K&L Plating
K&L Plating is a privately held, NADCAP AC7004-accredited and ITAR-registered metal plating and finishing job shop operating two Pennsylvania facilities, serving U.S. defense primes, aerospace, medical, and heavy industrial OEMs with MIL-SPEC, ASTM, and ISO-conformant plating, passivation, coating, and painting services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1955
- HeadquartersLancaster, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What K&L Plating does
K&L Plating Company, Inc., founded in 1955 and headquartered in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, is a privately held metal plating and finishing job shop operating two production facilities in Pennsylvania — its original Lancaster site (524 East Mifflin St.) and a larger Huntingdon facility (10210 Fairgrounds Road) acquired in 2017. The company performs a defined suite of industrial metal treatment processes including zinc plating (ASTM B633), electroless nickel plating (MIL-C-26074E, AMS-2404F, ASTM B733), passivation (ASTM A967, AMS2700E, ASTM A380), chemical film conversion (MIL-DTL-5541F), phosphate conversion coating (MIL-DTL-16232), solid film lubrication (MIL-PRF-46010), and industrial coating and painting including CARC paint. All processes meet MIL-SPEC, ASTM, ISO, RoHS, and WEEE standards, and quality control is performed in-house via salt spray, water immersion, copper sulfate, and potassium ferricyanide testing. The Huntingdon facility additionally operates a closed-loop wastewater treatment system that recycles approximately 85% of process water.
The company is positioned as an approved independent processor and Tier One Supplier for major U.S. defense primes (Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems, Northrop Grumman, L3 Communications, Oshkosh Defense) and serves diversified industrial OEMs (Caterpillar, JLG, Manitowoc, Mack Trucks, Schneider Electric). Customer-facing commercial posture is direct sales via phone, email, and a website quote form, with same-day or next-day quotations, 24-48 hour expedited turnaround available, local pickup and delivery within 50 miles, and freight shipping (FedEx, UPS, common carrier) for non-regional customers. Pricing is project-quote-based and confidential; quotations are valid for 60 days and new customers must provide banking and trade references.
Revenue mechanics are essentially unit-pricing on a project basis for plating and coating work, supplemented by complimentary engineering/R&D consultation, baking (embrittlement relief), blasting, and logistics support as add-ons. The company maintains NADCAP AC7004 accreditation (2024), ITAR registration, ISO 9001 conformance, and is recognized for environmental stewardship by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Operating geographies are concentrated in the Mid-Atlantic United States (Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, New York, New Jersey), with no disclosed revenue, funding rounds, or parent/subsidiary relationships.
K&L Plating firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- K&L Plating
- Legal name
- K&L Plating Company, Inc.
- Website
- https://klplating.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1955
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- K&L Plating is a privately held, NADCAP AC7004-accredited and ITAR-registered metal plating and finishing job shop operating two Pennsylvania facilities, serving U.S. defense primes, aerospace, medical, and heavy industrial OEMs with MIL-SPEC, ASTM, and ISO-conformant plating, passivation, coating, and painting services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
K&L Plating industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Metal Plating & Finishing Services
- NAICS
- Electroplating, Plating, Polishing, Anodizing, and Coloring (332813), Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities (3328)
- SIC
- Chemicals & Allied Products (2800)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Electroplating & Metallization Chemicals (Cu/Ni/Au plating, additives) (IMAEAKAK)
Keywords
Where K&L Plating is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lancaster
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
K&L Plating business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Metal Plating & Finishing Services: Job shop providing custom metal plating and finishing services for industrial customers. Services are priced per project based on specifications, materials, volume, and turnaround requirements. Revenue is generated through project-based billing for plating, coating, and related metal finishing services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Custom Quote-Based Pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
K&L Plating product offering
Product offeringCore offering
K&L Plating is a job-shop metal plating and finishing service provider serving industrial B2B customers from two Pennsylvania facilities. It offers zinc plating, electroless nickel plating, stainless steel passivation, chemical film conversion (Alodine/Iridite), phosphate conversion coating, solid film lubrication, and industrial coating/painting (including CARC paint), all conforming to MIL-SPEC, ASTM, ISO, RoHS, and WEEE standards, with NADCAP AC7004 accreditation and ITAR compliance for defense work.
