Conformal Coating Services UK: PCB Protection & Reliability
Leading PCB Conformal Coating Services for UK Manufacturers
UK manufacturers trust PCB COMPANY UK for professional conformal coating of their printed circuit boards made and assembled here. We have state-of-the-art coating lines to help protect electronic assemblies from:
- Moisture
- Dust
- Chemicals
- Temperature variations
- Mechanical shock
This ensures your products operate reliably for years.
Some PCB contract manufacturers in the UK only offer conformal coating as an additional service. In this case, coating is typically performed in the same building but with different equipment and inspection processes.
At PCB COMPANY UK, however, we run dedicated coating facilities where quality control is a top priority. We provide high-quality coating with acrylics, urethanes, silicones, parylene, and UV-curable materials, all to industry standards and customer specifications.
Conformal Coating Capabilities
We offer manual or automated PCB conformal coating, depending on the volume and required precision.
Types of coatings:
- Acrylic (AR) — economical, fast drying
- Urethane (UR) — superior chemical resistance
- Silicone (SR) — high flexibility, high-temp performance
- Parylene (XY) — vapour-deposited, pinhole-free, superior barrier
- UV-curable coatings — fast processing for high volumes
Methods of application:
- Spray coating (selective, automated)
- Dip coating for batch production
- Brush coating for prototypes or rework
- Vapour deposition (parylene coating)
Process details:
- Controlled thickness: 25–75 µm (varies by material)
- Inspection & quality control: UV inspection, X-ray (BGA inspection), adhesion, cross-section
- Masking & de-masking services: for connectors, gold fingers, and exposed areas requiring solderability
Advantages of Conformal Coating for PCBs
Conformal coating is a protective chemical layer applied uniformly and in a thin layer over the surface of a printed circuit board.
The coating material is chosen to protect against:
- Moisture & humidity (condensation, high-RH environments)
- Contaminants (dust, salt, flux residue, etc.)
- Corrosive chemicals
- Thermal cycling & vibration (automotive, aerospace, industrial, etc.)
- Electrical leakage & arcing (surface insulation resistance)
In other words, it helps to extend product lifespan, increase MTBF (mean time between failure), and reduce warranty claims.
UK Industries We Serve with Conformal Coating
Our customers range across industries that depend on reliable PCBs in adverse conditions:
- Aerospace & Defence: high-altitude, vibration, extreme temp ranges
- Automotive: engine bay electronics, EV power electronics, ADAS/Electronics modules
- Medical Devices: safety critical PCB assemblies that must be clean, sterile
- Industrial Automation: dusty, moist environments in manufacturing plants
- Telecoms & Energy: outdoor equipment, renewable energy systems, base stations
Reasons to Select Us as Your Conformal Coating Provider in the UK
Production in the UK: faster turnaround, lower logistics costs, local quality control
Flexibility on order size: small batches to large production runs
One-stop PCB service: fabrication, assembly and coating in-house – fewer suppliers to manage
Certified to high quality standards: IPC-CC-830 compliant, ISO 9001 QMS, aerospace/medical approved
- Technical Support: experienced engineers to advise on material and thickness selection for your application.
Step by Step Conformal Coating Process
- Preparation & cleaning – clean to remove flux, moisture and other contaminants (plasma cleaning or washing).
- Masking – to protect connectors, sockets and other sensitive areas.
- Coating application – by spray, dip, brush, or parylene vapour deposition.
- Curing/drying – thermal curing, UV curing or ambient curing (varies by material).
- Inspection & testing – UV light inspection, adhesion, cross-section, dielectric strength.
- De-masking & finishing – boards are finalised, labelled and packed
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Conformal coating is a very thin film of polymer that is applied to circuit boards to protect them from moisture, chemicals, dust, and temperature variations. The goal is to improve reliability and increase the lifetime of a product.
It really depends on the application:
- Acrylic for general purpose, cost effective
- Urethane for good chemical resistance
- Silicone for high-temp applications requiring flexibility
- Parylene for demanding or mission critical applications
On average the thickness is 25–75 µm, depending on material. Parylene conformal coating is thinner but gives a pinhole-free, uniform layer of protection.
Yes — acrylic and silicone coatings can usually be reworked or removed with solvents. Parylene coatings are difficult to remove but not impossible.
Lead times will vary according to your volume and coating material. An acrylic spray coating can be processed quite quickly (24–72 hours) but a parylene deposition coating will take longer. Please get in touch to discuss project specific lead times.
Protect Your PCB Assemblies Today!
Get a free quote today for our UK-based conformal coating services. We offer:
- Prototype batches
- High-volume production
- Fast turnarounds
- Competitive prices