When “Doing It Yourself” Costs More Than You Think

In electronics manufacturing, it’s easy to assume that keeping conformal coating in-house will save time and money. But in reality, “DIY coating” often leads to hidden costs—extra 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, there’s 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 Don’t Pay You Back

A full coating setup involves more than just a spray booth or dip system. You’ll need extraction units, curing ovens, inspection lighting, masking materials, and precision jigs—plus 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 need—nothing more.

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 quality—without the cost of training or supervision on your side.

3. Rework, Rejects, and Quality Risks

DIY coating often appears cheaper—until rework begins. Missed areas, bubbles, or masking failures can trigger costly reprocessing, material waste, and delivery delays.

SCH’s 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 bottleneck—especially 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 team’s expertise is in designing, manufacturing, or assembling electronics—not 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.

You’ll benefit from:
• Lower overall costs (no capital, no rework, no waste)
• Predictable lead times
• Consistent quality and traceability
• Certified environmental and process compliance
• The freedom to focus on your core business

Conclusion: When Expertise Pays for Itself

DIY conformal coating can look attractive on paper—but 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.

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When you hear “ESD coating,” most people picture a paint loaded with carbon or metal particles. But that’s exactly where conventional solutions fall short. The future lies in filler-free ESD coatings, and ProShieldESD is leading that shift.

Unlike traditional ESD paints and molded plastics that depend on conductive fillers, ProShieldESD uses a pure polymer backbone to deliver permanent, homogeneous static dissipation. It’s a technology that doesn’t just improve coatings — it transforms how industries approach ESD control.

Why Filler-Based Solutions Fail

Filler‑based ESD coatings and conductive plastics have long been the default—but they come with built-in compromises:
• Segregation & clustering: Conductive particles (carbon, metal) can shift or clump during mixing, altering performance.
• Variable conductivity: Rather than a uniform layer, resistivity varies across a surface — creating weak zones.
• Drift over time: Particles wear, get damaged, or shift, especially under stress or in low humidity.
• Limited retrofit potential: You can’t reliably convert existing surfaces with molded ESD plastics — you need custom parts or high-cost replacements.

How ProShieldESD Changes the Game

1. Conductivity built in, not added

ProShieldESD’s conductivity comes from a 100% conductive polymer matrix — no fillers, no additives. The result is a coating whose static control is intrinsic and integral, not surface-limited.

2. Multi-chemistry platform

What makes this even more powerful is that the same foundational technology can be adapted across chemistries — PU, epoxy, water-based, solvent-based — and still maintain the same performance. That’s the platform difference.

3. Universal retrofit

Existing assets like floors, walls, metal structures, plastics, foams, or cartons can be coated directly. There’s no need to replace with engineered parts or rework your infrastructure.

4. Stability under extremes

Unlike filler-based coatings that fail under low humidity or heavy use, ProShieldESD remains stable. It doesn’t drift. It doesn’t degrade. It doesn’t need reapplication.

Use Cases Across Industries

Because it’s a platform (not a single product), ProShieldESD’s filler-free coating adapts to multiple sectors:
• Electronics & Semiconductor — critical work surfaces, benches, ESD-safe trays
• Aerospace & Defence — composite structures, metal racks, test jigs
• Military & Rugged Systems — field-grade housings, transit cases
• Automotive & Battery — factory floors, battery enclosures
• Energy & Chemicals — piping, drums, containment vessels
• RF & Antenna — radomes, enclosures where signal integrity matters
• Packaging & Logistics — cartons, foams, crates
• Explosives & Pyrotechnics — safe work surfaces under low-humidity

These are examples, not limits — the platform extends where traditional coatings cannot.

Filler-Free vs Filler-Based: A Side-by-Side Comparison

The Bigger Picture: Platform Thinking

Yes — we’re talking filler-free coating techniques here. But what elevates it is positioning this as a platform — one that scales, adapts, and future-proofs static control solutions.

• The same technology underpins every variant (PU, epoxy, water-based, solvent-based).
• Performance doesn’t change even if the formulation does.
• It allows ESD control to be modular, systemic, and unified across operations.

That means less disruption, fewer specialty parts, and more reliability across your entire facility.