Product overview
K&L Plating is a metal plating and finishing service company offering a unified suite of industrial metal treatment processes. The core product portfolio consists of zinc plating, electroless nickel plating, stainless steel passivation, chemical film conversion (Alodine/Iridite), phosphate conversion coating, solid film lubrication, and industrial coating/painting services including CARC paint. Value-added services include baking, blasting, bright dips, etching, pickling, and logistics support. The company operates two production facilities (Lancaster and Huntingdon, PA) and serves defense, aerospace, medical, electronics, manufacturing, and transportation industries with production-volume batch plating. All processes conform to military (MIL-SPEC), ASTM, ISO, RoHS, WEEE, and ITAR standards.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Zinc Plating Economical corrosion-resistant zinc plating service for iron, copper, brass, and steel substrates, conforming to ASTM B633 specifications (Types I-VI) with service conditions SC1-SC4. Sold to industrial and defense manufacturers via project-based quotes.
- Electroless Nickel Plating Uniform corrosion-resistant nickel coating applied without electrical current to aluminum, steel, stainless steel, copper, and brass substrates, conforming to MIL-C-26074E, AMS-2404F, and ASTM B733 specifications. Sold to aerospace, defense, and industrial OEMs.
- Passivation Chemical stainless-steel cleaning and decontamination process that removes free iron deposits to prevent rust, conforming to ASTM A967, AMS2700E, and ASTM A380 specifications. Sold to medical device, aerospace, and industrial manufacturers requiring stainless-steel passivation.
- Chemical Film Conversion Chromate-based protective coating for aluminum and aluminum alloys (also known as Alodine/Iridite), available in Type I (hexavalent chromium) and Type II (trivalent chromium), Class 1A and Class 3, conforming to MIL-DTL-5541F specifications. Sold to aerospace and defense manufacturers.
- Phosphate Conversion Coating Zinc phosphate protective base coating for iron and steel substrates providing corrosion resistance, non-reflective finish, and paint bonding, conforming to MIL-DTL-16232 specifications (Type Z, Classes 1-3). Sold to military and industrial equipment manufacturers.
- Solid Film Lubricant Permanent high-performance dry-film lubricant coating for high-pressure and high-temperature applications where liquid lubricants cannot be used, conforming to MIL-PRF-46010 specifications. Sold to aerospace, defense, and industrial OEMs.
- Industrial Coating & Painting Industrial coating and painting services including CARC (Chemical Agent Resistant Coating) paint, surface preparation, blasting, and chemical treatments for various metal components and equipment. Sold to defense, military, and industrial customers.
- Metal Plating & Finishing Services (Custom Quoted Job-Shop Service) Project-based custom metal plating and finishing job-shop service priced per quote based on specifications, materials, volume, and turnaround requirements. Offered same-day or next-day with 24-48 hour expedited options and local pickup/delivery within 50 miles of Pennsylvania facilities. Sold to defense contractors, OEMs, and Tier 1/2 suppliers.
Quantifiable outcome
- 85% water recycling rate in rinse process
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use K&L Plating
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
K&L Plating technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
K&L Plating partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- Alliance for the Chesapeake BayminorK&L Plating is a member of the Pennsylvania chapter of the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, supporting environmental stewardship and watershed protection efforts in the region.
- Lancaster County Chamber of CommerceminorK&L Plating is a member of the Lancaster County Chamber of Commerce, supporting local business community and economic development.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
K&L Plating competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- US Chrome: U.S. metal finisher specializing in hard chrome, electroless nickel and other plating for aerospace, defense and industrial customers. Comparable to K&L in plating chemistry and defense customer base, though more concentrated in hard chrome plating.
