Consonni

What Consonni does

Consonni S.r.l. is a family-owned Italian electroplating and metal surface finishing company founded in 1952 as Consonni ditta individuale and later reorganized as a limited liability company. It operates from two adjacent locations at Via Ciro Menotti 21 and 23/a in Cantù (Como province), spanning a total of 11,000 sqm (4,500 sqm covered), with a 3-meter automatic galvanic line plus two additional automatic plants and a manual line for specialized treatments. Its service portfolio covers decorative and functional plating — chrome, nickel, silver, gold, bronze, copper, zinc, tin, brass, chemical nickel, chromate conversion, trivalent chrome, and metallocromia — together with complementary services (selective plating, on-site treatments, mechanical cleaning, screen printing, solvent painting, vintage vehicle restoration, and nanotechnology treatments). The company holds a UNI EN ISO 9001:2015 certification continuously since April 2004, an Integrated Environmental Authorization (AIA) from 2007, and a Rating di Legalità from AGCM, enabling it to serve regulated end-markets.

The business model is a direct-sales, B2B job-shop (toll) model with quote-based pricing. Industrial customers include automotive OEMs and tier suppliers (FCA, Ferrari, BMW, Harley-Davidson, Honda, Piaggio, Brembo, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Yamaha), aerospace and defense (Galileo Avionica, Marelli Avio, FIAR, GE Oil & Gas), telecommunications (Siemens, Alcatel), cable manufacturing (Pirelli Cavi), and luxury/watchmaking (Panerai, Louis Vuitton, N. Magrini Galileo). The company also serves private individuals for restoration and bespoke work with a minimum order of €200+ VAT. The stated sector coverage spans electronics, electromechanics, energy, biomedical, food, automotive, aerospace, and military. Distribution is regional (Northern Italy/Lombardy), with all sales conducted via direct contact forms, phone, and the company website.

Consonni's go-to-market is sales-led B2B, leveraging its family ownership structure, 70+ years of process know-how, and OEM specification approvals as switching-cost barriers. The 3-meter line and in-house quality/corrosion laboratories provide scale-tier capabilities uncommon among Italian galvanic job shops; certifications (ISO 9001, AIA, RoHS/ELV/WEEE compliance) provide regulatory access to premium technical sectors. Recent documented product/capability launches cluster in 2017 (trivalent chrome, black chrome, nickel-free finishes, digital colorimeter, NSS corrosion testing, 3-meter line), with no externally documented growth metrics, funding, or post-2017 expansion signals. Ownership remains entirely family-held with no institutional investors.

Name

Consonni

Legal name

Consonni S.R.L.

Website

https://consonnisrl.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Consonni S.r.l. is a family-owned Italian electroplating and metal surface finishing company founded in 1952, operating from Cantù (Como). It provides decorative and functional galvanic treatments — chrome, nickel, silver, gold, bronze, and specialty coatings — to industrial B2B customers in automotive, aerospace, electronics, and luxury goods.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Metal Surface Finishing Services

NAICS

Electroplating, Plating, Polishing, Anodizing, and Coloring (332813), Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities (33281)

SIC

Coating, Engraving & Allied Services (3470)

akta.pro primary industry

Electroplating & Metal Finishing (Anodizing/Galvanizing/Passivation) (IMAIAKAE)

Keywords

• Electroplating services
• Metal surface finishing
• Galvanic treatments
• Chrome plating
• Decorative coatings