Getting Started

Transitioning to filler-free ESD control doesn’t require a total overhaul. ProShieldESD’s retrofit-friendly approach means you can roll out pilot sections — floors, benches, enclosures — and expand gradually, all while maintaining full operational continuity.

Call: +44 (0)1226 249019

Email: sales@schservices.com

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Learn more: ProShieldESD Platform Page

Static control paints are widely used in electronics, aerospace, and manufacturing environments—but not all paints are created equal. Many misconceptions exist about how they work, their durability, and whether they truly provide permanent ESD protection. Let’s separate fact from fiction.

Myth 1: All ESD Paints Provide the Same Protection
Fact: Traditional ESD paints usually rely on carbon or metal fillers to achieve conductivity. These fillers can clump, settle, and create weak points. The result? Inconsistent protection across the surface.

ProShield Advantage: ProShield ESD coatings deliver homogeneous, permanent conductivity—no fillers, no hot spots, no weak zones.

Myth 2: ESD Paints Last Forever
Fact: Conventional paints degrade over time. Abrasion, cleaning, and environmental exposure all reduce performance, meaning they often need reapplication.

ProShield Advantage: ProShield is a permanent polymer-based coating. It bonds directly to surfaces and maintains its conductivity without reapplication, even under demanding conditions.

Myth 3: Paints Can Replace All Other Static Control Measures
Fact: Paints are only one layer of protection. They work best when integrated into the ESD Control Pyramid alongside grounding, dissipative materials, and anti-static measures.

ProShield Advantage: Because ProShield covers the full range—from conductive (10⁴ Ω) through dissipative (10⁹ Ω)—it integrates seamlessly into layered ESD programs.

Myth 4: Molded ESD Plastics Are Always Better Than Paints
Fact: Molded parts are expensive, require tooling, and can also suffer from inconsistent conductivity due to filler distribution.

ProShield Advantage: ProShield coatings eliminate the need for costly molded plastics. They can be applied directly to standard plastics, foams, housings, and floors—delivering permanent, uniform protection at a lower cost.

The Truth About ProShield ESD
ProShield ESD coatings stand apart from traditional static control paints:

Permanent protection (no reapplication needed)
Homogeneous conductivity across every surface
Coverage from 10⁴ to 10⁹ Ω (conductive through dissipative)
Flexible, cost-effective alternative to both filler-based paints and molded plastics

By dispelling the myths, it’s clear: ProShield ESD is not just another paint—it’s a breakthrough in permanent, reliable static control.

For more information, visit: www.proshieldesd.com

Electrostatic discharge (ESD) is a persistent challenge across almost every sector — from damaging microelectronics to creating ignition hazards in volatile environments. Traditional anti-static coatings and plastics often degrade, lose effectiveness, or require costly replacement. The ProShieldESD coating platform changes that. Built on a permanent, filler-free conductive polymer backbone, it delivers lasting static dissipative and conductive protection across industries and substrates.

But what makes ProShieldESD different is not just the science — it’s the breadth of its applications. This isn’t a single product, but a platform technology adaptable to open-ended chemistries and surfaces.

Why Applications Matter

Every industry faces unique ESD risks:
• In electronics, a single static event can ruin sensitive components.
• In aerospace and defence, static sparks can threaten mission-critical systems.
• In logistics, packaging must perform consistently across global humidity changes.

With ProShieldESD, one platform solves all these challenges — without fillers, reapplication cycles, or expensive engineered plastics.

Key Industry Applications

Electronics & Semiconductor

ProShieldESD creates consistent, repeatable static control across tools, fixtures, floors, and packaging. Unlike traditional paints, it maintains stable resistivity even in low humidity, protecting sensitive circuits from hidden damage.

Aerospace & Defence

Aircraft and defence systems demand coatings that survive extremes of temperature, altitude, and vibration. ProShieldESD delivers permanent static safety on composites, test rigs, and racks without adding weight or requiring redesign.

Military & Ruggedised Systems

From field electronics to vehicle housings, mission-critical equipment must be rugged and reliable. ProShieldESD coatings retrofit onto existing systems, reducing costs while maintaining performance in the harshest environments.

