Cation

What Cation does

Cation (Cation Indústria e Comércio LTDA) is a Brazilian industrial surface treatment services company founded in 1996 and headquartered in Limeira, São Paulo. It provides electroplating, anodizing, phosphating, and increasingly zinc-nickel and aluminum (including nanotechnology-based) coatings to the automotive sector, with a named customer base spanning eight major global OEMs: Volkswagen, General Motors, Fiat, Ford, Chrysler, Hyundai, Renault, and PSA (Peugeot-Citroën).

The company's core technology is rooted in wet-chemistry and metallurgy: parts are processed through controlled electrolytic and chemical baths that deposit metallic and conversion coatings for corrosion protection, wear resistance, paint adhesion, and decorative finishing. Capability extensions into zinc-nickel plating and aluminum surface treatment using proprietary nanotechnology indicate a move toward higher-specification, lightweighting-relevant finishes demanded by modern automotive platforms. The company holds IATF 16949 (migrated 2019), ISO 14001, and ISO 9001 certifications, which are prerequisites for automotive tier-1 and tier-2 supply.

Cation operates a B2B contract-services model, billing OEMs and their supply chains on a per-part or per-batch basis for treated components. Go-to-market is anchored by long-tenured homologations and approved-vendor status at major OEMs, with sales cycles likely measured in years due to PPAP and qualification requirements. The company is privately held by founder Carlos Alberto Nunes, employs 101-250 people, and has not disclosed funding, M&A, or revenue. Its expansion direction is incremental product-line broadening within its existing automotive vertical rather than geographic or vertical diversification.

Name

Cation

Legal name

Cation Indústria e Comércio LTDA

Website

https://cationbrasil.com.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Cation is a Brazilian industrial surface treatment services company founded in 1996 in Limeira, São Paulo, providing electroplating, anodizing, phosphating, zinc-nickel, and aluminum-nanotechnology coatings primarily to major global automotive OEMs in Brazil.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Metal Finishing Services

NAICS

Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Smelting and Refining (331410)

SIC

Primary Smelting & Refining Of Nonferrous Metals (3330)

akta.pro primary industry

Corrosion Control & Cathodic Protection Services (IMAIAKAI)

Keywords

• Surface treatment services
• Electroplating services
• Zinc plating
• Hard anodizing
• Metal finishing

Headquarters

HQ city

Limeira

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Surface Treatment Services: Provides surface protection and finishing services including zinc plating, hard chrome, phosphating, hard anodizing, and zinc-nickel plating for automotive components. Revenue generated through service fees for industrial surface treatment processes.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Cation provides industrial surface treatment and metal finishing services — including zinc plating, industrial hard chrome, phosphating, hard anodizing, zinc-nickel plating, and aluminum surface treatment — primarily for automotive OEMs and their supply chains. All processes are homologated at major global automakers. The company also sells complementary industrial inputs such as zinc anodes and SHG zinc ingots.