Headquarters

HQ city

Cantu

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Electroplating job work services: Toll-treatment (lavorazioni c/terzi) electroplating services for external galvanic companies and direct industrial customers. Services provided on iron, steel, copper and alloys, aluminum and alloys, zinc alloys, and stainless steel. Wide range of treatments including chromium, nickel, silver, gold, bronze plating and specialized finishes.
2. Custom finishing services: Custom metal finishing services for decorative sector (furniture, bathroom, nautical, motorcycles) and technical sector (electronics, electromechanics, oil&gas, biomedical, aerospace, military).
3. On-site treatment services: Galvanic treatments performed at customer premises using reported anode technique.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Consonni S.r.l. provides contract electroplating and galvanic metal surface finishing services on iron, steel, copper and alloys, aluminum and alloys, zinc alloys, and stainless steel. Core treatments include chrome, nickel, silver, gold, bronze, tin, copper, brass, and zinc plating, plus chemical/electroless nickel, chromating, passivation, burnishing, acid treatment, and complementary services such as selective plating, on-site treatments, solvent painting, screen printing, and mechanical cleaning. The company operates two automatic galvanic lines (including a 3-meter line for large parts), a manual line, an in-house analytical laboratory, and a corrosion testing chamber.

Product overview

Consonni Srl is a specialized galvanic (electroplating) surface treatment company operating since 1952, offering a comprehensive portfolio of metal finishing services. The core offerings center around electrolytic plating treatments (Cromatura, Argentatura, Doratura, Nichelatura, Bronzatura, Brunitura, Cromatazione, Zincatura, Stagnatura, Ramatura, Ottonatura) and complementary treatments (Acidatura, Nichelatura Chimica, Passivazione). The company operates two automatic galvanic lines (including a specialized 3-meter line), a manual line for sophisticated treatments, and provides complementary services including selective plating, on-site treatments, solvent painting, screen printing, and mechanical cleaning. The portfolio includes advanced services like nanotechnology treatments and vintage vehicle restoration, with an in-house laboratory for quality control and R&D support. The company serves industrial sectors including electronics, electromechanics, oil & gas, telecommunications, biomedical, food, automotive, aerospace, and military.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Chrome Plating (Cromatura) Electrolytic chrome plating service providing decorative and functional finishes with corrosion resistance, including hexavalent chrome, trivalent chrome (RoHS-compliant), black chrome, chrome on aluminum, chrome for outdoor applications (multi-layer nickel undercoats), chrome on brass, iron alloys, and zinc alloys (zama).
• Silver Plating (Argentatura) Silver electroplating for both decorative and functional purposes, including electrical contacts, threaded components, and optical applications with high reflective properties. Used by aerospace and oil & gas customers per specifications such as QTA1204 and ITN07800.
• Gold Plating (Doratura) Gold electroplating service for decorative and functional applications on various metal substrates, including nickel-free gold finishes (e.g., for Louis Vuitton rings).
• Nickel Plating (Nichelatura) Electrolytic nickel plating using Watt bath and sulfamate processes, including bright, matte, and columnar nickel finishes; chemical/electroless nickel (high/medium phosphorus, RoHS/ELV/WEEE compliant); microporous nickel; and black nickel.
• Bronze Plating (Bronzatura) Black coloration using copper nitrate (also called burnishing), a metallocromia process particularly suitable for optical industry and luxury watch applications (e.g., Panerai).
• Burnishing (Brunitura) Metallocromia treatment for metal coloring using oxide and salt formation on surfaces to achieve black, gray, and blue finishes.
• Chromating (Cromatazione) Chrome conversion coating for corrosion inhibition on zinc, cadmium, aluminum, copper, brass, bronze, silver, and magnesium through passivation film formation. Used per specifications such as Alocrom 1200/1000/1200S.
• Zinc Plating (Zincatura) Electrolytic zinc plating for corrosion protection of ferrous metals.
• Tin Plating (Stagnatura) Electrolytic tin coating for food-grade and electrical applications on various metal substrates.
• Copper Plating (Ramatura) Electrolytic copper coating for electrical conductivity and as undercoating for other finishes.
• Brass Plating (Ottonatura) Copper-zinc alloy electroplating for decorative and functional applications.
• Acid Treatment (Acidatura) Non-electrolytic metal coloring process for obtaining dark gray, gray, and blue finishes on brass, copper, and steel through chemical reaction.
• Zinc-Nickel Alloy Plating (Zinco-Nichel) Electrolytic zinc-nickel alloy plating for enhanced corrosion resistance.
• Hexavalent Chrome-Free Passivation Chrome-free passivation processes compliant with RoHS directive for environmental compliance.
• Nickel-Free Finishes (Finiture Nichel Free) Nickel-free plating alternatives for allergy-sensitive applications, available in both frame and barrel processes.
• Selective Brush Plating Treatments (Trattamenti a Tampone e Selettivi) Selective plating using brush or pad technique for localized treatment of specific areas without full immersion.
• Brazed Anode Treatments (Trattamenti con Anodo Riportato) Plating treatments using internal or recessed anodes for cavity and internal surface treatments.
• On-Site Treatments (Lavorazioni Presso Cliente) On-site galvanic treatments performed at customer facilities using portable equipment with reported anode technique.
• Solvent Painting (Verniciatura a Solventi) Solvent-based painting and coating services for protective and decorative finishes.
• Screen Printing on Metal (Serigrafia) Screen printing services for metal surfaces as decorative finishing.
• Mechanical Metal Cleaning (Pulitura Meccanica) Mechanical metal cleaning and polishing services using manual, automatic, and robotic equipment.
• Nanotechnology Treatments (Trattamenti Nanotecnologici) Advanced surface treatments using nanotechnology for enhanced protective finishes and antimicrobial properties.
• Vintage Vehicle Restoration (Restauri Mezzo d'Epoca) Restoration services for vintage cars, motorcycles, and boats including period-appropriate galvanic treatments.
• Complete Supply (Forniture Complete) Comprehensive metal finishing solutions combining multiple treatments and complementary services as a single packaged offering.
• Analytical Laboratory Services (Laboratorio Analisi) In-house analytical laboratory with advanced instrumentation for quality control, R&D, customer technical assistance, and environmental emission monitoring.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20 years of continuous ISO 9001:2015 certification
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

