TWB Finishing

What TWB Finishing does

TWB Finishing is a UK-based metal finishing and electroplating service provider operating from a 32,000 sq ft factory in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Founded in 1945 as T W Bayston Ltd by Tom Bayston, the company remains family-owned under Managing Director John Bayston. The business specialises in corrosion-resistant surface treatments for industrial customers, with zinc-nickel plating representing the flagship capability driven largely by automotive industry demand.

The core service portfolio comprises six surface finishing treatments — Zinc Nickel Plating, Zinc Cobalt, Zinc Plating, Anodising, Electrophoretic Painting (E-Coat), and Iridite Aluminium Conversion Coating — complemented by four additional services (de-embrittlement, shot-blasting, masking, packaging). Notable technical capabilities include Acid Zinc Nickel plating (one of the few UK suppliers offering it) and an Iridite NCP chrome-free conversion coating compliant with ELV, RoHS, and WEE directives. TWB holds UKAS ISO 9001 certification (valid through January 2027) and was the first finishing company in Europe to achieve QS 9000 in 1997.

Revenue is generated through project-based job-work services priced per customer specification, with no public pricing, recurring contracts, or named customer logos disclosed. Sales are conducted directly via phone, email, and contact forms to industrial buyers across automotive (primary), aerospace and defence, EV, marine, electrical transmission, engineering, and general industrial manufacturing segments. The company operates exclusively from a single UK facility serving the South West and Midlands, with no external investors, no subsidiaries, and no disclosed revenue or headcount growth data.

Name

TWB Finishing

Legal name

TWB Finishing Ltd

Website

https://twbfinishing.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1945

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

TWB Finishing is a family-owned UK metal finishing and electroplating company based in Cheltenham, offering zinc-nickel plating, anodising, e-coating, and Iridite treatments to industrial customers in automotive, aerospace, defence, EV, marine, and engineering sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Metal Finishing Services

NAICS

Metal Coating, Engraving (except Jewelry and Silverware), and Allied Services to Manufacturers (332812), Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities (33281)

SIC

Coating, Engraving & Allied Services (3470)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYIMAIAKAE

Electroplating & Metal Finishing (Anodizing/Galvanizing/Passivation)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Industrial Services & Facility Operations/Industrial & Commercial Painting, Coating & Surface Treatment

SECONDARYIMAKACAI

Aluminum Fabrication & Finishing (Machining, Anodizing, Coating)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Metals & Mining/Aluminum (Bauxite, Alumina & Primary/Secondary Smelting)

Keywords

• Metal finishing services
• Electroplating services
• Surface treatment coatings
• Zinc nickel plating
• Industrial metal plating

Headquarters

HQ city

Cheltenham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Metal Finishing Services: Job-work based metal finishing and electroplating services including zinc nickel plating, zinc cobalt, zinc plating, anodising, electrophoretic painting, and Iridite treatments. Revenue is generated through custom job work charged per project/service.
2. Additional Processing Services: Supplementary services including de-embrittlement, shot-blasting, masking, and packaging offered alongside core plating services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

TWB Finishing is a metal finishing and electroplating service provider operating from a 32,000 sq ft factory in Cheltenham, UK. The company offers six core surface treatments — zinc nickel plating, zinc cobalt, zinc plating, anodising, electrophoretic painting, and Iridite aluminium conversion coating — along with supplementary services including de-embrittlement, shot-blasting, masking, and packaging, all delivered as job-work services to industrial customers.

