A significant share of the nonconformities recorded in electroplating processes in Brazil originates in the variable quality of the chemical inputs used, and not in operational failures of the process itself. Data like this should make any professional in the industry rethink how they evaluate their chemical suppliers.

And there is an aggravating factor. Many of these nonconformities could be caught before the input ever reaches the bath, if the company had complete technical documentation: Certificate of Analysis (COA), Safety Data Sheet (SDS), lot certificates and proper traceability across the supply chain.

The question is a direct one: is your surface treatment operation truly protected by quality technical documentation, or are you relying only on how the product looks and on the supplier's good faith?

This article shows why the COA and SDS are strategic pillars for the reliability of any electroplating operation, what risks their absence creates and how choosing the right distributor changes the stability of your processes.

Executive Summary

  • The Certificate of Analysis (COA) is the document that proves each lot of a chemical input meets the technical specifications declared by the manufacturer, enabling full traceability.
  • The Safety Data Sheet (SDS) is required by law in Brazil (NR-26, the federal standard for hazard signage and chemical communication, and ABNT NBR 14725, the Brazilian SDS standard) and contains all the handling, storage, hazard and first aid information for each chemical product.
  • Without adequate technical documentation, a company is exposed to regulatory, operational and safety risks, including fines, shutdowns and workplace accidents.
  • Distributors that systematically provide a COA, SDS and lot certificates are strategic partners for a stable production process.
  • At EBRATS 2026, technical documentation and input traceability will be central topics in conversations about quality in surface treatment.

What the Certificate of Analysis (COA) Is and Why It Matters

The Certificate of Analysis (COA) is the document issued by the manufacturer that details the analytical results for a specific lot of a chemical product: composition, purity, contaminant content and other parameters relevant to industrial use.

In electroplating, the COA is especially critical. A nickel bath requires nickel sulfate within very narrow purity ranges. Variations of hundredths of a percent in contaminants such as iron, copper or zinc can compromise the adhesion, brightness and corrosion resistance of the deposit.

Without the COA, the operator is working in the dark, with no way of knowing whether the lot received meets specifications or has variations that call for adjustment beforehand.

What a Good COA Should Contain

A complete and reliable COA includes, at a minimum, the following information:

  • Product identification (chemical name, trade name, CAS number)
  • Lot number and manufacturing date
  • Analytical results for each specified parameter (purity, density, pH, contaminant content)
  • Specification limits for each parameter (minimum and maximum acceptable values)
  • Analytical method used (for example: ICP-OES, titration, spectrophotometry)
  • Date of analysis and identification of the analyst or laboratory responsible
  • Signature of the technical lead

When Boreto & Cardoso® supplies an input, the COA comes with every lot delivered, so specifications can be checked in advance and a traceable record is kept for audits.

For jewelry, fashion jewelry (gold-plated jewelry) and costume jewelry electroplating shops, this precision is even more critical: quality control in gold, silver and rhodium baths works in thousandths of a gram, not microns. An inaccurate or late COA directly undermines the stability of that control.

SDS: Much More Than a Legal Requirement

The Safety Data Sheet (SDS), governed by ABNT NBR 14725 and required by NR-26, brings together information on the hazards, protective measures, safe handling, storage and emergency procedures for each chemical product.

Many professionals see the SDS as nothing more than paperwork. That view is a serious mistake.

In practice, the SDS is the survival manual for anyone who handles, transports or stores that product. It has 16 sections standardized by the Globally Harmonized System (GHS), covering everything from hazard identification and first aid measures to exposure controls, stability, toxicological information and disposal.

The Direct Impact on Electroplating Operations

On an electroplating line, the SDS guides practical, urgent decisions day to day. What PPE is suitable for handling chromic acid? What is the maximum storage temperature for an acid bath additive? What should be done if an operator has accidental skin contact with a cyanide solution?

Without an up-to-date, accessible SDS, those answers simply are not there when they are needed most.

Boreto & Cardoso® ensures that every product it sells comes with an up-to-date SDS that complies with current legislation. This documentation is provided proactively, as part of the standard supply process, and not only on request.

The Real Risks of Operating Without Complete Documentation

A lack of complete technical documentation goes well beyond an administrative lapse. It creates concrete risks in at least four areas.

Regulatory Risk

Inspections by Brazil's Ministry of Labor and by Cetesb (the São Paulo state environmental agency) require an accessible SDS for every chemical product in use. Not having one can lead to fines and even a shutdown. In ISO 9001, ISO 14001 or IATF 16949 audits, the absence of a COA and traceability is a major nonconformity.

Operational Risk

Without the COA, lot-to-lot variations go unnoticed. Sulfuric acid at a concentration 2% below specification can change the bath pH, compromise deposition and generate scrap at scale, with rework costs that are often many times the value of the input.

Safety Risk

The electroplating industry works with hexavalent chromic acid (carcinogenic), cyanides (highly toxic) and concentrated acids. Handling these substances without the information in the SDS puts operators at risk of incidents with irreversible consequences.

Reputational Risk

Customers in demanding industries (automotive, aerospace, electronics) ask for full traceability of the input supply chain. If your company cannot present a COA and lot certificates for the inputs it uses, it loses competitiveness for high-value contracts.

