Unique and Evolving Electroplating Training

Electroplating training is critical for those already working as a plating professional as well as those interested in entering that field of surface finishing. Having a solid background in the plating process and understanding the chemistry involved helps engineers make better design and manufacturing decisions, solve quality problems and select suppliers. Although several training options exist in the industry, one training firm offers mostly online training which is live and interactive; however, hands-on, in-person courses are available as well.

Advint (Kitchener, Ontario, Canada) content includes learning the fundamentals of plating, as well as its industrial applications and recommended practices for advancement. Simple and intricate concepts about electrolytic, electroless and conversion coatings are taught and available to individuals with at least two years of plating experience and intermediate chemistry knowledge.

Attendees can choose from a four-day (six-hours per day) standard training course online or an on-site customized class. No matter the course chosen, each session is unique and constantly evolving. “The courses are dynamic, continuously monitored and updated,” says Venkat Raja, founder, president and advisor of Advint. “I have a passion for quality, writing meticulously and being as thorough as possible.”

Learning from experience

Raja began his company in November 2018 as an electroplating and advisory services firm. He began the startup after more than 30 years of experience in aqueous and ionic liquid electrolytes, autocatalytic and physical vapor deposition (PVD) processes. He had worked in the U.S., Canada and India, holding senior roles in research, engineering and manufacturing. He has served as a lead engineer for Boeing Co. and worked for Honeywell and Titan Industries as well.

Among the plating specialist’s accomplishments are the invention of a process to deposit a thick beta-phase tantalum, the deposit of 23 elements on more than 50 different substrates on a large and small scale, the redesign of an extremely complex rack plating line and a new design of automated electroless nickel plating line for the U.S. Army Research Lab.

During his time as a plater, Raja not only handled the operation of large plating rack and barrel plating units but also effluent treatment systems, deionized water treatment units and automatic brushing units, as well as polishing, painting and lacquering processes.

In 2020, Raja completed the first edition of his 172-page electroplating course eBook, which commenced Advint’s plating training courses that same year. He is currently working on the second edition, which will be sold worldwide through Amazon and Walmart.

Course details

Although the first edition of the eBook continues to be used as the course guide, Raja says he updates his presentation before each session based on student feedback. He takes the suggestions from course evaluations to revise the 450-slide deck. The eBook is also accessible after course completion.

Advint training, which is geared toward principal scientists, process engineers and operation managers working at companies in the aerospace, printed circuit board or general metal finishing industries, reaches those with bachelor’s degrees to those with a Ph.D. in materials science or chemistry. According to its website, 28% of students have a bachelor’s degree, 39% of students have master’s degrees and 33% have earned doctorates. The plating course has also reached students who are employed by prestigious institutions such as Sandia National Laboratory, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Molex, and SpaceX.

No matter who is interested in registering for the course, Advint offers two types of sessions to choose from: standard and custom training. Once a course is complete, students receive a digital certificate. 

Standard training

Raja says the standard course is the most popular, which is live, remote and engaging, and mostly targeted at early career professionals. Attendees can choose from a range of days and times to take the course from the comfort of their own home or office, and even a Saturday course if they wish.

Although the course attendee expectations are flexible, this course was written for students with some chemistry background. “We do get many students who don’t have a background in chemistry, or it’s been several years since they earned a degree in chemistry,” Raja says. “So, we refresh them, educate them and quickly take them to the advanced concepts.”

Custom training

Custom training is the other course offered, which is personalized to meet the specific needs of customers. These classes are in-person at the customer’s facility and are often geared toward operating staff and supervisers. However, that is not always the case. If Raja feels a customer’s background would not fit the standard training module in any way, including those who might be underqualified, he might recommend custom training. “Reach out to me, and you and I will decide on a particular schedule. I’ll offer one-on-one training,” he explains.

Unlike other plating training offered in the industry, Raja explains that his classes include business development methodologies and quality management tools instead of only teaching plating processes, chemistry and applications.

Advint also specializes in sales of DC rectifiers and provides plating advisory services. For more information on plating training and more, visit the website at theadvint.com/training.