Product overview

Cation is a surface treatment and protection services company offering specialized industrial finishing services. The portfolio includes zinc plating (Zincagem), industrial hard chrome (Cromo Duro Industrial), phosphating (Fosfatização), hard anodizing (Anodização Dura), zinc-nickel plating, and surface treatment for aluminum parts. These services are complemented by industrial zinc anodes and SHG zinc ingots. The company operates as a single-service business focused on providing comprehensive surface protection solutions, with all processes certified for major global automotive manufacturers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Zinc Plating (Zincagem) Acid Zinc electroplating service that promotes ductile layers with high deposition speed and brightness, followed by passivation and sealing for corrosion resistance. Applied on iron, steel, and cast iron surfaces with low hydrogenation. Targeted at automotive component manufacturers.
• Industrial Hard Chrome (Cromo Duro Industrial) Industrial hard chrome plating finish used for wear reduction in components with hydraulic functions such as brake pistons. Applied on cast iron, steel, stainless steel, copper, and brass bases. Targeted at automotive hydraulic component manufacturers.
• Phosphating (Fosfatização) Chemical conversion coating process that covers metal parts with zinc, iron, or manganese phosphates. Provides high chemical and electrical insulating power with low porosity, improving surface adhesion for painting, adhesive application, and metal-rubber bonding while enhancing corrosion resistance. Targeted at automotive component manufacturers.
• Hard Anodizing (Anodização Dura) Anodizing process that forms an oxide film on metal surfaces for surface hardening, used for aluminum, niobium, tantalum, titanium, tungsten, and zirconium. Applied for engine pistons and brake cylinders; also provides corrosion protection and extends component lifespan. Targeted at automotive component manufacturers.
• Zinc-Nickel Plating (Zinco Níquel) Zinc-nickel electroplating process that promotes ductile layers with high deposition speed, brightness, and good abrasion resistance. Indicated for very high corrosion resistance performance, enhanced by passivators and sealants. Applicable on iron, steel, and cast iron with low hydrogenation. Targeted at automotive component manufacturers requiring high corrosion protection.
• Surface Treatment for Aluminum Parts (Tratamento Superficial em Peças de Alumínio) Nanotechnology-based surface treatment for aluminum parts promoting surface modification through hydrolysis, with zirconium and titanium oxide conversion followed by aggregation of organofunctional silanes with polymeric radicals. Provides excellent physicochemical adhesion and prepares parts for painting, rubber vulcanization, and adhesion. Targeted at automotive aluminum component manufacturers.
• Zinc Anodes (Anodo de Zinco) Zinc anodes and spheres used in galvanization, electrolytic zinc plating, hot-dip galvanizing, and the manufacture of metal alloys, brass, bronze, and zinc oxide. Available in plate models (10x60 at 10 kg, 14x100 at 18 kg) and sphere models (D. 4.5 cm at 0.200 kg, 2 inches at 0.400 kg). Targeted at industrial galvanization customers.
• SHG Zinc Ingots (Lingote de Zinco SHG) Special High Grade zinc ingots weighing approximately 25 kg, used as sacrificial anodes in corrosion protection applications. Targeted at industrial galvanization and cathodic protection customers.

Named customers8 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Educational Institutions (Various)minorOthersVarious partnerships with educational institutions including language schools and postgraduate programs, offering scholarships and discounts for employees (subject to approval).
• Philanthropic Units in LimeiraminorOthersPartnership with charitable organizations in Limeira for social contribution to the community, ongoing for 14 years.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bodycote: Bodycote is the world's largest provider of thermal processing and surface treatment services, including brazing, heat treatment, and metal finishing for automotive and industrial customers. Directly comparable service-based model and customer overlap with Cation.
• MKS Instruments (Atotech): MKS Instruments acquired Atotech in 2022, creating a global leader in electroplating chemistry and surface treatment solutions for the automotive and electronics industries. Directly comparable to Cation as both serve automotive OEMs with proprietary plating and coating chemistries.
• Technic Inc: Technic is a US-based specialty manufacturer of plating chemistries, equipment, and surface treatment solutions for automotive, electronics, and industrial markets. Comparable as a focused electroplating specialist serving similar automotive OEM customers.
• Oerlikon Balzers: Oerlikon's Balzers division is a global surface treatment specialist offering PVD and other coating services for automotive and industrial components. Comparable to Cation as a tier-1 supplier of high-spec surface treatment services to automotive and industrial OEMs.
• Element Solutions (MacDermid Enthone): Element Solutions owns MacDermid Enthone, a major specialty chemicals platform supplying electroplating and surface treatment chemistries to automotive and electronics OEMs worldwide. Directly comparable chemistry and end-market alignment with Cation's plating business.

Broad incumbents

• Sulzer Ltd: Sulzer provides industrial services including surface treatment and coatings through its Applicator Systems business, serving industrial and energy customers globally. A broad incumbent with adjacent capabilities rather than a focused electroplating specialist.
• BASF Coatings: BASF's surface treatment and coatings division supplies automotive OEMs with pretreatment chemistries and electrocoat products globally. A broad chemical incumbent whose metal pretreatment portfolio overlaps with Cation's chemical surface treatment processes.
• PPG Industries: PPG is a global coatings and specialty materials major with industrial pretreatment and surface treatment product lines serving automotive OEM assembly lines. Comparable end-market exposure but operates at much larger scale across paints, coatings, and specialty materials.
• Henkel AG: Henkel's Adhesive Technologies division includes metal pretreatment and surface treatment chemistries widely used in automotive OEM processes. A broad industrial incumbent with overlapping surface treatment capabilities, though it spans many other categories beyond metal finishing.

Regional players

• Kuntz Eletroplástica: Kuntz is one of the largest Brazilian electroplating and surface treatment service companies, serving automotive and industrial customers from multiple Brazilian facilities. The closest direct regional competitor to Cation in the Brazilian automotive surface treatment market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/cationbrasil
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cation

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cation