Traceability: The Link Between the Input and the End Result

Traceability is the ability to identify the origin and destination of every lot of input used: knowing exactly which product, from which manufacturer, with which analytical characteristics, was added to each bath.

For companies that supply parts to the automotive, aerospace or medical device industries, traceability is a non-negotiable contractual requirement. Standards such as IATF 16949 and AS9100 require documented control over the inputs used in each production lot.

How Traceability Works in Practice

The traceability cycle has four stages: receiving (checking the COA against specifications and recording the lot), storage (identification in stock with documented FIFO), use (recording which lot was added to each bath) and correlation (linking the input lot to the lot of parts produced).

Boreto & Cardoso® works exclusively with ISO 9001 certified suppliers, so the traceability chain starts at the source. Every lot sold has a unique identification, a matching COA and documentation of origin. For the customer, the hardest part of traceability, the reliability of the information at the source, is already taken care of.

With a branch in Limeira, SP, at the heart of Brazil's main electroplating hub, the company serves businesses in the region directly, with fast logistics and documentation always available.

How to Evaluate Your Input Supplier by Its Documentation

Technical documentation is possibly the most objective indicator of how serious a chemical distributor is. The point is to check documented facts, rather than weigh commercial promises or sales pitches.

When evaluating a supplier, consider the following criteria:

Is the COA provided for every lot, automatically? Serious distributors do not wait for the customer to ask. It is part of the delivery package. If you have to keep requesting it, that is a warning sign.

Is the SDS up to date and compliant with NBR 14725? Outdated SDSs or old formats point to poor document control.

Are the source suppliers certified? A distributor that works with ISO 9001 certified manufacturers adds an extra layer of assurance to the supply chain.

Is there real traceability, or just an invoice number? Real traceability means linking the lot to the original manufacturer, the manufacturing date and the analytical results.

Does the distributor know the sectors it serves? Experience serving a variety of sectors, such as electroplating, sanitation, mining, and pulp and paper, shows an understanding of each industry's different requirements.

Boreto & Cardoso® has served more than 20 industrial sectors for 54 years, which means the company knows the documentation needs of each market in depth. That experience translates into supply that is already prepared for audits, certifications and contractual requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a COA and an SDS?

The COA is specific to each lot and reports analytical results (purity, concentration, contaminants). The SDS is specific to each product and contains safety, handling and emergency information. They complement each other: the COA ensures the quality of the lot, and the SDS ensures safe use.

Is the SDS required by law?

Yes. NR-26 requires an SDS to be available in the workplace for every hazardous chemical product, and ABNT NBR 14725 sets the standardized format in line with the GHS. Noncompliance leads to labor and environmental citations.

How often should the SDS be updated?

The legislation sets no fixed deadline, but good practice is to review it whenever there is a change in formulation, hazard classification or applicable legislation. Checking it at least every two years is recommended.

Does the COA replace in-house testing of the product received?

The COA is a reliable document when issued by certified manufacturers, but it does not replace internal controls required by a standard or contract. It is the documentary basis that lets the customer decide whether additional testing is needed.

How should I store and organize the technical documentation for my inputs?

Keep a folder, physical or digital, for each product, with the current SDS and the COAs for every lot. Organize them by date of receipt. Being able to find documents quickly is assessed as evidence of control in audits.

Practical Checklist: The Documentation Your Operation Needs

Use this checklist to check whether your surface treatment operation is properly documented:

  • Up-to-date SDS (per NBR 14725/GHS) for every chemical product in use, available in the workplace
  • COA for every lot received, filed and linked to the receiving record
  • Receiving record with lot number, date, supplier and visual inspection of the product
  • Usage record linking the input lot to the bath or process in which it was used
  • Certificates of conformity from source suppliers (ISO 9001 or equivalent)
  • Internal procedure for checking the COA on receipt (specification check)
  • Documented FIFO system for the chemical input stock
  • Organized files (physical or digital) with quick access for audits
  • Recorded training for operators on where to find and how to consult the SDSs
  • Periodic review of the validity and updating of the SDSs on file

Conclusion

Technical documentation in surface treatment is infrastructure, not bureaucracy. Just as an electroplating bath depends on the correct composition of its constituents, a reliable industrial operation depends on the quality and completeness of its documentation.

The COA ensures you know exactly what you are adding to your process. The SDS ensures your team knows how to handle each product safely. Traceability ensures that, whenever a nonconformity appears, you can identify the root cause quickly and accurately.

Choosing a chemical distributor is therefore a decision that goes far beyond the price per kilogram. It is a decision about the level of control, safety and reliability your operation will have every day.

Boreto & Cardoso®, a reference in inputs, with confidence in every detail, has supplied industrial chemical inputs with complete documentation for 54 years. A COA for every lot, an up-to-date SDS, certificates of origin and full traceability are part of the standard supply for each of the more than 20 industrial sectors it serves.

At EBRATS 2026, September 9 to 12 at São Paulo Expo, visit the Boreto & Cardoso® booth and talk with our team about how documentation and traceability can raise the reliability of your operation.

Because in surface treatment, we are much more than the input: we are the foundation for industrial excellence.

About the Author

Boreto & Cardoso® Team

A distributor of industrial chemical inputs since 1972, serving more than 20 sectors with complete technical documentation, lot traceability and ISO 9001:2015 certification. Confirmed exhibitor at EBRATS 2026, São Paulo Expo, September 9 to 12.