What Empire Coating does

Empire Coating Inc. is a privately held industrial coating applicator founded in 1989 and headquartered in Albion, New York, with a secondary operational location in Binghamton, NY. The firm provides metal coating and custom coating application services to aerospace, automotive, electronics, medical, and military customers, positioning itself as Western New York's leading coating applicator. Named customers include L3Harris Technologies, BAE Systems, and Lockheed Martin, indicating participation in the defense subcontractor supply chain.

The company's core service portfolio comprises seven integrated capabilities: Chem Film (chromate conversion coating for corrosion inhibition and paint adhesion), Powdercoat (electrostatic coating up to 6-foot lengths), Paint (including Military Specification Chemical Agent Resistant Coatings / CARC), Industrial Printing (screen and pad printing for component marking), Masking (with dedicated departments for powder and paint operations), Solid Film Lube (MoS2-based per AS5272E), and Blasting (aluminum oxide, glass bead, plastic bead, dry ice). The technical differentiator is compliance with an extensive library of MIL specifications (MIL-DTL-5541F, MIL-STD-130N, multiple MIL-PRF and MIL-DTL paint specs, and Lockheed Martin's proprietary spec 79P0200105000), which functions as a barrier to entry for non-certified competitors.

Empire Coating operates a quote-based, project-driven revenue model with one-time fees per project determined by part complexity, materials, and processing requirements. Go-to-market is sales-led via direct customer contact (email [email protected] and phone) with pick-up and delivery logistics. The firm extends its effective service catalog through affiliate relationships with Triple Cities Metal Finishing (which provides AS9100D and NADCAP processing) and C.H. Thompson Finishing, both based in Binghamton. As a 1-10 employee micro-enterprise, Empire Coating functions as a sub-tier supplier to primes rather than a scaled platform business.

Name

Empire Coating

Legal name

Empire Coating Inc.

Website

https://empirecoating.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Empire Coating Inc. is a privately held Western New York industrial coating applicator serving aerospace, defense, automotive, electronics, and medical customers with MIL-spec chem film, powder coat, CARC paint, masking, solid film lube, blasting, and industrial printing services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Coating Services

NAICS

Metal Coating, Engraving (except Jewelry and Silverware), and Allied Services to Manufacturers (332812), Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities (3328), Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities (33281)

SIC

Coating, Engraving & Allied Services (3470)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Protective Coatings (Steel/Concrete/Equipment) (IMAIAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Powder Coating Services (IMAIAKAD), Application Equipment & Coating Services (Contract Coating, Surface Prep) (IMAEAGAL), Specialty & Functional Coatings (Anti-microbial/Anti-slip/Insulating) (IMAIAKAM), Industrial Protective Coatings (IMAEAHAB)

Keywords

• Industrial coating services
• Metal finishing services
• Powder coating applications
• Military specification coatings
• Surface preparation blasting

Headquarters

HQ city

Albion

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Industrial Coating Services: Project-based coating services for industrial customers. Services include chem film, powder coat, wet paint, industrial printing, masking, solid film lube, and blasting. Revenue generated through one-time project fees based on part complexity, material, and processing requirements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Empire Coating is an industrial coating applicator providing seven integrated metal finishing services: Chem Film (chromate conversion coating), Powdercoat (electrostatic coating), Paint (CARC and wet paint), Industrial Printing (screen and pad printing), Masking (precision masking), Solid Film Lube (MoS2 lubrication), and Blasting (surface pretreatment). The company applies these coatings to customer parts at its Albion, NY facility, serving aerospace, defense, automotive, electronics, medical, and military customers.

Product overview

Empire Coating is a cost-effective, high-quality metal finishing service provider established in 1989, offering surface coating and pretreatment services for aerospace, automotive, electronics, medical, and military industries. The company provides a coordinated portfolio of seven core services: Chem Film (chromate conversion coating), Powdercoat (electrostatic coating), Paint (CARC and wet paint application), Industrial Printing (screen and pad printing), Masking (specialized masking for critical areas), Solid Film Lube (lubricant coatings), and Blasting (surface preparation). These services are designed to work together as an integrated finishing system, with capabilities for surface pretreatment (blasting, chem film), coating application (powdercoat, paint), specialized finishing (masking, solid film lube), and identification marking (industrial printing).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Chem Film Chemical conversion coating used as corrosion inhibitor and to improve adhesion of paint finishes. Available in Clear, Gold, and EU Compliant Tri-Chromate (RoHS compliant, hexavalent-free) options. Conforms to MIL-DTL-5541F and MIL-STD-171F. For aerospace, defense, automotive, electronics, medical, and military customers.
• Powdercoat Electrostatic powder coating applied and oven cured to form a permanent protective coating. Applied in a wide variety of colors and textures for interior and exterior applications on parts up to 6-foot lengths. Conforms to Lockheed Martin Corporation specification 79P0200105000. For aerospace, defense, automotive, electronics, medical, and military customers.
• Paint Military Specification Chemical Agent Resistant Coatings (CARC) and quality application of enamel, lacquer, waterborne, vinyl, epoxy, and polyurethane on a wide variety of substrates. Conforms to multiple MIL-DTL, MIL-PRF, TT-E, TT-P, MIL-STD, and MIL-T specifications. For aerospace, defense, automotive, electronics, medical, and military customers.
• Industrial Printing Screen printing (silk screening/serigraphy) and pad printing (Tampo printing) services to apply graphics such as company logos, product identifiers, and labels. In-house film positive and screen production. Conforms to MIL-STD-130N for military identification markings. For aerospace, defense, electronics, medical, and military customers.
• Masking Separate dedicated masking departments for powder and paint operations using custom die cuts and engineered 3-dimensional masks to mask dimensionally critical areas such as electrical contact points and tight tolerance holes. For aerospace, defense, automotive, electronics, medical, and military customers.
• Solid Film Lube Solid film lubricants conforming to AS5272E Type I, II and III (formerly MIL-L-46010). Reduces friction and wear, provides corrosion protection. Uses molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) applied by spraying and curing. High temperature resistant and lead-free options available. For aerospace, defense, automotive, and military customers.
• Blasting Surface finish pretreatment using Aluminum Oxide, Glass Bead, Plastic Bead, and Dry Ice Blasting. Cleans and prepares parts for paint or powder coat by removing contamination, paint, corrosion, and surface imperfections to promote adhesion. Capacity to blast parts up to 3ft in length. For aerospace, defense, automotive, electronics, medical, and military customers.

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Triple Cities Metal Finishing (TCMF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated metal finishing company located in Binghamton, NY. Empire Coating works with TCMF for services not currently offered, including AS9100D and NADCAP processing capabilities.
• C. H. Thompson FinishingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated metal finishing company in Binghamton, NY. