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Do most platers use Silver Anodes or non consumable Anodes for Silver Plating

Hi! My name is Bill Balme - I am the Marketing and Engineering Manager for a North American Precious Metal Manufacturer.

I have not been involved in the Silver Plating business for over 25 years - so I suspect things may have changed since then! At that time, most silver platers used Silver Anodes - is that still the case or have platers migrated towards non consumable anodes?

My reason for asking is simple - we could easily establish a manufacturing program for silver anodes by direct casting or extrusion - but I don't know if there's a market out there.

I hope to hear there is!

Thanks,

Bill Balme
Possible Supplier? - Attleboro, Massachusetts
February 14, 2008

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Non consumable anodes are often used for silver strikes, but less often for silver plating. Plenty of market for silver anodes if you can offer more than the other suppliers.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
February 14, 2008

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Inert anodes in CN silver cause rapid buildup of carbonate.

Robert H Probert
Robert H Probert Technical Services

Garner, North Carolina

February 15, 2008

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Bill,
If you're interested in why silver anodes are widely used in the silver plate process is because troy oz for troy oz, silver anodes cost less than potassium silver cyanide (anodes are cheaper to produce). The bath is much easier to control without having to add back the silver in salt form. The same would apply in a non cyanide silver process. Good Luck!

Mark Baker
Process Engineer - Syracuse, New York
February 19, 2008

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March 26, 2008

Ted, In your comments you mentioned; Plenty of market for silver anodes if you can offer more than the other suppliers.
Do you mean new shapes? or better customer service? Please explain.
Thanks,

Steve Carter
- Attleboro, Massachusetts

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Sorry, Steve, it was just a generic comment in response to your inquiry of whether there is a market for silver anodes. Certainly people are always looking for a better price, more consistent quality, more responsive customer service, and greater flexibility towards meeting their needs in every market -- but I have not done a market analysis to determine the vulnerabilities of the existing suppliers. Good luck.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
March 26, 2008