Elm Plating
Elm Plating Company, founded 1951 in Jackson, Michigan, is a family-owned metal finisher providing zinc barrel plating, Dörken Delta-MKS dip-spin coating, hard coat anodizing, and heat treatment services primarily to automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers such as Ford, GM, and Chrysler.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1951
- HeadquartersJackson, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Elm Plating does
Elm Plating Company is a privately held, family-owned metal finishing business founded in 1951 and headquartered in Jackson, Michigan. The company operates three Jackson-based facilities dedicated to zinc barrel plating (including chromate and post-plate options such as chromating, lubricants, wax, seals, and passivation), Dörken Delta-MKS dip-spin coating for high-strength fasteners, and Type III Class 1 hard coat anodizing for aluminum components, alongside neutral hardening heat treatment and mechanical sorting/packaging. Technical differentiators include an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited on-site chemistry laboratory operated via the jointly-controlled Test Laboratories U.S.A., automated barrel zinc plating with computerized process control and 425°F hydrogen-embrittlement relief baking, advanced robotic dip-spin coating capable of 430,000 units annually with 5-day turnaround, and a water recycling and waste reduction system.
The company serves primarily automotive OEMs and Tier 1/2 suppliers — including Ford, General Motors, Chrysler/FCA, Borg-Warner, Bosch, Brembo, and Ford Tier 1 suppliers — with secondary exposure to heavy truck, agriculture, construction, and durable goods markets. Elm Plating generates revenue through quote-based, pay-as-you-go contracts for high-volume production runs, with standard lead times of 3-5 days and drop-ship logistics supported by a proprietary six-semi, one-box-truck fleet covering a 200-mile radius around Jackson, MI. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales, leveraging 100+ years of combined fastener and small stamping expertise within the management and sales teams to deliver engineering-focused application solutions. Certifications stack (IATF 16949:2016, ISO 14001:2015, ISO/IEC 17025:2017, CQI-11, CQI-12, ZinKlad) qualifies the firm as an approved supplier across the major Detroit OEMs and supports documented sole-source wins such as the Ford spark plug tube program (43M+ units since 2011). The firm reinvests continuously from retained earnings, evidenced by record 2016 electrodeposit zinc capex, 2019 robotic dip-spin integration, and a 2025 exclusive Dörken Delta-MKS dip-spin facility.
Elm Plating firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Elm Plating
- Legal name
- Elm Plating Company
- Website
- https://elmplating.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1951
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Elm Plating Company, founded 1951 in Jackson, Michigan, is a family-owned metal finisher providing zinc barrel plating, Dörken Delta-MKS dip-spin coating, hard coat anodizing, and heat treatment services primarily to automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers such as Ford, GM, and Chrysler.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Elm Plating industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Metal Finishing Services
- NAICS
- Electroplating, Plating, Polishing, Anodizing, and Coloring (332813), Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities (3328), Metal Coating, Engraving (except Jewelry and Silverware), and Allied Services to Manufacturers (332812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Electroplating & Metal Finishing (Anodizing/Galvanizing/Passivation) (IMAIAKAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Aluminum Fabrication & Finishing (Machining, Anodizing, Coating) (IMAKACAI)
Keywords
Where Elm Plating is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Jackson
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Elm Plating business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Metal Finishing Services: High-volume production metal finishing providing zinc barrel plating, dip spin coating, sorting/packaging, and anodizing services to automotive, auto-related, and industrial customers. Services include custom finishes, post-plate operations, testing and inspection, and logistics/trucking within 200-mile radius of Jackson, Michigan.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Standard zinc barrel plating services |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Elm Plating product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Elm Plating Company is a high-volume production metal finisher offering three core services: zinc barrel plating (with chromate and various post-plate options in multiple colors and thicknesses), dip spin coating using Dörken Delta-MKS technology, and computer-controlled Type III Class 1 hard coat anodizing for aluminum components. The company also provides supporting heat treatment (neutral hardening for hydrogen embrittlement relief) and mechanical sorting/packaging, serving automotive, heavy truck, agriculture, construction, and durable goods manufacturers.
Product overview
Elm Plating Company is a high-volume production metal finisher offering three core services: Zinc Barrel Plating (with chromate and various post-plate options), Dip Spin Coating (using Doerken Dörken Delta-MKS technology), and Anodizing (Type III hard coat anodizing for aluminum). The company provides ancillary services including sorting/packaging and heat treatment. Their services support multiple industries including automotive, heavy truck, agriculture, construction, and durable goods markets, serving major OEMs like Ford, GM, and Chrysler.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Zinc Barrel Plating High-volume zinc and chromate barrel plating service for fasteners and stampings, offering multiple color options (black, clear, yellow, blue-bright) and various thicknesses. Includes post-plate operations such as chromating, integrated lubricants, wax, seals, and passivation, with hydrogen embrittlement relief through 425°F ±20°F baking.
- Dip Spin Coating Dörken Delta-MKS dip spin coating service providing microlayer corrosion protection for high-strength fasteners and precision parts. Performed at a dedicated exclusive facility using the most advanced robotic dip-spin coating technology, enabling high-volume processing of 430,000 units annually with rapid 5-day turnaround.