Product overview

TWB Finishing is a metal finishing and electroplating company offering surface treatment services from their 32,000 sq foot factory in Cheltenham. Their core service portfolio comprises six main surface finishing treatments: Zinc Nickel Plating, Zinc Cobalt, Zinc Plating (rack and barrel), Anodising, Electrophoretic Painting (E-Coat), and Iridite Aluminium Conversion Coating. These primary services are complemented by four additional services including De-embrittlement, Shot-blasting, Masking, and Packaging. The company specializes primarily in serving the automotive industry while also serving defence, oil & gas, marine, aerospace, and general engineering sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Zinc Nickel Plating Barrel plating service providing high anti-corrosion performance with low deposit thickness and a superior bright finish, offered through acid or alkaline plating solutions for industrial components.
• Zinc Cobalt Electroplating service combining zinc and cobalt to produce a tough, durable finish with excellent lubricity and up to six times the corrosion resistance of conventional zinc plating alone.
• Zinc Plating Rack or barrel zinc plating service providing a high quality, durable finish to steel parts to protect against wear, tear, and corrosion, with optional electropainted topcoat for enhanced corrosion resistance.
• Anodising Electrochemical process converting the surface of aluminium parts into a durable anodic oxide finish that enhances wear resistance, hardness, and corrosion resistance.
• Electrophoretic Painting (E-Coat) Electrocoat painting process delivering uniform coating thickness across all areas, including sharp corners, recesses, and cavities, with excellent corrosion resistance and full ELV compliance.
• Iridite Aluminium Conversion Coating Chrome-free chemical process producing a protective conversion film on aluminium and alloys, providing high corrosion resistance and electrical functionality while complying with ELV, RoHS, and WEE directives.
• De-embrittlement (Hardening) Heat treatment service administered after electroplating to relieve hydrogen embrittlement in plated parts, typically performed at 220-240 degrees centigrade over 3-4 hours.
• Shot-blasting Resurfacing process that removes debris, contaminants, and surface irregularities from metal parts, and can also strengthen parts via strain hardening.
• Masking Selective plating service in which masking is applied to specific areas of parts to prevent excess plating build-up on fine machine threads during processing.
• Packaging Professional packing service ensuring finished parts are safely prepared for transit in line with customer requirements.

Quantifiable outcome

• Zinc cobalt provides up to six times the corrosion resistance of conventional zinc plating alone
• +2 more outcomes

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Surface Engineering Association (SEA)minorOthersTWB Finishing is a member of the Surface Engineering Association, the trade association for the surface engineering industry. Membership indicates adherence to industry standards and professional practices.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• HEF Group: France-headquartered surface treatment specialist offering plating, coatings, and tribological finishes for automotive, aerospace, and industrial customers. Comparable to TWB Finishing in service breadth, customer verticals, and regulatory-driven technology positioning.
• Atotech (MKS Instruments): Global leader in surface finishing chemistry, now part of MKS Instruments, serving automotive, electronics and industrial finishing. Comparable to TWB Finishing through overlap in zinc-nickel plating technology and shared automotive customer base.
• MacDermid Enthone Electronics Solutions: Global supplier of metal finishing chemistry and engineered coatings serving automotive, electronics, and industrial customers. Comparable to TWB Finishing as a competitor / technology supplier in the broader zinc and zinc-nickel finishing value chain.

Regional players

• Valence Surface Technologies: US-based aerospace-focused surface treatment and finishing specialist with multiple facilities. Comparable to TWB Finishing through shared focus on aerospace/defense plating specifications (including zinc-nickel as a cadmium replacement) and regulatory-driven finishing.

Direct peers

• Poeton Industries: UK-based metal finishing and surface treatment company offering a broad portfolio of plating and coating services to automotive, aerospace, defense and industrial customers. Closely comparable to TWB Finishing in service mix, customer verticals, and job-shop commercial model.
• Bri-Metal Industries: UK job-shop metal finisher offering zinc and zinc-nickel plating, anodising and powder coating from a UK facility. Directly comparable to TWB Finishing on service portfolio, geography, and B2B job-work commercial model.

Emerging players

• Keronite International: UK-based specialist in plasma electrolytic oxidation and advanced surface treatments for lightweight alloys. Comparable to TWB Finishing through shared focus on UK-based advanced metal finishing serving aerospace, automotive, and EV lightweighting applications.
• Uyemura International: Specialty plating chemistry and finishing services provider focused on zinc-nickel, electroless nickel, and other functional coatings. Comparable to TWB Finishing through overlap in zinc-nickel chemistry and automotive-grade corrosion protection specifications.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/twb-finishing-limited

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 TWB Finishing