Production plating on plastics since 1951
Copper Plating on Plastic, Run at Production Volume
Providence Metallizing plates copper on molded plastic parts for shielding, solderability and decorative finishes, batch after batch, year after year.
- Acid copper electroplating and sputtered copper coatings
- Plates ABS, PC/ABS, polycarbonate, Ultem, nylon and LCP
- Over a million parts a week, running 24/5 in Pawtucket, RI
Finishing parts in Pawtucket, RI since 1951. Over 100 million parts a year.
Prefer to talk? Call 401-722-5300
Get a quote on copper plating
Tell us about your part, the plastic it is molded in and your yearly volume. Our engineers will come back to you.
Why buyers pick us for copper plating on plastic
Adhesion that holds up
Plasma treatment promotes adhesion on hard-to-coat plastics like polycarbonate, while keeping the same flex and springback as a freshly molded part.
Decorative or functional
Acid copper is one of over 30 electroplated finishes on our plating-on-plastic line. Sputtered copper covers EMI-RFI shielding and solderability work.
Built for real volume
Capacity runs past a million parts per week across more than 20 jobs at once, with consistency batch to batch, year after year.
Tooling and masking in-house
We design and build your tooling and masking ourselves, so threads, contacts and sealing surfaces stay clean and parts move to production faster.
In-house lab on every process
Our own lab controls processes, testing protocols and certifications, which supports the documentation electronic and medical customers ask for.
A US domestic source
All work is done at our 200,000+ sq.ft. plant in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, serving customers across the United States.
What copper plating on plastic looks like here
Copper goes on plastic two ways at Providence Metallizing. Acid copper is one of over 30 electroplated finishes on our plating-on-plastic line, used on its own or as a base layer under chrome, nickel, silver, gold or white bronze. Sputtered copper is applied by PVD for EMI-RFI shielding on molded enclosures.
Hard-to-plate materials are where we do our best work. Engineering grades such as Ultem, nylon, LCP and polycarbonate are far tougher to plate than standard ABS, so plasma treatment and in-house process control carry the job through long production runs.
- Acid copper electroplating on plastic, one of 30+ available finishes
- Sputtered copper, stainless steel and aluminum for EMI-RFI shielding
- Substrates include ABS, PC/ABS, polycarbonate, Ultem, nylon and LCP
- Copper as a base layer under chrome, nickel, silver, gold or white bronze
- Functional plating for perfect adhesion and solderability
- Custom masking so threads, contacts and sealing faces stay uncoated
- Matched finishes across plastic and metal parts in the same assembly
- Free sampling on most applications before you commit to production
High-volume finishing since 1951
“We had been worried about the finish and considered various methods before deciding to go with PMC. In the end we only made one mistake: we didn't order enough pieces because the item sold out in less than a month!”
What happens after you send your details
We review your part
Send the print or a sample with the plastic grade, the copper finish you need and your yearly volume. Our engineers review it and come back with questions and a quote.
We run a sample
Free sampling is available for most applications. We qualify the finish against your match sample so everyone agrees on the look and the spec before production.
We move into production
Approved parts go into a production program with in-house tooling and masking, lab process control and consistent results batch to batch.
Frequently asked questions
How is copper plating on plastic priced?
There is no list price. Cost depends on the part, the plastic, the finish, the masking needed and your volume. Send your print and forecast and we will quote the program.
Which plastics can you plate with copper?
ABS and PC/ABS, plus engineering grades such as Ultem, nylon, LCP and polycarbonate. Plasma treatment promotes adhesion on hard-to-coat substrates.
Can you use copper for EMI-RFI shielding?
Yes. We apply sputtered copper, stainless steel and aluminum to molded plastic enclosures for electromagnetic and radio frequency shielding, and we also plate for solderability.
Do you take one-off or personal jobs?
No. We are a production finisher. Work is set up as ongoing programs against forecast volumes for manufacturers and brand owners, not single items, repairs or refinishing.
Can I see a sample before committing?
Yes. Free sampling is offered for most applications, and the finish is qualified against a submitted match sample before production starts.
Where is the work done and who do you serve?
All finishing is done at our plant in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. We are a US domestic source serving customers nationwide.
Get your copper plating on plastic quoted
Send us your part details, plastic grade and yearly volume. Our engineers will tell you what is possible and what it will take to run it.
- Acid copper electroplating and sputtered copper coatings
- Plates ABS, PC/ABS, polycarbonate, Ultem, nylon and LCP
- Over a million parts a week, running 24/5 in Pawtucket, RI
Prefer to talk? Call 401-722-5300