B.L. Downey Company

What B.L. Downey Company does

B.L. Downey Company is a privately held, U.S.-based industrial custom coating services provider founded in 1956 and headquartered in a 325,000 sq ft facility at 2125 Gardner Road, Broadview, Illinois (Chicago metro). The company delivers corrosion-protection and decorative coating for fabricated metal parts across eleven verticals including transportation and infrastructure (the primary segment, serving 22 U.S. state Departments of Transportation plus two Canadian provinces for rebar and reinforcing steel), automotive, military, light poles, parks and recreation, construction, agricultural, architectural, electronics, fencing, and general manufacturing. Notable work includes custom coating for Brookfield Zoo infrastructure and approval as a supplier to major automotive OEMs (GM, BMW, Honda, Toyota, Chrysler) and the U.S. Department of Defense (TACOM).

The company's core technology stack centers on cathodic electrodeposition (E-coating), electrostatic powder coating, plastisol dip coating, and Fusion Bonded Epoxy (FBE), operated across six E-coat processing lines, twelve powder and dip coating booths, and fourteen automatic conveyorized processing lines. Production capacity exceeds 500,000 finished parts per day on the smaller E-coat lines, with overhead cranes enabling handling of parts up to 50-100 feet in length and 10,000 lbs in weight. Proprietary process IP includes the Trinity Finish system (in use 30+ years), the Trinity Plus Finish premium system, the Powder Coat on top of E-coat (POE) process developed over 15+ years, and an Anti-Graffiti coating for public infrastructure, all protected as trade secrets rather than patents. Pretreatment and surface chemistry is supported by partnerships with PPG Electrocoat, Chemetall Americas, Henkel, DuPont (StarCoater Program), and equipment supplier Therma-Tron-X.

The business model is project-based custom coatings services sold via direct sales, an online "Quick Quote" intake form, and a toll-free number (800-323-1206). Customers span the U.S. and international markets, with parts shipped out via twelve semi-truck delivery bays and a nearby intermodal rail facility. Pricing is quote-based on part size, weight, quantity, material, and coating specification; no standard price list is published. Ancillary metal fabrication services (grinding, bending, drilling, welding, light machining) are bundled in-house to pre-prepare customer parts before coating, supporting 3-5 workday standard turnarounds with same-day blasting-plus-coating capability on rush jobs. The company is ISO 9001-2000 certified, CRSI-certified for rebar epoxy coating, and holds UL, CE, AAMA, PACCAR, DuPont StarCoater, and OEM-specific approvals, and remains privately held under the legal name B.L. Downey Company LLC with no disclosed ownership, funding, M&A, or leadership-change history.

Name

B.L. Downey Company

Legal name

B.L. Downey Company LLC

Website

https://bldowney.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

B.L. Downey Company is a U.S. industrial custom coatings provider founded in 1956, offering E-coating, powder coating, plastisol, FBE coating, and metal fabrication from a 325,000 sq ft Broadview, Illinois facility to transportation, automotive, military, and general manufacturing customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Metal Coating Services

NAICS

Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities (3328), Metal Coating, Engraving (except Jewelry and Silverware), and Allied Services to Manufacturers (332812)

SIC

Coating, Engraving & Allied Services (3470)

akta.pro primary industry

Application Equipment & Coating Services (Contract Coating, Surface Prep) (IMAEAGAL)

Keywords

• Industrial coating services
• Powder coating services
• E-coating services
• Metal fabrication services
• Fusion bonded epoxy

Headquarters

HQ city

Broadview

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Custom Coating Services: B.L. Downey Company generates revenue through providing custom coating services including E-coating, powder coating, plastisol coating, and Fusion Bonded Epoxy coating for metal parts. Services are quoted per project based on size, quantity, material, and coating type requested. The company handles projects ranging from large fabricated structures to high-volume small parts production.
2. Metal Fabrication Services: The company also provides metal fabrication services including grinding, bending, drilling, sanding, welding, and light machining. This enables them to prepare and repair customers' metal parts prior to coating, adding value to their coating services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

B.L. Downey Company provides custom coating services (E-coating, powder coating, plastisol coating, and Fusion Bonded Epoxy) and metal fabrication services for fabricated metal products. Customers submit parts for processing through a Quick Quote system, and the company handles projects ranging from dime-size components produced at volumes of tens of thousands to oversized fabricated structures up to 100 feet long and 10,000 pounds, operating from a 325,000 square foot facility in Broadview, Illinois.

Product overview

B.L. Downey Company is a custom coating technology provider offering a portfolio of coating services including E-Coating, Powder Coating, Plastisol Coating, and Fabrication. The company operates six cathodic E-coat processing lines and multiple powder coating booths in a 325,000 square foot facility. Key offerings include: Fusion Bonded Epoxy (FBE) for corrosion protection; Powder Coat on top of E-coat (POE) combining both processes; exclusive Trinity Finish and Trinity Plus Finish for premium applications; and Anti-Graffiti Coating for public infrastructure. The company also provides metal fabrication services (grinding, bending, welding, drilling) and serves diverse markets including automotive, construction, transportation, military, and parks/recreation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Trinity Finish: Exclusive powder coating finish developed and used for over 30 years, providing decorative and protective coating.
• Trinity Plus Finish