Direct peers
- Bales Metal Surface Solutions: Midwest-based metal finishing job shop providing zinc, electroless nickel, anodizing, and conversion coatings with NADCAP accreditation. Comparable to K&L as a regional MIL-SPEC plater serving aerospace and defense customers.
- AOTCO Metal Finishing: Northeast U.S. metal finishing job shop offering plating, anodizing, and conversion coating services to aerospace, defense, medical and industrial customers. Closely comparable to K&L in capability set, certifications, and target verticals.
- Anoplate Corporation: New York-based metal finisher providing zinc, electroless nickel, anodizing, and passivation to aerospace, defense, and industrial OEMs. Comparable to K&L as a privately held regional MIL-SPEC plater with overlapping certifications and customer types.
- Precision Plating & Painting: Midwest-based metal finishing job shop offering zinc, electroless nickel, and other plating services to industrial and defense customers. Comparable to K&L as a regional MIL-SPEC plater serving OEM and Tier 1/2 suppliers.
- Metal Finishing Technologies (MFT): Regional metal finisher providing zinc, electroless nickel, anodizing and conversion coatings to industrial and military customers. Directly comparable to K&L as a job-shop plater serving defense and OEM clients with MIL-SPEC processes.
Broad incumbents
- Valence Surface Technologies: Largest independent aerospace surface treatment provider in North America, offering plating, anodizing, painting and non-destructive testing across multiple U.S. sites. Overlaps with K&L on MIL-SPEC plating and aerospace/defense customers but at substantially larger scale.
- Pioneer Metal Finishing: Large U.S. metal finishing company operating multiple facilities with broad capabilities including zinc, electroless nickel, anodizing and powder coating. Overlaps with K&L across core plating services but operates at significantly greater scale and geographic footprint.
- Curtiss-Wright Surface Technologies: Division of Curtiss-Wright providing specialized metal treatment services including plating, anodizing, and shot peening across multiple global facilities. Comparable to K&L in plating capability but much larger, multi-site, serving aerospace and defense primes at scale.
- SIFCO Industries: Public company with a Surface Technologies segment offering selective plating, anodizing and other metal finishing services to aerospace and industrial markets. Comparable capabilities to K&L but at greater scale and global reach.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
K&L Plating social profiles
Digital presenceK&L Plating compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
K&L Plating financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
K&L Plating leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
K&L Plating funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
K&L Plating M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about K&L Plating
What does K&L Plating do?
K&L Plating is a job-shop metal plating and finishing service provider serving industrial B2B customers from two Pennsylvania facilities. It offers zinc plating, electroless nickel plating, stainless steel passivation, chemical film conversion (Alodine/Iridite), phosphate conversion coating, solid film lubrication, and industrial coating/painting (including CARC paint), all conforming to MIL-SPEC, ASTM, ISO, RoHS, and WEEE standards, with NADCAP AC7004 accreditation and ITAR compliance for defense work.
Is K&L Plating a public or private company?
K&L Plating is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was K&L Plating founded?
K&L Plating was founded in 1955. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is K&L Plating based?
K&L Plating is headquartered in Lancaster, United States, in the North America region.
How does K&L Plating make money?
One revenue line is on record: metal Plating & Finishing Services.
Who are K&L Plating's main competitors?
US Chrome is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are Bales Metal Surface Solutions, AOTCO Metal Finishing, Anoplate Corporation, Precision Plating & Painting and Metal Finishing Technologies (MFT). Broad incumbents are Valence Surface Technologies, Pioneer Metal Finishing, Curtiss-Wright Surface Technologies and SIFCO Industries.
Does K&L Plating have an API?
No public API is recorded for K&L Plating.
What industry is K&L Plating in?
K&L Plating's product category is Metal Plating & Finishing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAEAKAK, Electroplating & Metallization Chemicals (Cu/Ni/Au plating, additives). Its NAICS code is 332813 and its SIC code is 2800.