The parts are fired in kilns with slow moving conveyor belts. The temperature profile is very important to the characteristics of the capacitors. The termination provides the first layer of electrical and mechanical connection to the capacitor. Metal powder is mixed with solvents and glass frit to create the termination ink. Each terminal of the capacitor is then dipped in the ink and the parts are fired in kilns. Using an electroplating process, the termination is plated with a layer of nickel and then a layer of tin. The nickel is a barrier layer between the termination and the tin plating. The tin is used to prevent the nickel from oxidizing. The parts are tested and sorted to their correct capacitance tolerances. At this point the capacitor manufacturing is complete. The parts could be packaged on tape and reel after this process or shipped as bulk.