Products and services

• E-Coating (Electrodeposition) Electrodeposition coating process that uses electrically charged particles deposited from a water suspension to uniformly coat metal parts with corrosion protection. Suitable for steel, aluminum, magnesium, and other metals; offers excellent throwing power for coverage of corners, edges, bends, and recessed areas. Operates across six cathodic E-coat processing lines with capacity exceeding 500,000 finished parts per day on smaller lines.
• Powder Coating Environmentally friendly (zero VOCs) powder coating finish applied via electrostatic deposition and curing for indoor and outdoor metal products. Used for decorative and protective coating across automotive, architectural, light pole, and consumer product applications.
• Plastisol Coating Vinyl compound coating that hardens during curing/molding to provide a durable finish resistant to aging, abrasion, chemical attack, corrosion, and fire. Applied to grips, fitness equipment, playground equipment, and electrical insulation components.
• Metal Fabrication Metal fabrication services including grinding, bending, drilling, sanding, welding, light machining, and deburring. Used to prepare and repair customers' metal parts prior to coating, particularly for light poles and other fabricated metal products.
• Fusion Bonded Epoxy (FBE) Powder Coating One-part, heat-curable, thermosetting epoxy coating designed for corrosion protection of steel pipe, fabrications, and reinforcing steel. Offers excellent adhesion and long-term corrosion resistance for pipelines, rebar, and infrastructure applications; CRSI and DOT certified.
• Powder Coat on top of E-coat (POE) Combined coating process that applies E-coat for superior adhesion and corrosion protection, followed by a performance decorative powder coating on top. Provides multi-layer durability through E-coat plus powder coat integration; backed by 15+ years of process experience.
• Trinity Finish Exclusive proprietary finish combining blast cleaning with steel shot, E-coat application within 4 hours, and two coats of powder finish for superior decorative and protective coating quality.
• Trinity Plus Finish Premium finish combining E-coat applied within 4 hours of blasting with two coats of powder (Epoxy for indoor applications or super-durable TGIC top coat for outdoor use) for the highest quality finish in the industry.
• Anti-Graffiti Coating Specialized coating that allows graffiti to be wiped off with mineral spirits without damaging the coating or underlying metal. Designed for light poles and public-area metal products in municipal and parks environments.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 500,000 finished parts per day capacity on smaller lines
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• DuPont (StarCoater Program)coreTechnology or IntegrationB.L. Downey Company participates in DuPont's StarCoater Program, a certification partnership for powder coating technologies. This relationship provides access to DuPont's technical expertise and product specifications for powder coatings, with DuPont Powder Coating Technical guides available for download on B.L. Downey's website.
• PPG ElectrocoatcoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership with PPG for electrocoat products and technology. PPG is a major supplier of E-coat materials used in B.L. Downey's electrodeposition processing lines, providing the coatings chemistry for their six E-coat systems.
• Chemetall AmericascoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership with Chemetall Americas for pretreatment chemicals used in the metal preparation process before coating. Chemetall provides specialty chemical products for metal surface treatment and cleaning as part of B.L. Downey's pretreatment processes including iron phosphate, zinc phosphate, and specialty pre-treatments.
• Henkel North AmericacoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership with Henkel North America for industrial adhesives, sealants, and surface treatments used in coating operations. Henkel is a supplier partner providing chemistry for metal pretreatment and surface preparation.
• Therma-Tron-X, Inc.coreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership with Therma-Tron-X for coating equipment and process technology. Therma-Tron-X specializes in industrial coating equipment including E-coat systems, providing equipment and process solutions for B.L. Downey's coating lines.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Hohman Plating & Metal Finishing: Hohman Plating is a Dayton, OH-based custom metal finishing and coating services provider offering plating, powder coating, and e-coating for industrial and aerospace customers. Directly comparable to B.L. Downey as a mid-sized regional contract coater serving automotive, aerospace, and industrial markets.
• Anoplate Corporation: Anoplate is a Syracuse, NY-based metal finishing services company offering anodizing, plating, e-coating, and powder coating for aerospace, defense, and industrial customers. Directly comparable to B.L. Downey as a specialty contract coater with similar regulatory certifications and DOD exposure.
• Precision Coating Company: Precision Coating provides custom coating, e-coating, and surface treatment services for medical, industrial, and consumer products. Directly comparable to B.L. Downey in coating process mix and customer mix, though with greater medical-device specialization.
• Pioneer Metal Finishing: Pioneer Metal Finishing is a Green Bay, WI-headquartered contract metal finisher providing anodizing, plating, powder coating, and e-coating services. Directly comparable to B.L. Downey as a multi-site industrial contract coater serving similar OEM and infrastructure end markets.
• Valence Surface Technologies: Valence Surface Technologies (formed from Asterion and others) is one of the largest U.S. aerospace-focused surface treatment and coating services providers. Comparable to B.L. Downey as a contract coater with heavy regulatory certification footprint, though concentrated in aerospace rather than infrastructure/automotive.
• Surface Treatment Technologies: Surface Treatment Technologies provides custom metal finishing, plating, and coating services to industrial and defense customers. Directly comparable to B.L. Downey as a regional contract coater with similar process offerings and DOD exposure.

Others

• TCI Powder Coatings: TCI Powder Coatings is a U.S. powder coating manufacturer supplying contract coaters and OEMs. Comparable as a coating chemistry supplier in the same value chain, but does not operate its own contract coating service line.
• Chemetall (BASF Coatings): Chemetall, part of BASF, supplies pretreatment chemicals used in metal surface preparation prior to coating and is an explicit B.L. Downey partner. Comparable as an ecosystem enabler in the coating supply chain rather than a direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Axalta Coating Systems: Axalta is a global coatings manufacturer supplying liquid, powder, and E-coat products used by contract coaters including B.L. Downey. A broader incumbent whose industrial coatings portfolio overlaps with the chemistries B.L. Downey applies; competes more on supply than direct contract service.
• PPG Industries: PPG is a major global coatings and specialty materials manufacturer and a key supplier of E-coat chemistry to B.L. Downey. A broad incumbent that competes in industrial finishes and could expand into services or partner with contract coaters, making it a relevant adjacent player.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/b.l.-downey-company-llc

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about B.L. Downey Company