When you need finishing services for your custom fabrications, you can count on Ameritex to deliver.
We’re proud to offer powder coating and wet paint in-house at our Conroe, Texas, facility. As for other finishing services? We have a large selection of trusted finishing vendors we call on regularly for services like hot dip galvanizing, anodizing, and more.
Our goal is to make sourcing custom fabrications as easy as possible, and we’re more than happy to manage these outside services so that when you submit a PO to Ameritex, you receive a complete part or product.
Let’s look at some of the common finishing services we offer customers.
In-House Finishing Services at Ameritex
Here are the finishing services we provide in-house:
Powder coating
Powder coating involves electrostatically applying a dry powder to the surface of a part and then curing it in an oven to set it in place. We often recommend powder coating as a fast and highly durable alternative to wet paint.
In fact, we recently took our powder coating capabilities to the next level by adding a 20-foot Rohner Batch Non-Reclaim Powder Coating Booth, Empire blast booth, and GAT gas-fired oven to our shop floor.
Wet paint
Wet paint is still a great option for certain projects. For example, if you have an offshore or coastal application and need to prevent salt water corrosion, we can easily add multiple layers of wet paint to ensure optimal corrosion resistance.
Third-Party Finishing Services via Our Trusted Vendor Network
Here’s an overview of the finishing services we outsource to our trusted vendors. As is standard in metal fabrication services, third-party operations can add to a project’s cost and lead time.
For the sake of transparency, we’ll provide information on the typical lead time for each service. The cost varies from project to project, so get in touch if you’d like a quote.
Hot-dip galvanizing (HDG)
One of our most popular outside services, hot-dip galvanizing is a relatively cost-effective way to provide a rugged coating on custom fabrications made from steel. After a thorough surface preparation to remove any dirt, oil, debris, and oxides from the metal, the steel part is immersed in a tub of molten zinc, forming protective layers that hold up to just about anything. Be sure to review our blog post on hot dip galvanizing [link to Design Considerations for Hot-Dip Galvanizing Steel Parts] to confirm that your product is a fit for this service!
Typical lead times for hot-dip galvanizing range from 5-10 business days, depending on our vendor’s workload.
Anodizing
This electrolytic passivation process enhances the surface of a metal part or product (typically aluminum), improving corrosion resistance and scratch resistance and enabling superior adhesion for paint primers and glues.
Custom fabrications can be anodized clear or in a variety of vibrant colors for a beautiful cosmetic finish.
Typical lead times for anodizing range from 5-15 days.
Cadmium and zinc-nickel plating
A type of sacrificial coating—used to protect the metal it coats from corrosion by absorbing the corrosion itself—zinc-nickel plating is a popular choice among aerospace, industrial, and automation customers. While cadmium plating is still an option, zinc-nickel plating has recently become a preferred alternative.
Typical lead times for cadmium and zinc-nickel plating range from 5-10 days.
Tin plating
When working on electrical applications such as enclosures, we often send copper components out to be tin plated. This coating provides an enhanced contact surface for electrical connections on copper conductors.
Typical lead times for tin plating range from 5-10 days.
Screen printing, etching, and backfilling
We work with several vendors who will screen print or etch and backfill products like gauge panels and consoles. Customers often request custom artwork, such as logos.
For larger fabrications, we recommend having a smaller detachable plate that can be screen-printed because large, cumbersome products are more likely to incur damage during handling.
Typical lead times for screen printing, etching, and backfilling range from 5-15 days.
Don’t See the Finishing Service You Need? Reach Out Anyway!
These are the most common finishing services Ameritex provides customers—but the list goes on and on! Reach out and tell us about your finishing needs, and we’ll do what we can to help you find the perfect solution.
