System and method of controlling the demarcation line formed on partially electroplated articles

A method of electroplating an article, comprising:

• forming a plating fluid bath;
• immersing only a portion of an article in said plating fluid bath;
• generating a plating current through said plating fluid bath and said article;
• producing gas flow proximate an interface of said article to said plating fluid bath while said plating current is flowing through said plating fluid bath and said article.

An electroplating system, comprising:

• a pre-processing station including one or more pre-processing cells;
• an electroplating station including one or more electroplating cells;
• a post-processing station including one or more post-processing cells;
• and
• a transport system adapted to transport articles horizontally through said pre-processing station, said electroplating station, and said post-processing station;
• wherein at least one of said electroplating cell comprises:
• a container adapted to support a plating fluid bath;
• an anode electrode positioned within said container and adapted to make contact with said plating fluid bath;
• wherein said transport system is adapted to support said articles in a manner that only selected portions of said articles are immersed in said plating fluid bath;
• and
• a gas flow system adapted to cause gas flow proximate respective interfaces of said articles to said plating fluid bath.