KC Jones Plating
KC Jones Plating is a 70+ year independent metal plating and surface finishing company operating four facilities across Michigan, Indiana, and Mexico, serving automotive, aerospace, defense, and EV OEMs with proprietary corrosion-, wear-, and conductivity-focused plating processes.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1955
- HeadquartersWarren, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What KC Jones Plating does
KC Jones Plating Company, founded in 1955 and headquartered in Warren, Michigan, is an independent metal plating and surface finishing company operating four manufacturing divisions across two countries: a Michigan plating facility (Hazel Park), an Indiana plating facility (Columbia City), a Mexico facility (KC Jones Galvanoplastia, S. DE R.L DE C.V., in Apodaca, Nuevo León), and a Warren-based Adhesive & Sealants Division. The company serves automotive OEMs and Tier-1/2/3 suppliers (Big Three Detroit roots, IATF 16949-certified in Mexico), aerospace and defense manufacturers (NADCAP AC7004 accredited in Michigan), battery electric vehicle suppliers, and industrial customers with a portfolio organized into three process families: corrosion resistance (zinc, zinc-nickel, zinc-iron), wear resistance (electroless nickel phosphorus, electroless nickel boron, and proprietary Miccrolloy® bronze), and conductivity/thermal management (tin, silver, sulfamate nickel), plus BEV-specific coatings, military/Mil-Spec plating, pre-applied Loctite threadlockers and sealants, and value-added services including vacuum impregnation, salt bath nitrocarburizing, furnace copper brazing, and direct OEM shipment.
The underlying technology is based on electroplating and autocatalytic electroless deposition, with proprietary or specialty positioning in nickel boron (claimed global leader in plated square inches, Rockwell 70 C+, heat resistant to 1080°C, ASTM 519-compliant no hydrogen embrittlement), Miccrolloy® bronze (~90% copper / 10% tin, SAE AMS 2429, ~35 Rc, CoF ~0.06, used in landing gear and cylinder block faceplates), and LHE alkaline zinc-nickel (US Air Force-approved cadmium replacement for landing gear). KC Jones also develops conductive ceramic and dielectric protective coatings enabling carbon/composite-cased EV battery enclosures, motor magnets, and cooling plates.
Revenue is generated through quote-based, per-part or per-program contracts priced on surface area, process complexity, and volume, with multi-year program cadence targeting enterprise customers via engineering-led RFQ processes and dual-PPAP capacity across Michigan and Mexico. No public pricing, revenue figures, or ownership structure beyond President & CEO Gordon Mitchell are disclosed; the company is privately held with no institutional investor ownership evident in available data.
KC Jones Plating firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- KC Jones Plating
- Legal name
- KC Jones Plating Company
- Website
- https://kcjplating.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1955
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- KC Jones Plating is a 70+ year independent metal plating and surface finishing company operating four facilities across Michigan, Indiana, and Mexico, serving automotive, aerospace, defense, and EV OEMs with proprietary corrosion-, wear-, and conductivity-focused plating processes.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
KC Jones Plating industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Metal Plating and Surface Finishing
- NAICS
- Electroplating, Plating, Polishing, Anodizing, and Coloring (332813)
- SIC
- Coating, Engraving & Allied Services (3470)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Electroplating & Metal Finishing (Anodizing/Galvanizing/Passivation) (IMAIAKAE)
Keywords
Where KC Jones Plating is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Warren
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
KC Jones Plating business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Metal Plating and Surface Finishing Services: Production-scale electroplating and electroless plating services for corrosion resistance, wear protection, conductivity, and thermal management. Revenue is generated through per-part, per-batch, or per-program pricing based on surface area plated, process complexity, and volume. Services span zinc, zinc-nickel, zinc-iron, electroless nickel (phosphorus and boron), bronze, tin, silver, and sulfamate nickel plating across automotive, aerospace, defense, and industrial customer programs.
- Adhesive Application Services: Pre-applied Loctite threadlockers, threadsealants, and Precote adhesives applied to threaded fasteners (nuts, bolts, and machined components) at production scale. Revenue generated per-part for chemical adhesive application. KC Jones is Loctite's first authorized application process center (since 1975) and offers combined plating + adhesive programs through its Michigan division.
- Added/Supporting Services: Value-added services including vacuum impregnation, salt bath nitrocarburizing, furnace copper brazing, assembly, corrosion testing, hardness measurement, custom masking, selective plating, vibratory tumbling, shot blasting, packaging, and direct OEM shipment. These services are typically bundled with plating programs or quoted as separate line items.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom quote-based pricing tailored to part geometry, substrate, process type, volume, and facility location. |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
KC Jones Plating product offering
Product offeringCore offering
KC Jones Plating operates as a multi-facility metal plating and surface finishing service provider, delivering corrosion resistance, wear resistance, and conductivity/thermal management coatings on customer-supplied metal components. Services span zinc, zinc-nickel, zinc-iron, electroless nickel (phosphorus and boron), proprietary Miccrolloy bronze, tin, silver, and sulfamate nickel plating, supported by pre-applied Loctite adhesive application and added services such as vacuum impregnation and salt bath nitrocarburizing for automotive, aerospace, defense, and industrial OEM programs.
