Advanced Plating Technologies

Advanced Plating Technologies started as Artistic Plating Company in 1948 and rebranded in 2013 to reflect its technical focus. Today, this fourth-generation, family and veteran-owned shop operates nine production lines across three facilities in Milwaukee, Wisconsin—placing them in the top 10 percentile of job shops nationally.

APT specializes in engineered surface finishing across demanding industries, with particular strength in ammunition and firearm finishes. Their service menu includes:

• •Electroless Nickel Plating — including Tacti-Black® for firearms
• •Electrolytic Nickel & Black Nickel — Ducta-Bright 7A Nickel®, Black-TPD®, Eclipse-TPD®, Dura-Nickel HP+®
• •Precious Metals — Gold and silver plating
• •Copper Plating — Specifically for bullets and projectiles
• •Tin/Lead Plating — Traditional ammunition finishes
• •Powder Coating — Including selective application
• •Passivation — Stainless steel and titanium

They handle loose-piece rack, barrel, and vibratory plating processes across 80+ employees.

"We have been working with Advanced Plating Technologies for a couple of years and always receive great service. The communication is easy, and the plating makes our ammunition look great." — Maggie B, ammunition manufacturer

"In two and one half decades, we have used more than our share of plating companies...none consistently excellent like Advanced Plating." — Dave F

• •ISO 9001:2015 — Quality management
• •ISO 13485:2016 — Medical device standards
• •ITAR Compliant — Defense/export ready
• •Federal Firearms License — Ammunition finishing authority
• •Environmental Leadership — Flawless stewardship record

APT publishes a specification database, white papers, and technical guidance on plating processes—not just for ammunition, but across industries. They also offer reverse engineering support for corrosion failures, adhesion issues, and process optimization.