ABOUT US
A HISTORY OF CULTURE AND INNOVATION
In June 1996, Bob Bertelsen founded A Plus Powder Coaters out of necessity. As part of the muscle car community, he prided himself for his attention to detail and love for anything on four wheels.
In April of that year, he sought out a powder coating for one of his classic rides, but he did not find the quality, service, and the lead time that he needed. As an innovator, Bob decided to think outside the box for a solution. Thus, leading to the culture of A Plus Powder Coaters, Inc.
With a penchant for superior customer service, he established a business built on dependability and timeliness. His earnest desire to educate himself on the coating industry led him to join the Powder Coating Institute (PCI) to which A Plus Powder Coaters, Inc. has been a member in good standing and one of the first PCI 3000 certified companies in the world.
A Plus Powder Coaters, Inc. began as a 75-feet wide and 150-feet long system and11,250 square foot warehouse. In March 1997, production started on a conveyor system for larger production runs and a batch system for smaller runs and prototypes. Seven expansions later, A Plus Powder Coaters now operates from a 60,000-square-foot facility located on nine acres in Columbiana, Ohio. In 2005, A Plus Powder Coaters, Inc. added its first 15-foot x 30-foot blast room and had since added a second blast room of the same size.
The business has expanded into the packaging and light assembly work with the same quality and service that customers of A Plus Powder Coaters have come to expect. The company has established a culture built around respect for the customer, a positive shop attitude, quality, and service.
OUR STAFF
Click the images below for staff bio
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
WHAT DISTINGUISHES A PLUS POWDER COATERS FROM OTHER COATERS?
First, our Quality and service are next to none. We strive hard to be attentive to customer’s needs. Our team works to ensure only parts that will pass our customers criteria leave our facility. We are so proud of the low number of parts returned by customers that we publish them on our home page every month, along with the number of coated parts for the month. Our return rate is among the lowest in the country.
Second, we have designed a custom database that tracks customer parts from the time they are quoted until they leave our facility. It records all critical information, including who did each procedure and what time they did it. It also records oven temperatures and chemical titrations, so we know with confidence the part is done correctly. Lastly, we record all testing in the system to show the part met the required specifications. This database has impressed many quality control personnel when they have toured our facility.
Third, we can blast and powder coat parts up to 30 feet long. Not many coaters can do this giant of a piece.
HOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT COATING I NEED FOR A SPECIFIC APPLICATION?
Our management team has over 55 years of combined service in powder coating. We can help design the right coating system for your product. With the proper information such as end-use, the environment, and expectations, we can then recommend pretreatment, proper powder, and tests required. Our experts can help develop and support the best process for your parts requirement.
WILL POWDER COAT LAST ON ALUMINUM?
Yes, if done correctly. Powder bonds exceptionally well to aluminum if it is pretreated correctly. Generally, the powder will bond better to aluminum than liquid paint. We have several customers we powder coat for that machine their parts after powder coated with no chipping or issues.
CAN GALVANIZED METAL BE POWDER COATED?
Yes, it can, but with the proper protocol and procedure. First, the parts being galvanized need to be air quenched, not water relieved at the galvanizers. Second, the galvanize needs to be sweep blasted no more than 24 hours before coating. This removes the white rust that forms on galvanize and allows for a good bond of powder to the metal.
Terry Watson has published an article on this subject. Click HERE to read the article.
WHAT IS THE BEST PRETREATMENT FOR STEEL?
It depends on the environment the part is to be used in and what condition the part is in when we receive it. If it has mill scale or rust, it needs media blasted to remove the mill scale and rust, giving a good profile for the powder to bond. Cleaner metal can be pretreated and coated, but it depends on the end use and environment it will be in.
CREATED AND DRIVEN BY OUR EMPLOYEES
BE OUR BEST FOR EVERYONE’S SUCCESS!
What they meant by that was summed up by one of the employees. If we can make our customers successful because they have the right quality parts, they will continue to buy from A+, which in turn makes us successful and gives us job security.
CULTURE & VALUES
Our culture and mission were created by our employees. It is the life force that drives and motivates our quality product and service.
• Respect: We will be respectful and honest with customers, co-workers and ourselves
• Attitude: We will find a positive solution and not accept negative behavior
• Quality: We will do things the right way