Innovation and Sustainability with PVD Metallization

In the telecommunications and industrial automation industries, manufacturers face complex technical challenges, including the protection of electronic devices against electromagnetic interference (EMI). Companies must create products that offer end users high-performance solutions ready for use in increasingly demanding environments.

In this field, a leading company in the electrical and digital infrastructure industry chose Argos ST Group to help it overcome the challenge of EMI shielding for its small connectors. In the past, these connectors were treated with a chemical tin plating process, but the company sought a more sustainable and cost-effective solution.

Argos ST proposed aluminium PVD metallization, which successfully passed testing on samples, guaranteeing the required standard of EMI shielding.

Improving performance and reducing the environmental impact

Until recently, small connectors were treated with chemical tin plating, a technique typically used to achieve high-performance EMI shielding. However, this process has a big environmental impact due to the chemicals used, as well as being more complex and best suited to large production batches.

The customer’s need to manage small-to-medium batches without an excessive cost increase prompted our R&D lab to seek out a solution that would not only meet the customer’s requests but also reduce the environmental impact, whilst guaranteeing EMI shielding performance sufficient for the use case. 

Aluminium PVD metallization

To achieve this result, we proposed a PVD (physical vapour deposition) metallization technique. This technology offers many advantages over chemical tin plating: it significantly reduces the environmental impact, can be adapted for the processing of small batches and guarantees high-performance EMI shielding.

Aluminium PVD coating had provided effective protection against electromagnetic interference, which is an essential requirement for the telecommunications and data-transmission industry.

Furthermore, just like tin plating, PVD treatment gives connectors a “metallic effect” that is ideal for plastic components that must also meet aesthetic requirements.

Once this solution was identified, a series of trials and samples were prepared, which passed the customer’s laboratory tests, enabling validation and adoption of the treatment in the production cycle.

Reduced costs and greater sustainability

The solution proposed by Argos ST held many benefits for the client company:

Reduced internal costs: the PVD metallization process is cheaper than chemical tin plating, lowering production costs, particularly for the treatment of small batches of components.
Improved management of production batches: the option to apply the PVD treatment to small batches has enabled more flexible and agile production, for optimal management of the client’s specific requirements.
Reduced environmental impact: compared to traditional tin plating, PVD treatment eliminates the use of chemicals and production of industrial waste, making the whole process more environmentally friendly.
EMI shielding performance: tests performed on samples have demonstrated that PVD metallization is capable of guaranteeing the standard of EMI shielding required by the client, meeting their technical specifications without compromising on design.

Argos ST distinguished itself for its ability to adapt to the specific needs of the client, offering a flexible and high-performance custom solution with a significant positive impact on costs and environmental sustainability.