California's Air Resources Board voted to phase out hexavalent chromium at the state's 117 chrome-plating facilities, with decorative operations required to stop by 2030 and functional operations getting until 2039. That single regulatory action has done more to accelerate the trivalent chrome conversation nationally than a decade of environmental advocacy did on its own. Shops outside California are watching closely, because CARB rules have a track record of becoming the de

When it comes to surface finishing, the choice between hexavalent chrome and trivalent chrome plating extends far beyond mere aesthetics.