Postgraduate Diploma in Fittings: Polishing, Chrome Plating and Fine Adjustment
Online 800-hour Postgraduate Diploma in Fittings: Polishing, Chrome Plating and Fine Adjustment. 8 modules with ISO 1456 (electrolytic nickel and chromium coatings), ISO 2819 (adhesion of electrolytic coatings) and Advanced Excel. Dedicated tutor and enrolment open.
Postgraduate Diploma in Fittings: Polishing, Chrome Plating and Fine Adjustment — studying from New Zealand
Vehicle restoration and classic engine work in New Zealand is supported by an active enthusiast community and a well-established network of specialist workshops, particularly around the main centres. Historic vehicle registration and compliance fall under the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, and the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand promotes preservation of historic vehicles. Restoration professionals often combine fabrication, engineering and heritage conservation skills.
Fees for New Zealand: NZ$1,770 (New Zealand dollar), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in New Zealand
Typical roles
Questions from New Zealand
Is restoration engineering recognised by a professional body in New Zealand?
There is no specific statutory register for classic vehicle or heritage restoration engineers in New Zealand. Heritage matters can involve Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga, and vehicle roadworthiness is governed by the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not accredited by any national body, so their value depends on the employer or client.
Where do classic restoration specialists work in New Zealand?
Work is found in independent restoration workshops, classic car dealers, museums, and specialist fabrication businesses, many clustered around the main centres. Clients and employers usually judge by workmanship and a portfolio of completed restorations. A private qualification may complement that evidence but is rarely a deciding factor on its own.
Can I study this while running or working in a workshop here?
Yes. The course is fully online and taught in English, so you can study from home in New Zealand without a student visa. Specialist courses total 300 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and master's programmes 1,900 hours. An assigned technical tutor supports you, and fees can be paid in instalments.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Identify the original materials and finishes of period fittings.
Prepare and strip parts without loss of material or detail.
Mechanically polish fittings to the required finish.
Explain the stages of decorative copper-nickel-chromium plating.
Assess alternative finishes and their compatibility with authenticity.
Adjust and fit fittings accurately to the bodywork.
Establish guidelines for the conservation and quality control of finishes.
Who it's for
- Chrome plating and electroplating technician who wants to specialise in Fittings: Polishing, Chrome Plating and Fine Adjustment.
- Restorer of fittings and accessories who wants to specialise in Fittings: Polishing, Chrome Plating and Fine Adjustment.
- Industrial polisher who wants to specialise in Fittings: Polishing, Chrome Plating and Fine Adjustment.
- Surface treatment technician who wants to specialise in Fittings: Polishing, Chrome Plating and Fine Adjustment.
- Classic bodywork fitting technician who wants to specialise in Fittings: Polishing, Chrome Plating and Fine Adjustment.
- Quality manager for finishes who wants to specialise in Fittings: Polishing, Chrome Plating and Fine Adjustment.
- Graduates in engineering or sciences who wish to enter classic vehicle restoration.
What you'll work with
- ISO 1456 (electrolytic nickel and chromium coatings)
- ISO 2819 (adhesion of electrolytic coatings)
- ISO 1463 (thickness measurement by microscopic cross-section)
- ISO 9227 (neutral salt spray test)
- Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 REACH (authorisation of chromium trioxide)
- ISO 2081 (electrolytic zinc coatings)
- ISO 9587 (pre-treatments against hydrogen embrittlement)
8 modules · 800 h
1.1Typology: Door Handles, Hinges, Locks and Trim 1.2 Materials: Brass, Zamak, Steel and Aluminum 1.3 Original Manufacturing Processes 1.4 Identification of Original Parts 1.5 Typical Damage: Pitting, Corrosion and Wear 1.6 Criteria for Restoring or Replacing 1.7 Parts Cataloges and References 1.8 Prior Photographic Documentation 1.9 Dismantling and Labelling 1.10 Case Study: Inventory of a Coupe's Fittings
2.1Chemical stripping of old chrome2.2Removal of nickel and copper2.3Ultrasonic cleaning2.4Degreasing and activation2.5Repair of pitting in zamak2.6Soft soldering and fillers2.7Straightening of deformed parts2.8Protection of threads and critical areas2.9Safety with chemical products2.10Practice: stripping a chrome door handle
3.1Abrasives and grit sizes3.2Sisal, cotton and felt wheels3.3Polishing compounds for each metal3.4Mirror polishing sequence3.5Preservation of edges and shapes3.6Polishing aluminium and stainless steel3.7Polishing brass and copper3.8Polishing defects and correction3.9Safety in polishing3.10Workshop: mirror polishing of a trim piece
4.1Principles of electrodeposition4.2Faraday's laws applied4.3Acid copper plating and levelling4.4Bright and semi-bright nickel plating4.5Decorative hexavalent and trivalent chromium4.6REACH restrictions on chromium VI4.7Thicknesses and quality control4.8Defects: burning, pitting and lack of coverage4.9Hard chrome versus decorative chrome4.10Laboratory: calculation of deposition times
5.1Electroless nickel plating5.2Anodising of aluminium5.3Blackening and phosphating of steel5.4Zinc plating and passivation5.5PVD coatings5.6Protective clear lacquers5.7Period finishes and authenticity5.8Durability comparison5.9Cost of each finish5.10Practice: selecting a finish according to part and use
6.1Hinge adjustment and door alignment6.2Lock and striker adjustment6.3Tolerances in fittings6.4Seals and insulation from the bodywork6.5Original fasteners and reproductions6.6Tightening torques for delicate parts6.7Lubrication of mechanisms6.8Protection during fitting6.9Verification of operation6.10Workshop: adjusting a door with its fittings
7.1Visual inspection and acceptance criteria7.2Measurement of coating thicknesses7.3Salt spray testing7.4Chrome maintenance7.5Prevention of corrosion in service7.6Storage of restored fittings7.7Documentation of processes7.8Judging criteria for concours d'elegance7.9Plating waste management7.10Case study: assessing fittings for a concours
8.1Vehicle selection8.2Inventory and diagnosis8.3Stripping and repair plan8.4Polishing plan8.5Selection of finishes8.6Fitting and adjustment plan8.7Quality control8.8Budget8.9Report and presentation8.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and a dedicated technical tutor. No fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it possible to combine study with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Advanced Excel, SolidWorks, Fusion 360, Minitab, in free, academic or trial versions. Tests are studied using real procedures for chrome thickness control, salt spray testing, and fitting adjustment on workbench fittings and locks. Assessment is continuous, module by module, plus the final integrating project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Identify the original materials and finishes of period fittings.
Prepare and strip parts without loss of material or detail.
Mechanically polish fittings to the required finish.
Explain the stages of decorative copper-nickel-chromium plating.
Assess alternative finishes and their compatibility with authenticity.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. A university degree is not required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient command of Spanish to follow technical standards documentation.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme comprises 800 hours in total, spread over 6 to 8 months. That is an average of 10 to 15 hours per week, compatible with full-time work.
We work with Advanced Excel, SolidWorks, Fusion 360, Minitab. Free, academic or trial versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
An own SEIUM diploma upon passing continuous assessment and the integrating project. It is in-house training, not an official Ministry qualification.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are credited towards the higher programme. Check the credit transfer policy when you enrol.
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