When โDoing It Yourselfโ Costs More Than You Think
In electronics manufacturing, itโs easy to assume that keeping conformal coating in-house will save time and money. But in reality, โDIY coatingโ often leads to hidden costsโextra labour, quality issues, and expensive downtime.
Setting up and maintaining a coating process is far more complex than most production teams anticipate. From equipment calibration to masking accuracy and inspection control, thereโs a steep learning curve that can impact yield and product reliability.
At SCH Services Ltd, we specialise in subcontract conformal coating, helping manufacturers achieve consistent, high-quality protection without the overhead of running their own coating line.
1. Equipment Costs That Donโt Pay You Back
A full coating setup involves more than just a spray booth or dip system. Youโll need extraction units, curing ovens, inspection lighting, masking materials, and precision jigsโplus ongoing maintenance. These capital investments rarely achieve full utilisation. Production peaks and dips leave expensive machinery sitting idle, while maintenance and calibration costs continue to rise.
By outsourcing to SCH Services, you eliminate capital expenditure. Our purpose-built coating facilities operate at optimal efficiency every day, meaning you only pay for the coating you needโnothing more.
To understand what is really involved in setting up and maintaining an in-house line, see our overview of conformal coating systems and the equipment typically required to achieve repeatable results.
2. Labour and Training: The Hidden Overhead
DIY coating requires skilled technicians. Training staff to apply, inspect, and handle materials safely takes time and experience. Turnover or absences can leave you short-staffed, stalling production and increasing the risk of errors.
At SCH, our trained coating technicians and quality inspectors are dedicated specialists. Every board is processed under controlled conditions and backed by documented inspection data. That ensures consistent qualityโwithout the cost of training or supervision on your side.
3. Rework, Rejects, and Quality Risks
DIY coating often appears cheaperโuntil rework begins. Missed areas, conformal coating defects, or masking failures can trigger costly reprocessing, material waste, and delivery delays.
SCHโs inspection process ensures uniform coverage and reliable protection on every job. Using magnification, controlled environments, and robust masking methods, we maintain repeatable coating quality that meets industry standards for aerospace, defence, medical, and automotive sectors.
4. Compliance and Environmental Control
Operating a coating line means dealing with solvents, VOC emissions, and waste disposal. Each of these brings legal, environmental, and safety obligations that require ongoing monitoring and documentation.
SCH Services operates under ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certification, with fully compliant extraction and waste management systems already in place. Outsourcing to a certified partner removes this regulatory burden, protecting both your people and your audit trail.
5. Scalability and Turnaround
In-house coating can quickly become a production bottleneckโespecially when volumes fluctuate or customer deadlines tighten.
SCH offers flexible capacity for both prototype and high-volume coating, ensuring consistent turnaround times without compromising quality. Whether you need rapid response on urgent jobs or scheduled coating support, we align with your production goals.
6. The True Value: Focus on Core Expertise
Ultimately, your teamโs expertise is in designing, manufacturing, or assembling electronicsโnot in learning to mask, coat, and cure boards.
By partnering with SCH Services, you gain a trusted in-house extension that handles coating complexity for you.
Youโll benefit from:
โข Lower overall costs (no capital, no rework, no waste)
โข Predictable lead times
โข Consistent quality and traceability
โข Certified environmental and process compliance
โข The freedom to focus on your core business
Conclusion: When Expertise Pays for Itself
DIY conformal coating can look attractive on paperโbut the real costs soon surface in training, downtime, and rework. By outsourcing to SCH Services Ltd, you gain precision, consistency, and efficiency from day one.
Ready to compare the true cost difference?
Talk to our team today about how our subcontract and in-house coating solutions can reduce your costs and improve reliability.
