Anodising Services — Auckland
We provide Type II and Type III anodising services from our West Auckland facility, operating since 2009. Most of our work is Type III hard anodising for components that need high wear resistance — hydraulic assemblies, precision tooling, marine hardware, and defence-grade equipment.
Standard Type II at 12µm suits architectural extrusions and decorative work. Our marine-grade process at 25µm is built for components in saltwater environments. Type III at 60µm gives the highest wear and corrosion resistance available. Black dyeing is available across all coating types. Send us your component details and we'll recommend the right coating.
Type II - Class 1
[Standard Anodising]
Type II - Class 2
[Standard Anodising]
Type II – Marine Class 1
[Semi Hard]
Type II – Marine Class 2
[Semi Hard]
Type III - Class 1
[Hard Anodise]
Type III - Class 2
[Hard Black Anodise]
Materials We Work With
Aluminium Alloys
We can anodise most aluminium alloys, though results depend on the alloy. The 5000, 6000, and 7000 series consistently produce the best results. 6061 and 6082 — widely used in New Zealand fabrication — both anodise well. Cast alloys like 355 and 356 are fine, as is die-cast 319 if silicon content isn't too high.
For good colour uniformity, copper content should stay below 3.5% and silicon below 5%. Alloys with higher copper content (like 2024) come out darker and less uniform — functional, but won't match the clean finish you'd get from 6061.
Not sure what alloy you have? Send us a sample component and we'll test it. Alloys that look the same can anodise completely differently. Send us a test component to check the finish before committing to a full production run.
Magnesium Alloys
We also anodise magnesium. It has an excellent strength-to-weight ratio but corrodes easily without surface treatment. Anodising significantly improves corrosion resistance, making it ideal for aerospace and motorsport components where weight matters.
The magnesium process is different from aluminium — different bath chemistry, different current density. Contact us to discuss magnesium components.
Service Questions
What's the difference between Type II and Type III?
Type II runs at room temperature and produces a 12µm coating. Type III runs cold (0–5°C) at higher voltage, producing a 60µm coating. Type III is harder and more wear-resistant, making it the right choice for components under mechanical load or in demanding environments. Type II is more cost-effective and works well for architectural, balustrade, and decorative work.
Which coating thickness do I need?
Depends on the application. 12µm (Type II) handles general wear and corrosion — good for window frames, balustrades, and decorative fittings.
25µm (Marine Class) is built for saltwater exposure: boat fittings, marine hardware, and coastal architectural components.
60µm (Type III) is for heavy-duty work — hydraulic cylinders, gears, precision tooling, defence equipment, and any component under high mechanical stress or in abrasive conditions.
Can you colour match my existing anodising?
For dyed finishes (black, blue, gold), close colour matching is possible, but expect minor batch variation. Anodising doesn't allow the precise colour control you get with paint.
Type III Class 1 (undyed) comes out green-brownish naturally — that base colour can't be changed. Black Type III (Class 2) is available, but the black is less deep than dyed Type II because the thicker oxide layer absorbs less dye.
Do you offer sample testing before production runs?
Yes. If you're not sure how your alloy will anodise or want to check the finish before committing to a full batch, send us a sample component. We'll run it through and you can review the actual result before booking the main job.