- Anodizing Computer-controlled Type III, Class 1 hard coat anodizing for aluminum components, providing hard anodic coatings for automotive, transmission, and tooling applications with precise thickness control from .0010" to .0025" and meeting AMS2469 specifications.
- Neutral Hardening Heat Treatment Neutral hardening heat treatment service provided at the Zinc Plating facility to support hydrogen embrittlement relief for carbon steel and cast iron components, complementing the zinc plating process.
- Sorting and Packaging Mechanical sorting and custom packaging services for finished metal components, ensuring parts meet customer specifications before shipment.
Quantifiable outcome
- 43,000,000+ spark plug tubes plated since 2011 with zero competitive re-sourcing
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Elm Plating
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Elm Plating technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature6 records
Elm Plating partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Test Laboratories U.S.A.coreSeparate company employed on-site performing array of testing techniques. ISO/IEC 17025 Accredited Laboratory performing thickness testing, Salt Spray Testing per ASTM B-117, and Torque Tension Testing. Provides third-party oversight to Elm Plating's testing, calibration and titration execution.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Elm Plating competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- MacDermid Enthone (Element Solutions): Global supplier of plating chemistries and equipment used by metal finishers including Elm. Not a direct competitor but the upstream chemistry/technology supplier whose product roadmap shapes what services Elm can offer.
- Dörken MKS Systems: German coatings supplier whose Delta-MKS dip-spin chemistry Elm applies exclusively at its 2025 Jackson facility. Not a competitor but a key technology partner whose coating platform is the basis of Elm's specialty growth lane.
Direct peers
- Pioneer Metal Finishing: Largest independent metal finisher in North America offering anodizing, zinc, chromate, and powder coating to automotive and industrial OEMs. Directly comparable to Elm in service mix, customer base, and certification profile.
- Hohman Plating & Manufacturing: Dayton, Ohio-based metal finisher providing zinc, tin, anodizing, and chromate coatings with a similar automotive-heavy customer base. Comparable mid-market scale, OEM supplier certifications, and engineering-driven sales model.
- Valence Surface Technologies: U.S. metal finisher offering anodizing, plating, and non-destructive testing primarily to aerospace and defense with growing automotive exposure. Comparable in service breadth and certification-driven go-to-market, with some overlap on Ford/GM-adjacent programs.
- KC Jones Plating Company: Michigan-based plating specialist serving automotive, heavy truck, and industrial OEMs with zinc, nickel, and anodizing finishes. Closely comparable geographic footprint, customer mix, and fastener-focused finishing capability.
- SIFCO Industries: Specialty plating and surface treatment provider serving aerospace, defense, and industrial customers with selective and barrel plating. Comparable in engineering-focused plating services, though more concentrated in aerospace/defense than automotive.
- Anoplate Corporation: New York-based metal finisher providing anodizing, zinc, tin, and specialty coatings to OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers. Comparable service portfolio and certification-driven model, though operating in a different region than Elm's Midwest base.
Broad incumbents
- Aalberts Surface Technologies: Global surface treatment business of Aalberts Industries providing plating, anodizing, and heat treatment across automotive, aerospace, and industrial markets. Comparable in services but operates at much larger scale and broader geography.
- Bodycote: Global leader in heat treatment and surface technology services to automotive, aerospace, and industrial markets. Comparable in heat treat and surface finishing capability, though much larger scale and broader geographic footprint than Elm.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Elm Plating social profiles
Digital presenceElm Plating compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
Elm Plating financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Elm Plating leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Elm Plating subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Elm Plating funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Elm 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 Elm Plating
What does Elm Plating do?
Elm Plating Company is a high-volume production metal finisher offering three core services: zinc barrel plating (with chromate and various post-plate options in multiple colors and thicknesses), dip spin coating using Dörken Delta-MKS technology, and computer-controlled Type III Class 1 hard coat anodizing for aluminum components. The company also provides supporting heat treatment (neutral hardening for hydrogen embrittlement relief) and mechanical sorting/packaging, serving automotive, heavy truck, agriculture, construction, and durable goods manufacturers.
Is Elm Plating a public or private company?
Elm Plating is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Elm Plating founded?
Elm Plating was founded in 1951. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Elm Plating based?
Elm Plating is headquartered in Jackson, United States, in the North America region.
How does Elm Plating make money?
One revenue line is on record: metal Finishing Services.
Who are Elm Plating's main competitors?
Others on record are MacDermid Enthone (Element Solutions) and Dörken MKS Systems. Direct peers are Pioneer Metal Finishing, Hohman Plating & Manufacturing, Valence Surface Technologies, KC Jones Plating Company, SIFCO Industries and Anoplate Corporation. Broad incumbents are Aalberts Surface Technologies and Bodycote.
Does Elm Plating have an API?
No public API is recorded for Elm Plating.
What industry is Elm Plating in?
Elm Plating's product category is Metal Finishing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAIAKAE, Electroplating & Metal Finishing (Anodizing/Galvanizing/Passivation), with a secondary code of IMAKACAI, Aluminum Fabrication & Finishing (Machining, Anodizing, Coating). Its NAICS code is 332813.