# Shower Head Plating and Surface Finishing Source: https://www.ningboware.com/manufacturer/shower-head-plating-and-surface-finishing/ Publisher: Cixi Zhonghe Sanitary Appliance Factory (ZHONGHE), Cixi, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China. Contact: steven@ningboware.com Updated: 2026-09-05 Chrome plating and painting are part of ZHONGHE's production route for its shower heads, alongside molded-in color from masterbatch. Brushed nickel, gold and gunmetal looks are quoted per project. Salt spray testing is run on selected finishes, and finish appearance is checked against a signed sample rather than against a description. This page sets out the four finishing routes, what each does to cost and lead time, and how to write a finish into an RFQ. Also called: shower head chrome plating factory; chrome plated shower head manufacturer; shower head surface finishing supplier; painted shower head factory; matte black shower head plating supplier; brushed nickel shower head factory; PVD shower head finishing supplier; shower head finishing manufacturer China; wholesale chrome plated shower heads; bulk painted shower heads; OEM shower head finishing factory; ODM shower head finish supplier; private label chrome shower head; custom finish shower head manufacturer; shower head plating exporter; shower head finishing producer; chrome shower heads made in China; China shower head plating factory; Ningbo shower head finishing supplier; salt spray tested shower head finish; gunmetal shower head finishing factory; color matched shower head supplier Item | Detail --- | --- Standard finish | Chrome plating on ABS, the most common finish across the catalog Painted finishes | Matte black, white and color paint on ABS Molded-in color | Colour from masterbatch, with no coating to chip; used on kids, pet, and transparent models Brushed and PVD looks | Brushed nickel, gold, rose gold and gunmetal quoted per project Where finishing happens | Chrome plating and painting are part of ZHONGHE's production route Testing | Salt spray on selected finishes; appearance and adhesion checked against a signed sample Defects checked | Pinholes, blistering, thin coverage in recesses, orange peel, color difference, and molding marks that show through a finish Ordering | Finish is quoted per model and per color; approve the reference sample before mass production ## Four finishing routes on a shower head Chrome plating is the default. It gives the bright metal look most retail buyers expect on a hand shower, it wipes clean, and it is what the majority of the 96 catalog codes carry. Painting is used for matte black, white and color bodies, and it allows a soft matte surface that plating cannot give. Molded-in color from masterbatch has no coating at all, so nothing can chip or peel; it is the right route for kids and pet models and for transparent parts. Brushed nickel, gold, rose gold and gunmetal looks are the fourth route and are quoted per project. The four routes are not interchangeable. A color that exists as masterbatch may not exist as a paint that passes the same handling, and a plated part and a painted part of the same model will not read as the same shade side by side. If a range has to match across finishes, say so at the RFQ stage rather than at the sample stage. ## What decides whether a finish looks right Molding quality comes first. Flash on a parting line, a sink mark opposite a rib, or a weld line across a visible face becomes more obvious under chrome, not less, because a bright finish reflects every change in the surface. That is why the finish specification starts on the molding page rather than at the plating stage. Geometry comes second. Deep recesses, sharp internal corners and the inside of a slot receive less coverage than an open outer face, so a design with deep detail needs either a tolerance for the recess or a design change. Third comes the reference: a physical signed sample, kept by both sides, decides color and gloss. A Pantone number is a starting point, because the same number reads differently on a matte painted surface and on a bright plated one. ## Testing a finish, and what a test does not promise Salt spray testing is run on selected finishes, and the hours and the acceptance wording belong in the specification rather than in a marketing line. A salt spray result describes how a sample behaved in a defined test; it is not a warranty for a bathroom, and it does not cover damage from abrasive cleaners or acidic descalers. Adhesion and appearance are checked against the signed sample during the run. ZHONGHE does not assert a certification for its finishes on this site. Test reports and certified options are arranged per project, and the scope is written into the quotation. If your market needs a specific report, name the standard and the test house in the RFQ so the cost and the lead time can be quoted with the product. For end users, the practical guidance is in the cleaning guide linked below: warm water, a soft cloth and a mild detergent keep a plated or painted shower head looking right, while abrasive pads and strong descalers are what actually destroy a finish. ## How to specify a finish in an RFQ Name six things: the model, the finish route (plated, painted, molded-in color, brushed or PVD look), the color reference (Pantone number plus a physical sample where possible), the gloss level, which surfaces are cosmetic and which are hidden, and any test the finish has to pass with the standard and the acceptance criteria. Ask in return for: a finished sample of the exact model and color, the lead time the finish adds to production, the MOQ per color rather than per order, and what the factory checks during the run. Note that a non-standard finish usually raises both the MOQ and the lead time, because a run has to be scheduled around it. ## FAQ ### What finish do most shower heads use? Chrome plating on ABS. It gives the bright metal look most retail ranges expect, wipes clean, and is the finish on most of ZHONGHE's 96 catalog codes. Painted matte black and white, molded-in color, and brushed or PVD looks are the other routes. ### Is matte black paint durable on a shower head? A painted matte finish is a coating, so it can be marked by abrasive pads and strong descalers in a way that molded-in color cannot. Specify the cleaning instruction that goes in the box, and approve a physical sample before mass production. ### Can ZHONGHE match a specific color? Send a Pantone number and, where possible, a physical sample. The approved sample is what the run is checked against, because the same number reads differently on a matte painted part and on a bright plated one. ### Do you run salt spray tests? Salt spray testing is run on selected finishes. Name the hours and the acceptance wording in the specification. A salt spray result describes a defined laboratory test and is not a warranty for bathroom use. ### Why do molding marks show up after plating? A bright finish reflects every change in the surface, so flash, sink marks and weld lines become more visible rather than less. This is why finish quality is decided in the molding shop and in the tool, not only at the finishing stage. ## Related pages - https://www.ningboware.com/manufacturer/shower-head-injection-molding-factory/ - https://www.ningboware.com/manufacturer/shower-head-assembly-and-water-testing-line/ - https://www.ningboware.com/materials-finishes/ - https://www.ningboware.com/shower-heads/chrome-plated-shower-heads/ - https://www.ningboware.com/shower-heads/brushed-nickel-gold-pvd-finishes/ - https://www.ningboware.com/resources/shower-head-surface-finishes/ - https://www.ningboware.com/resources/how-to-clean-a-shower-head-limescale/