HYDROSHINE – brilliant chrome finishes for modern coatings

Author

Robert Maul
Head of Liquid Coatings – Marketing & Technical Service
ECKART GmbH

Published

01/29/2026

”

„HYDROSHINE achieves brilliant, durable chrome and metallic effects that deliver reliable performance in both water‑ and solvent‑based systems.”

Robert Maul
Head of Liquid Coatings – Marketing & Technical Service

The demand for high-quality, durable, and sustainable surfaces is increasing in almost all industries.

At the same time, paint manufacturers are looking for alternatives to traditional electroplating processes – especially for modern metallic looks and deep-gloss chrome finishes.

HYDROSHINE from ECKART offers a forward-looking solution for this: effect pigments that combine extreme brilliance with exceptional stability and enable maximum performance in both water-based and solvent-based systems.

The long-lasting solution for chrome finishes in water-based and solvent-based coatings.

Since coating projects vary depending on the industry, substrate, and stress, HYDROSHINE offers different product variants. They can be selected specifically according to criteria such as stability, resistance, and visual effect for:

heavily stressed plastic surfaces in any end application
high-quality consumer electronics and household appliances
automotive interiors and exteriors
decorative applications in lifestyle products

This allows manufacturers to choose exactly the variant that matches their design and performance profile.

HYDROSHINE is based on highly brilliant PVD aluminum pigments that have been specially encapsulated for water-based applications and optimized for solvent-based systems using new technologies. The result is surfaces that impress with their depth, mirror effect, and robustness.

Key properties:

Gassing-stable in aqueous coatings
Hydrolysis-resistant
Chemical-resistant
Weather and climate-resistant
Extremely shear-resistant with strong interlayer adhesion

This ensures that surfaces remain permanently brilliant even in demanding applications – ideal for high-touch products and premium designs.

Range of metallic effects:

bright silver-white
classic chrome
particularly dark chrome finishes

HYDROSHINE covers a particularly wide range of optical effects and offers a multitude of design variations.

Important additional information can be found here in the relevant technical brochures:

informationen

Why HYDROSHINE is becoming increasingly relevant in the current technological transformation

Companies are increasingly looking for coating solutions that:

compete visually with electroplated surfaces
are more sustainable and process-friendly
work reliably in both water-based and solvent-based systems
offer extreme durability in everyday use

HYDROSHINE addresses all these requirements – and offers a clear advantage in the implementation of modern, environmentally conscious product strategies.

Overview of typical areas of application

HYDROSHINE demonstrates its strengths in numerous industries:

Automotive: chrome-like metallic designs for interiors and exteriors
Consumer electronics and household appliances: premium surfaces for device housings
Decorative products: sophisticated metal looks with depth
Plastics finishing: chrome replacement for durable, modern components

HYDROSHINE offers a high-performance solution for brilliant metallic and chrome finishes – especially in water-based systems. Exceptional durability is also achieved in solvent-based coatings. With high durability, exceptional gloss, and flexible variants, the product line creates ideal conditions for sustainable, modern surface concepts.

Contact

Get in touch with your contact person if you have any questions about products and services