Method and apparatus for electroplating

A method for electroplating of a metal coating of at least a part of the surface area of an article includes the steps of:

• placing the article in a vessel, the vessel being provided with means to allow access of fluid to an interior volume thereof in which volume said article is contained and, means to allow egress of said fluid;
• providing said vessel with anode and cathode means such as to enable said article to become cathodic with regard to an anode extending into said interior volume of said vessel;
• and
• providing means to cause at least two different fluids, including at least one plating solution, to be introduced into said vessel in sequence, to flow through said interior volume and to exit therefrom, said flow being for a sufficient time to allow a required thickness of a metal coating to be deposited on said article, said at least one plating solution flowing continuously through said vessel during deposition of said metal coating onto said article said vessel being closed to an ambient environment, said fluids being stored in remote holding tanks and are being transported to the vessel from the holding tanks by being pumped through conduits, wherein said anode is moved during said deposition of said metal coating.