Pharma & Healthcare

Static control isn’t just about electronics — it’s also about safety and hygiene. ProShieldESD keeps cleanroom walls, ceilings, and equipment static-safe, reducing dust attraction and simplifying compliance.

Automotive & Battery

With the rise of EV gigafactories, static control has become central to safety. ProShieldESD protects floors, racks, and enclosures, ensuring safe handling of sensitive battery modules.

Energy & Chemicals

In volatile plants where powders, gases, or liquids are handled, static sparks pose ignition risks. Coatings applied to drums, vessels, and pipes create permanent discharge paths without relying on additives that wear away.

RF & Antenna Systems

A unique advantage of ProShieldESD is signal transparency. Unlike carbon-filled coatings that block or detune RF signals, ProShieldESD dissipates static without interfering with communication. Applications include radomes, antenna housings, and radar systems.

Packaging & Logistics

Packaging must travel across varying climates. ProShieldESD provides permanent static control for cartons, foams, and crates — eliminating the need for expensive ESD-rated packaging materials.

Explosives & Pyrotechnics

In explosive or pyrotechnic environments, static can be deadly. ProShieldESD coatings create safe discharge paths on bins, crates, and work surfaces, even in very low humidity conditions.

Why ProShieldESD is a Platform, Not Just a Paint

ProShieldESD is more than a single coating. It’s a platform technology — available as polyurethane, epoxy, water-based, and solvent-based chemistries. These are examples, not limits. If you can paint it, you can protect it.

This flexibility allows manufacturers to integrate permanent static control into their existing finishing processes, making ESD safety scalable, cost-effective, and future-proof.

Learn More

The potential of ProShieldESD coating platform applications is broad — and still expanding. From electronics to RF communications, from aerospace to packaging, it redefines how industries manage static risks.

For more detailed industry use cases, visit the ProShieldESD applications page

Call: +44 (0)1226 249019
Email: sales@schservices.com
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When it comes to static control, consistency is everything. A solution that works well in one area but fails in another is no protection at all. That’s why the concept of homogeneous performance—uniform conductivity across every surface—is critical in modern industries.

From electronics manufacturing to medical devices, aerospace, and automotive systems, the demand for reliable, permanent static protection has never been higher. Yet traditional options—whether carbon-filled coatings or moulded ESD boxes—struggle to deliver true uniformity.

Why Consistency Matters in Static Control

Even the smallest gap in conductivity creates a weak point where electrostatic discharge (ESD) can occur. Sensitive components can be destroyed by as little as 30 volts—far below what humans can feel. Without uniform protection, businesses face:

• Product failures from hidden ESD damage
• Costly downtime caused by rework and repairs
• Quality issues that undermine reliability and compliance

The Problem with Fillers and Moulded Boxes

Carbon and metal-filled coatings are prone to clumping, settling, and uneven distribution. This creates patchy coverage and inconsistent results. Over time, fillers can migrate or flake, leading to contamination in sensitive environments.

Molded ESD boxes and plastics come with their own challenges. Conductivity is uneven throughout the material, surfaces wear with use, and designs are limited to fixed shapes. These parts often degrade, forcing replacements that add cost and waste.

The result? Solutions that look effective on the surface but fail under real-world conditions.

Homogeneous Performance with ProShield ESD

ProShield ESD is engineered to deliver truly homogeneous dissipative performance across a wide range of substrates—including plastics, foams, packaging, and floors. Unlike filler-based paints or molded boxes, it provides:

• Uniform static protection with no weak spots
• Permanent conductivity that doesn’t degrade over time
• No contamination risks from fillers or additives
• Flexible use across substrates—beyond the limits of moldings
• Low-cost, sustainable performance across diverse applications

Consistency = Reliability

In industries where reliability is non-negotiable, homogeneous performance isn’t just a feature—it’s a requirement. By delivering uniform, permanent ESD protection, ProShield ESD ensures every surface, every time, is protected.

Conclusion: The Future Is Consistent

The science of consistency shows that homogeneous performance is the foundation of effective static control. With ProShield ESD, businesses can finally eliminate the risks of patchy coatings and limited moulded solutions—achieving permanent, low-cost protection that’s as reliable as it is sustainable.

