A plating apparatus can form a bump having a flat top or can form a metal film having a good in-plane uniformity even when the plating of a plating object is carried out under high-current density conditions. The encoder is configured to define a readable spectral range of an identifier. A laterally reciprocating cutter has openings, through which the weatherstrips are driven, and shearing edges for cutting ends of the weatherstrips to facilitate entry of the weatherstrips from the slots in the guide into the slots in the frame member. The conversion has high rates of sulfur, nitrogen and metals removal, nearly complete conversion to lower molecular weight products, high naphtha and distillate selectivity, and low coke formation.