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.

• University institutionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDaily contact with university institutions for technology innovation support and regulatory compliance. Collaboration aimed at introducing technological innovations and adopting new standards.
• Trade associations (associazioni di categoria)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing contact with trade associations for industry standards development, regulatory updates, and best practice sharing.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights10 records

Broad incumbents

• Bodycote: UK-listed provider of heat treatment and specialist surface finishing services, including some electroplating-adjacent coatings. Comparable as a B2B contract metal-finishing provider serving automotive, aerospace, and industrial OEMs with quality-system-certified processes.
• Aalberts Surface Treatment: Largest European contract metal finisher with a network of surface-treatment plants across multiple countries. Directly comparable to Consonni in offering electroplating and metal finishing services, but at significantly greater geographic and operational scale.
• Atotech (Element Solutions): Global supplier of plating chemistry and equipment for the electronics and general metal finishing industries, now part of Element Solutions. Comparable to Consonni as a stakeholder in the same plating processes (Cu/Ni/Cr), though operating upstream in chemistry rather than as a contract finisher.

Direct peers

• Galvanica Brescia: Northern Italian galvanic treatment provider offering decorative and functional plating services. Direct regional competitor to Consonni, comparable in service breadth (chrome, nickel, zinc, copper, tin plating) and customer segments.
• Trattamenti Galvanici Bonomi: Italian family-run electroplating and metal finishing shop serving automotive and industrial clients in the Lombardy area. Direct SME-scale peer to Consonni with overlapping service lines (chrome, nickel, zinc plating) and similar regional customer base.
• Galvani 3.0 / Italgalvanica: Italian contract electroplating shop focused on decorative and functional surface treatments for industrial and luxury clients. Comparable SME-scale peer with overlapping customer verticals (fashion/luxury, automotive components) and plating services.
• MVG (Metal Verniciatura Galvanica): Italian contract galvanic treatment company offering electroplating, decorative and functional finishes to industrial customers in Italy. Closely aligned with Consonni in service portfolio, geography, and target customer mix in Northern Italy.

Emerging players

• SurTec (part of Freudenberg): Surface-treatment chemicals and process specialist supplying plating chemistries and process know-how into contract finishers. Comparable to Consonni through its role in the same electroplating ecosystem, particularly in RoHS/REACH-compliant and trivalent-chrome chemistries.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/cromatura
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ConsonniCromatura
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/consonni

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Consonni