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We’re thrilled to announce that SCH Services Ltd has been officially nominated for the Productronica Innovation Award 2025 — recognising our cutting-edge ProShieldESD Coating System, a breakthrough solution redefining static protection across the electronics manufacturing industry.

A Milestone in Innovation

Productronica, the world’s leading trade fair for electronics development and production, celebrates companies driving technological progress and practical innovation.

This nomination places ProShield ESD among the most forward-thinking advancements in electronics manufacturing for 2025.

Developed by the SCH Technologies Group, ProShield ESD represents a new generation of conductive coatings that protect sensitive components and assemblies from electrostatic discharge (ESD).

Unlike traditional paints or surface coatings, ProShield ESD provides uniform conductivity, durable adhesion, and exceptional environmental performance, making it ideal for use on enclosures, racks, jigs, fixtures, and even complete production environments.

About ProShield ESD

The ProShield ESD system combines:

• Advanced polymer chemistry for consistent static-dissipative performance
• Low-VOC formulation aligned with sustainability goals
• Excellent adhesion to a wide range of substrates including plastics and metals
• Custom colour and resistivity options to meet specific OEM and cleanroom requirements

This balance of technical precision, environmental awareness, and production efficiency has set ProShield ESD apart as a standout innovation in the global electronics manufacturing sector.

Recognition from Productronica

The Productronica Innovation Awards highlight technologies that push boundaries and shape the future of the electronics industry.
Being shortlisted for this award acknowledges the hard work and creativity of our entire SCH team — from our UK and India divisions to our global distribution partners who have helped bring this product to market.

Looking Ahead to Productronica 2025

The award winners will be announced at Productronica 2025 in Munich, where SCH Services Ltd will showcase ProShield ESD, Parylene Coating Solutions, and our full range of ESD-safe masking and coating innovations.

We look forward to meeting customers, partners, and industry peers at the exhibition — and to celebrating the spirit of innovation that drives our sector forward.

Visit Us at Productronica 2025

Hall A4/Stand Number 145
November 18-21 November 2025 | Munich, Germany
Learn more at: http://www.proshieldesd.com
Contact us: sales@schservices.com

For decades, industries have turned to carbon and metal-based paints and molded solutions as a way to manage electrostatic discharge (ESD). These approaches rely on conductive fillers—such as carbon black, graphite, or metal powders—to provide static dissipation. At first glance, they seem effective. But in practice, both filler-based coatings and molded products create more problems than they solve, which is why solutions like ProShield ESD filler-free dissipative coating are redefining static control.

Modern electronics, medical devices, and aerospace systems demand permanent, reliable static protection. Traditional filler-based paints and moulded carbon boxes simply can’t keep up.

The Problem with Carbon and Metal Fillers & Moldings

1. Inconsistent Conductivity

Fillers rarely disperse evenly across a coating, and molded parts degrade over time. Both create patchy conductivity, leaving “weak spots” where ESD can build up and cause damage.

2. Performance Degradation

In coatings, fillers migrate, clump, or lose effectiveness; in molded parts, conductivity decreases as surfaces wear. What starts as protection becomes unreliable, requiring costly replacements or recoats.

3. Risk of Contamination

Carbon and metal particles can shed from coatings or molded items, contaminating sensitive environments. In sectors like electronics or medical devices, this poses serious compliance and safety risks.

4. Poor Substrate Compatibility

Filler-based coatings often fail on plastics, foams, or packaging, while molded solutions are limited in shape and application. Both restrict flexibility and service life.

5. High Lifecycle Costs

Between frequent recoating, replacing molded products, downtime, and labour, the hidden costs quickly add up. Although they may appear affordable upfront, traditional solutions become expensive to maintain.

The Smarter Alternative: ProShieldESD

Unlike traditional paints or molded products, ProShield ESD achieves uniform, permanent dissipative protection without relying on carbon or metal fillers.

• Permanent protection – no reapplication or replacement required
• Low-cost alternative to expensive paints and molded solutions
• No contamination risks from loose particles
• Wide substrate compatibility – works on plastics, foams, packaging, and floors
• Sustainable – less waste, fewer resources

The Future of Static Control

As industries demand greater reliability, flexibility, and sustainability, filler-based coatings and molded ESD products are no longer fit for purpose. They fail in performance, cost, and compliance.

