Abstract: The present invention is related to an apparatus and a method for the electrolytic deposition of a zinc or zinc alloy layer on a workpiece, the apparatus comprising a container to hold the metal plating bath divided into at least two compartments with an electrode assembly in the container, the assembly comprises in a first compartment a soluble anode to provide ions of the at least one metal to be deposited and a cathode corresponding to the workpiece to be metal plated and in an anolyte compartment separated from the first compartment by an ion exchange membrane comprises an insoluble anode and wherein the electrode assembly in the compartments are connected by an adjustable power supply.