The barrel electroplating production line is an automated plating system specially designed for small- to medium-sized bulk parts. Through the continuous rotation of the plating barrel, the workpieces tumble inside the solution, ensuring a uniform and consistent coating.
With years of expertise in equipment design, manufacturing, installation, and maintenance, Dongguan Yueqian Technology provides complete barrel-plating line solutions tailored to customer needs.
Barrel plating equipment offers high processing capacity, low operating cost, high automation, and stable operation, making it the mainstream plating method for fasteners, hardware components, and small metal parts.
It is suitable for zinc, nickel, copper, tin, silver, gold, chrome, and many other electroplating processes.
| Industry | Typical Workpieces |
| Hardware & Fasteners | Screws, nuts, washers, springs, pins |
| Electronics | Small connectors, miniature metal parts |
| Toys | Small metal components |
| Furniture | Small decorative fittings |
| Automotive | Small fasteners and metal accessories |
| Machinery | Small shafts, bushings, sleeves |
Barrel plating is especially suitable for workpieces that are:
✔ Small in size
✔ Large in quantity
✔ Not sensitive to collision
✔ Require highly uniform coating
✔ Processed in continuous, repetitive batches
1) Barrel Plating Machine (Barrel Drum)
Hexagonal or octagonal design
PP, PVC, PVDF corrosion-resistant materials
Optional cathode conduction system
Custom capacities (20L–200L)
Feature:
The tumbling motion ensures thorough turning of parts, resulting in highly uniform plating.
2) Automatic Hoist & Transfer System
Automatic lifting mechanism
Inverter or servo control
Multi-station synchronized operation
Stable and low-noise design
Function:
Transfers the plating barrels through each process tank automatically, enabling continuous batch processing.
3) Plating Tank System
Includes:
Degreasing tank, acid pickling tank, activation tank, plating tank, rinse tanks, etc.
Material options: PP, PVC, steel-lined plastic
Options: heating rods, filtration circulation, air agitation
4) Control System (PLC Full Automation)
Touchscreen HMI operation
Recipe management
Automatic control of current, time, and temperature
Intelligent alarm functions
MES system connectivity available
5) Auxiliary Systems
Filtration units
Automatic dosing and solution replenishing
Dryers / centrifugal dryers
Exhaust and fume treatment systems
Central heating and temperature control
Water circulation & energy-saving systems
Loading
→ Degreasing
→ Rinsing
→ Acid Pickling
→ Rinsing
→ Activation
→ Rinsing
→ Zinc Barrel Plating
→ Rinsing
→ Passivation
→ Rinsing
→ Centrifugal Drying
→ Hot Drying
→ Unloading
The process flow can be adjusted for nickel, tin, copper, and other plating types.
1) Lower Cost, Highest Cost-Performance
Barrel plating offers a simple structure, stable automation, and one of the lowest operating costs in the electroplating industry.
2) Large Batch Capacity, High Efficiency
Each barrel can load a large number of parts, enabling high-throughput, continuous production.
3) Excellent Coating Uniformity
Continuous tumbling minimizes uneven coating thickness.
4) Ideal for Small, Simple Workpieces
Fasteners and small hardware components benefit most from barrel plating.
5) Adjustable Automation Level
Options: manual, semi-automatic, or fully automatic
Fully automated systems allow mechanical loading, hoisting, transfer, and unloading.
6) Eco-Friendly & Compliant
Individual tank fume extraction
Central exhaust treatment
Water circulation and recycling
Solution monitoring to reduce waste
Item Specification Range
Barrel capacity 20–200 L
Batch weight 10–200 kg
Travel speed 8–20 m/min
Lifting speed 4–15 m/min
Automation level Manual / Semi-auto / Fully automatic
Barrel material PP / PVC / PVDF
Production capacity 10–50 batches per hour (depending on process)
✔ Automatic loading/unloading
✔ Automatic weighing system
✔ Automatic barrel opening/closing
✔ Automatic barrel tilting
✔ Online solution monitoring & auto dosing
✔ MES industrial data management system
✔ Energy-saving upgrades (heat recovery / water recycling)
Core benefits delivered to customers:
30–80% increase in production capacity
50–70% reduction in labor requirements
Significantly reduced operating cost
Stable coating quality, fewer reworks
Ideal for high-volume orders
Compliant with RoHS, REACH, and international environmental standards
Barrel plating is an essential automated production solution for fastener factories, plating service providers, and export-oriented manufacturers.
Sample analysis
→ Process testing
→ Layout & 3D design
→ Equipment manufacturing
→ On-site installation
→ Trial run & optimization
→ Production handover
→ After-sales service & long-term support