Product overview
KC Jones Plating is a multi-facility metal plating and surface finishing company offering a portfolio of six core plating processes organized into three categories: Corrosion Resistance (Zinc, Zinc-Nickel, Zinc Iron plating), Wear Resistance (Electroless Nickel Phosphorus, Electroless Nickel Boron, MICCROLLOY® Bronze plating), and Conductivity & Thermal Management (Tin, Silver, Sulfamate Nickel plating). The company also provides specialized solutions for Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV), military/aerospace applications, and adhesive solutions using Loctite pre-applied threadlockers and sealants. Added services include vacuum impregnation, tumbling, masking, and custom coating development. With operations across Michigan, Indiana, and Mexico facilities, the company serves automotive (IATF 16949), aerospace (Nadcap AC7004), and industrial markets.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Miccrolloy®: Proprietary bronze plating process by KC Jones, Nadcap-accredited for aerospace and defense applications. Provides exceptional wear resistance and machinability.
- Miccrolloy™ Bronze Plating
Products and services
- Zinc Plating
Quantifiable outcome
- Zinc-nickel plating delivers 1,000+ hours salt spray corrosion resistance
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use KC Jones Plating
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
KC Jones Plating technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
KC Jones Plating partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Loctite (Henkel)coreKC Jones Plating was Loctite's first authorized application process center, established in 1975. The partnership enables KC Jones to apply Loctite threadlockers, threadsealants (Dri-Loc, Vibra-Seal, Dri-Seal lines), and Precote pre-applied adhesives onto threaded fasteners at production scale. KC Jones ships parts dry-to-the-touch with adhesive pre-applied, eliminating wet chemicals on customer assembly lines. This is a deep, multi-decade strategic relationship with significant customer lock-in.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
KC Jones Plating competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Master Finish Company: Michigan-based independent plater offering zinc, electroless nickel, and decorative finishes for automotive and industrial customers. Directly comparable given shared Michigan/automotive concentration and overlapping core plating processes.
- Techmetals: Ohio-based metal finishing company specializing in electroless nickel, hard chrome alternatives, and aerospace plating. Closely comparable to KC Jones' Nickel Boron and aerospace-focused plating offerings and serves many of the same industry specifications.
- Valence Surface Technologies: Aerospace-focused plating, anodizing, and surface treatment provider serving flight-critical components for commercial and defense OEMs. Directly comparable to KC Jones' NADCAP-accredited aerospace plating work and proprietary cadmium-replacement chemistry offerings.
- Arlington Plating Company: Independent metal finishing services provider offering zinc, electroless nickel, tin, copper, and silver plating to industrial, automotive, and fastener customers. Comparable in scale and product mix to KC Jones' automotive and industrial plating programs.
- Pioneer Metal Finishing: Largest independent metal finisher in North America offering zinc, zinc-nickel, electroless nickel, anodizing, and passivation across multiple US facilities serving automotive, aerospace, and industrial OEMs. Closest scale and end-market comparable to KC Jones; both serve Tier-1 automotive and aerospace supply chains with similar process portfolios.
- Anoplate Corporation: Independent metal plating and anodizing company offering electroless nickel, zinc, tin, and silver plating for aerospace, defense, electronics, and industrial OEMs. Directly comparable process portfolio and customer segments, particularly defense and aerospace specifications.
- Hohman Plating & Metal Finishing: Midwest-based independent plating and surface finishing shop offering zinc, electroless nickel, anodizing, and passivation services to automotive, industrial, and aerospace customers. Comparable multi-process job-shop model with similar IATF 16949-driven automotive exposure.
- Kuntz Electroplating: Independent electroplating company serving automotive, heavy equipment, and industrial customers with zinc, zinc-nickel, and corrosion-resistant coatings. Comparable multi-process plater serving similar Tier-1/Tier-2 supplier base.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat7 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
KC Jones Plating social profiles
Digital presenceKC Jones Plating compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
KC Jones Plating financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
KC Jones Plating leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
KC Jones Plating subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
KC Jones Plating funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
KC Jones 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 KC Jones Plating
What does KC Jones Plating do?
KC Jones Plating operates as a multi-facility metal plating and surface finishing service provider, delivering corrosion resistance, wear resistance, and conductivity/thermal management coatings on customer-supplied metal components. Services span zinc, zinc-nickel, zinc-iron, electroless nickel (phosphorus and boron), proprietary Miccrolloy bronze, tin, silver, and sulfamate nickel plating, supported by pre-applied Loctite adhesive application and added services such as vacuum impregnation and salt bath nitrocarburizing for automotive, aerospace, defense, and industrial OEM programs.
Is KC Jones Plating a public or private company?
KC Jones Plating is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was KC Jones Plating founded?
KC Jones Plating was founded in 1955. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is KC Jones Plating based?
KC Jones Plating is headquartered in Warren, United States, in the North America region.
How does KC Jones Plating make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Metal Plating and Surface Finishing Services are the primary driver. The others are adhesive Application Services and added/Supporting Services.
Who are KC Jones Plating's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Master Finish Company, Techmetals, Valence Surface Technologies, Arlington Plating Company, Pioneer Metal Finishing, Anoplate Corporation, Hohman Plating & Metal Finishing and Kuntz Electroplating.
Does KC Jones Plating have an API?
No public API is recorded for KC Jones Plating.
What industry is KC Jones Plating in?
KC Jones Plating's product category is Metal Plating and Surface Finishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAIAKAE, Electroplating & Metal Finishing (Anodizing/Galvanizing/Passivation). Its NAICS code is 332813 and its SIC code is 3470.