copper surfaces clearly reduce the number of contaminants present too.

The incubators produced by New Brunswick, therefore, are manufactured using copper interiors, as copper has been proven to have antimicrobial properties. If you would like to find out more about the process of copper plating, its antimicrobial properties and us’s expertise in projects such as this, call us or email

Budget Reveals Increased Support for the Oil and Gas Sector

March 18th saw the Chancellor of the Exchequer give his Budget to Parliament. As the final budget before the general election, it showed a significant improvement in many important areas, including those that will affect the oil and gas sector. As experts in metal finishing for the oil and gas sector, including corrosion resistant coatings, us know that the sector provides a large number of highly skilled jobs, energy security and makes a massive contribution to the economy of the UK.

Bold and Immediate Reforms to Oil and Gas

The Chancellor has announced ‘bold and immediate’ reforms to oil and gas tax, with the intention of easing the tax burden on oil and gas companies operating on the UK Continental Shelf. The measures will save the industry approximately £1.3 billion over the next 5 years, while boosting production by 15%.

Encouraging Investment in the North Sea

In order to encourage investment in the North Sea, the UK government will be introducing a new Investment Allowance and reducing the supplementary tax charge on oil and gas companies from 30% to 20%, backdated from January 2019. These changes are expected to increase oil production by around 15% by 2019, and drive £4 billion of new investment over the next five years. The rate of Petroleum Revenue Tax paid on older oil and gas fields will also be reduced from 50% to 35% from next year.

In the Budget document, the government said that its changes would “send a strong signal that the UK is open for business and ensure the [UKCS] remains competitive as the basin matures” and “extend the life of key infrastructure”. Mr Osborne announced that the Government would also fund  to assess the potential in “under-explored areas” of the UK North Sea.

Metal Finishing Services for Oil and Gas Applications

We provide a range of metal finishing and metal plating services for both onshore and offshore oil and gas applications. Our revolutionary metal coating SeaTEC100 is a solution to increase the longevity of components used in subsea conditions that protects mild steel from salt spray corrosion and marine corrosion for an extensive period of time. For more information about corrosion resistant coatings, please call us or email