In the ever-evolving landscape of industrial processes, environmental consciousness has become paramount. Industrial plating, a vital process in various manufacturing sectors, often relied on the use of hazardous chemicals and consumed vast amounts of energy to meet the growing demands in metal coatings. However, the recent market dynamics, largely affected by the sustainability policies, pave the way for greener alternatives that ensure the environmentally friendly aspects of materials and processes without compromising their efficiencies.
Effective development of eco-friendly plating begins with addressing sustainability issues early on. Chemical risk management is essential for development of electrolytes free from toxic to the environment and human health components, and for establishment of the process-specific guidelines to maximize the safety of personnel especially under conditions when the electrolyte formulation cannot be further modified. Utilizing computer aided engineering facilitates the design optimization of plating processes, reducing reliance on trial-and-error approaches and guiding efficient resource utilization. Furthermore, the plating process control mechanisms play a crucial role in minimizing environmental impacts at industrial level. Advanced monitoring and control systems enable real-time assessment of key parameters such as bath components concentration, pH, etc. By optimizing these factors, the lifetime of the electrolytes can be prolonged, thus the resource consumption and waste generation can be reduced significantly, while ensuring consistent product quality in mass production. Besides, identifying and categorizing different types of waste from electroplating is an important step in environmentally friendly and responsible industrial plating.
NICKEFFECT Project incorporates all these principles, focusing on producing Ni-based materials for energy and digital storage applications. Additionally, the production is supported by life cycle and cost impact assessments for fabricated Ni-based materials from cradle to grave to identify opportunities for further resource optimization and waste reduction throughout the plating process. This holistic approach guides the development of more sustainable plating processes, aligning with sustainable by design principles and responsible industrial manufacturing.