Electroplating chemicals, electroplating processes and systems for the chemical surface treatment of metals.
Erne surface AG
Dällikon ZH · Rüti b. BürenNew on Amplifa
Chemical and electroplating surface technology since 1936
Erne surface AG, headquartered in Dällikon ZH, has offered a broad portfolio for chemical and electroplating surface treatment since 1936. The company manufactures electroplating chemicals and specialty chemicals, distributes processes for functional and decorative plating applications as well as products for PCB manufacturing, and offers blackening and aluminium treatment. Its range of services also includes the construction of customer-specific plating lines and manual systems, including system maintenance and overhauls in cooperation with Galvanis GmbH, a pilot plating facility for sample treatments, and an analysis service. Base materials treated are common metals such as steel, iron and aluminium. Customers are Swiss and foreign companies from mechanical engineering, electronics and PCB manufacturing, aerospace engineering, medical technology, fittings and valves, and the watch and jewellery industry, as well as contract and in-house plating shops. The offering is complemented by customer-oriented production, warehouse and shipping logistics with delivery within 24 hours, from smallest to bulk quantities.
- Site
- Dällikon ZH
- Processes
- Electroplating coating (contract/in-house plating, functional & decorative), Electroplating processes – Copper, Electroplating processes – Nickel, Electroplating processes – Electroless Nickel, Electroplating processes – Chromium, Electroplating processes – Zinc, Electroplating processes – Tin, Electroplating processes – Gold
- Materials
- Iron, Steel, Aluminium, Metal (common base materials), Copper, Nickel, Electroless Nickel, Chromium
- Certificates
- ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, Swiss Excellence Certificate (VLO/AFTS), SWISSGALVANIC association membership (partner member), EnAW target agreement (Energy Agency of the Swiss Economy), Safety Charter (Suva)
- Founded
- 1936
- Industries
- Mechanical engineering, Electronics and PCB manufacturing, Aerospace engineering, Medical technology, Fittings and valves, Watch and jewellery industry
- 01
Consulting for plating processes and chemical-technical questions
- 02
Development, compounding and storage of electroplating chemicals
- 03
Plant engineering: customer-specific plating lines and manual systems
- 04
Pilot plating facility and sample treatments
- 05
Analysis service
- 06
Logistics: delivery within 24 hours
- 07
Disposal (SSO-compliant)
Materials and electroplating processes
Copper
Electroplating process as a basis for functional and decorative coatings.
Nickel
Electroplated nickel plating for corrosion and wear protection.
Electroless Nickel
Chemically deposited nickel coatings for uniform layer thicknesses even on complex geometries.
Chromium
Electroplated chromium plating for hard chrome and decorative applications.
Zinc
Electroplated zinc plating as corrosion protection for steel parts.
Tin
Electroplated tin plating, among other things for electronics and PCB applications.
Gold
Precious metal coating for electronics, PCBs and applications with high conductivity requirements.
Silver
Precious metal coating with the highest electrical conductivity.
Platinum
Electroplated precious metal process for special technical applications.
Rhodium
Hard, white precious metal for decorative and technical coatings, among others in the watch industry.
Blackening
Chemical conversion of iron and steel surfaces, traditionally practiced since the company's founding.
Aluminium treatment
Chemical pretreatment and surface treatment of aluminium parts.
Locations
Dällikon ZH
CHHeadquarters with production, laboratory and warehouse
- Lot size
- Smallest to bulk quantities
- Materials
- Steel, iron, aluminium, common metallic base materials
- Plating lines and manual systems (customer-specific, from Schlötter, D-Geislingen)
- Pilot plating facility (since 1951)
- RMA ion exchange system
- Modern laboratory and test facilities
Rüti b. Büren
CHRegistered office of the parent company Thommen-Furler AG
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electroplating coating (contract/in-house plating, functional & decorative)Surface | – | – | – | Smallest quantities – Bulk quantities | Metal (common metallic base materials) |
| Electroplating processes – CopperSurface | – | – | – | – | Metal |
| Electroplating processes – NickelSurface | – | – | – | – | Metal |
| Electroplating processes – Electroless NickelSurface | – | – | – | – | Metal |
| Electroplating processes – ChromiumSurface | – | – | – | – | Metal |
| Electroplating processes – ZincSurface | – | – | – | – | Metal |
| Electroplating processes – TinSurface | – | – | – | – | Metal |
| Electroplating processes – GoldSurface | – | – | – | – | Metal |
| Electroplating processes – SilverSurface | – | – | – | – | Metal |
| Electroplating processes – PlatinumSurface | – | – | – | – | Metal |
| Electroplating processes – RhodiumSurface | – | – | – | – | Metal |
| BlackeningSurface | – | – | – | – | Iron, Steel |
| Aluminium treatmentSurface | – | – | – | – | Aluminium |
| Products for PCB manufacturingSurface | – | – | – | – | – |
| Electroplating chemicals (manufacture, distribution)Surface | – | – | – | – | – |
| Chemicals for laboratory use / specialty chemicalsSurface | – | – | – | – | – |
| Plant engineering, plant maintenance and plant overhauls (plating lines and manual systems)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Pilot plating facility / sample treatmentsSurface | – | – | – | – | – |
| Analysis service / analyticsTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
| Disposal (SSO-compliant, metal hydroxide sludge)Surface | – | – | – | – | – |
| Consulting for chemical-technical questions / engineeringEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
3 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plating systems (plating lines and manual systems, in-house/partner-made) | ERNE (with Schlötter, D-Geislingen) | – | – | – | Dällikon ZH |
| Pilot plating facility | – | – | – | ab 1951 | Dällikon ZH |
| RMA ion exchange system | – | – | – | – | Dällikon ZH |
Additional services
Quality and certification
Erne surface AG has been certified to ISO 9001 since 1998 and to ISO 14001 since 2002; the quality level is maintained through continuous optimization of processes, equipment and organization as well as targeted training of employees. Modern laboratory and test facilities, a pilot plating facility and an analysis service safeguard process and product quality.
| Evidence | Dällikon ZH | Rüti b. Büren |
|---|---|---|
| ISO 9001:2015 | ||
| ISO 14001:2015 | ||
| EnAW target agreement (Energy Agency of the Swiss Economy) | ||
| Swiss Excellence Certificate (VLO/AFTS) | ||
| SWISSGALVANIC association membership (partner member) | ||
| Safety Charter (Suva) |
Company history
- 1936
Founded by Fritz Erne as “F. ERNE Galvanobedarf-Metallchemie” in his pharmacy in Zurich-Hirslanden; sales representation for Brünofix for blackening iron and steel.
- 1951
Move to Zurich-Altstetten with office, pilot plating facility and warehouse.
- 1955
Entry in the commercial register under “ERNE AG Galvanotechnik”.
- 1967
Construction and occupancy of the company headquarters in Dällikon ZH.
- 1987
Fred Erne, second generation, takes over the company.
- 1992
Expansion of business activity into French-speaking Switzerland.
- 1998
Initial certification to ISO 9001.
- 2002
Additional certification to ISO 14001.
- 2012
Rea Erne, third generation, takes over the company.
- 2013
Participation in the programme of the Energy Agency of the Swiss Economy (EnAW) for CO2 reduction and energy efficiency.
- 2021
Acquisition by Thommen-Furler AG.