製品紹介

1. What "Kanigen" means

The company name and the synonym for electroless nickel plating "Kanigen" was adopted by combining the first syllables from the words C(K)atalytic, Nickel and Generation.

Kanigen plating is a nickel phosphorus alloy coating by the chemical reaction without using electricity.
Compared to other plating, the advantage of Kanigen plating is as follows.

Superior qualities in thickness uniformity.
Plating of the insulator materials is possible.
Plating of various type of metals is possible.
Superior qualities in adhesion, hardness, abrasion resistance and corrosion resistance.

Kanigen plating is used as a "functional coating" which strengthens the function of industrial components in a wide range of field including automobile industry, precision equipment and electronic equipment such as PC and digital camera, Formula One, airplane and satellite.
That explains why our company "Kanigen", named after Kanigen plating, has been the synonym of electroless plating.

2. History of Kanigen

  • 1.Discovery of "Kanigen", the electroless nickel plating

    In 1944, while applying electrolytic solution mixed with hypophosphates for nickel tungsten alloy plating, German chemists A.Brenner and G.Riddell discovered the strange phenomenon that plating placed not only to the inner surface of a metallic tube but also to the exterior surface resulted in the current efficiency reaching 120%.

    With continued research on this phenomenon, it turned out that precipitation begins not only with electrolysis but also with the reduction of hypophosphates and it forms the coating chemically under the certain composition of solution and the condition.
    However, this landmark discovery by A.Brenner and G.Riddell was not put to practical use due to the following problems.

    Slow plating rate
    Layered and uneven plating surface
    Unstable Plating solution and its short life span
    High cost

  • 2.Progress towards practical application of Kanigen planting

    In 1947, G.Gutzeit and his team in GATC Co. in the United States continued the research of Kanigen plating (electroless nickel plating), which A.Brenner and G.Riddell had discovered in the pilot plant of EAST-CHICAGO and in 1952 they finally completed the method of current Kanigen plating (electroless nickel plating).

  • 3.Birth of Kanigen

    After recognizing the practical application of Kanigen planting (electroless nickel plating), GATC Co. started to sell the licenses of Kanigen plating in United States, Europe, Australia, and Japan. Onoda Cement (currently Taiheiyo Cement Co., Ltd.) acquired the license in Japan, and established Japan Kanigen Co., Ltd. in 1955.