ProShield ESD sets a new benchmark: permanent, low-cost static protection that replaces both paints and molded solutions—delivering a cleaner, smarter way forward.

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Adhesion is one of the most critical factors in achieving reliable conformal coating performance. Even the most advanced coating—such as Parylene—can fail if it doesn’t bond strongly to the underlying surface. That’s where adhesion promoters come in.

At SCH Services Ltd, we supply and use several types of adhesion promoters, each tailored to different substrate materials. Choosing the right one ensures a strong bond and long-term reliability.

Why Adhesion Promoters Are Needed

Some substrates, such as smooth metals, plastics, or low-surface-energy materials, naturally resist coating adhesion. Without treatment, coatings may:
– Peel or flake over time
– Fail cross-hatch adhesion testing (ISO 2409)
– Compromise moisture or chemical protection

Adhesion promoters modify the surface to increase its surface energy, creating an interface that coatings can lock onto.

How Adhesion Promoters Work

Adhesion promoters typically work by:
– Chemically reacting with the substrate to create a stable bond layer.
– Roughening or activating the surface to increase surface energy.
– Forming a bridge between the substrate and coating for long-term durability.

When applied correctly, they significantly reduce the risk of delamination, even at higher coating thicknesses or in harsh environments.

Different Promoters for Different Substrates

There is no “one-size-fits-all” solution. At SCH Services Ltd, we offer a range of adhesion promoters designed for:
– Metals – to overcome smooth or oxidised surfaces.
– Plastics – especially low-energy substrates like polyethylene or polypropylene.
– Ceramics & Glass – to ensure strong bonds despite non-porous surfaces.
– PCB Materials – optimised for solder masks and copper traces.

By matching the promoter to the substrate, we ensure the coating achieves reliable, long-lasting adhesion.

SCH Services Ltd: Expertise in Adhesion Solutions

Whether you need Parylene, acrylic, urethane, or silicone coatings, SCH Services Ltd has the right adhesion promoter for your application. Because we use these promoters in our own coating services every day, you can trust that the solutions we supply are proven in real production environments.

When it comes to conformal coatings, adhesion is everything. A coating may offer excellent barrier protection, but if it delaminates or peels away from the surface, performance and reliability are instantly compromised. In the world of Parylene coatings, one question often raised is whether adhesion decreases as the coating thickness increases.

Understanding Parylene Deposition

Parylene is applied through a unique vapor deposition process, creating a pinhole-free, uniform layer. Unlike brush, dip, or spray coatings, this process ensures that every surface—flat, sharp-edged, or recessed—is covered evenly.

However, like all coatings, adhesion depends on both the substrate preparation and the thickness of the coating.

The Relationship Between Thickness and Adhesion

In general, thinner Parylene films (e.g., 2–5 μm) demonstrate the best adhesion because the stresses within the coating remain low. As the thickness increases—sometimes up to 50 μm or beyond—internal stresses in the polymer can build up. This may lead to reduced adhesion if the surface is not properly prepared.

The key factor is not just thickness but the surface energy and cleanliness of the substrate:
– Smooth, untreated surfaces can cause poor adhesion regardless of thickness.
– Surface activation (e.g., plasma treatment) dramatically improves adhesion across all thicknesses.
– On well-prepared surfaces, even thick Parylene coatings can achieve excellent adhesion and long-term reliability.

Best Practices for Strong Adhesion

To maintain adhesion across different thicknesses:
– Use surface pre-treatments such as plasma cleaning or adhesion promoters.
– Match coating thickness to application needs—don’t overcoat unnecessarily.
– Validate adhesion using industry standards such as cross-hatch adhesion testing (ISO 2409).

SCH Services Ltd: Expertise in Parylene Performance

At SCH Services Ltd, we understand how coating thickness impacts performance. We combine expert surface preparation with advanced deposition techniques to ensure Parylene adhesion remains strong at both thin and thick layers. Whether you require ultra-thin coatings for medical sensors or thick films for aerospace, our solutions deliver reliability without compromise.

For more information visit: https://www.conformalcoating.co.uk/parylene-coating-solutions/