Ercolani Romano Electroplating
From “GalvanoTecnica e nuove finiture,” Issue 5 – 2025, the official publication of AIFM – Italian Association of Metal Finishes [1]
Ercolani Romano Galvanotecnica was founded in 1977 thanks to the vision and dedication of Romano and Carla Ercolani and is now led by their son Fabrizio. Since 2022, it has been an integral part of the UNOAERRE Industries S.p.A. group, which has successfully leveraged the family’s legacy of artisanal expertise while ensuring a constant pursuit of technological innovation.
The company has solidified its position as a leading player in the Italian electroplating industry, distinguishing itself through the quality of its processes and its ability to provide tailored solutions that meet market needs [2].
Operating successfully in both the gold and silver jewelry sectors and the high-fashion accessories sector, with the essential support of the UNOAERRE Industries S.p.A. group, the company offers customized treatments and high quality standards, the result of in-depth knowledge of materials and production cycles.
The wide range of treatments and the variety of metals used make it essential to have a rapid, precise, and flexible internal quality control system capable of adapting to diverse electroplating processes and ensuring repeatable and consistent results. For these reasons, Ercolani Romano Galvanotecnica has chosen to rely on CDR GalvanLab® [3].
The Challenge: Consistency and Control Across a Wide Variety of Processes
Electroplating is a fundamental technology in the manufacturing of metal fashion accessories, where aesthetics and functionality must coexist in balance.
Through this electrochemical process, it is possible to deposit thin layers of metal onto various substrates, imparting luster, corrosion resistance, and improved mechanical properties to the finished product, with a uniform, stable, and long-lasting finish.
In the production of fashion accessories, the treatment stages are divided into base and finishing processes, each with its own operational challenges and specific analytical requirements.
The basic processes serve to create a solid metallurgical foundation that ensures adhesion and stability for subsequent coatings: alkaline copper plating, thanks to its high penetrating power, prepares the surface to ensure uniform coverage, while acid copper plating enhances its brilliance and smoothness, improving the appearance of the plated piece.
Each stage of the process requires constant monitoring of key operating parameters —such as temperature, pH, and density—which must be maintained within precise limits to ensure uniformity, repeatability, and the quality of the final result.
In the jewelry sector, the focus is on monitoring the precious metals used in electroplating baths, particularly gold (Au), rhodium (Rh), palladium (Pd), and silver (Ag). Here, the goal is to optimize consumption, reduce waste, and preserve the aesthetic and functional quality of the deposits—parameters that are essential for maintaining the value and competitiveness of high-end products.
Finally, finishing represents the most delicate and distinctive phase of the entire process: treatments such as gold plating, palladium plating, silver plating, and rhodium plating define the final color, increase chemical resistance, and complete the product’s aesthetic appearance, giving the finished accessory its identity and added value.
Toward Advanced Quality Control
The creation of an in-house analytical protocol was a natural evolution for the company. The need to obtain rapid, accurate, and reproducible results led the company to integrate the CDR GalvanLab® system into its laboratory routine; it is now an integral part of its daily quality control activities.
The introduction of this instrument has made it possible to perform direct chemical analyses on small sample quantities, without complex pretreatments or the use of hazardous solvents, thereby ensuring greater operational safety and environmental sustainability. As Dr. Eleonora Turchi, an analyst at the Ercolani laboratory, points out:
“CDR GalvanLab® has become an ally in meeting the tight deadlines required by our production processes: when faced with a problem, we get an immediate response, which allows us to intervene quickly and effectively so we can proceed with the next stages of work without delays.”
In addition to improving analytical management, CDR GalvanLab® has proven to be a strategic tool for process decision-making, allowing operators to verify the composition of the baths in real time and take immediate action.
This ability to obtain immediate and reliable results represents a tangible advantage in daily production, making quality control not only more efficient but also more proactive and focused on preventing process issues.
Innovation and Collaboration
The UNOAERRE Industries S.p.A. group’s approach is characterized by a constant openness to new methodologies.
The adoption of CDR GalvanLab® at Ercolani Galvanotecnica represents not only a technological choice but also a form of active collaboration in the development of new analytical methods, aimed at making electroplating more precise, sustainable, and competitive.
Experimenting with new protocols means gaining a deeper understanding of the evolution of electroplating baths and identifying areas for optimization that can improve product quality and the long-term durability of the process.
Conclusions
Ercolani Galvanotecnica’s experience demonstrates how the implementation of a structured internal analytical protocol makes it possible to precisely monitor every stage of the electroplating process: from basic treatments to pollutant control, all the way to the analysis of precious metals.
The use of reliable, simple, and flexible instruments such as CDR GalvanLab® makes it possible to replace traditional methods, providing concrete support for day-to-day management and paving the way for a more modern, safe, and sustainable electroplating process.
Ercolani Galvanotecnica’s experience demonstrates how the introduction of a structured internal analytical protocol makes it possible to precisely monitor every stage of the electroplating process: from basic treatments to pollutant control, all the way to the analysis of precious metals.
The use of reliable, simple, and flexible tools such as CDR GalvanLab® makes it possible to replace traditional methods, providing concrete support for day-to-day management and paving the way for a more modern, safe, and sustainable electroplating industry.
Useful Links
[1]“GalvanoTecnica and New Supplies,” Issue 5 – 2025
[2] The Ercolani Experience
[3] CDR GalvanLab®: the analysis system for quality control of electroplating baths
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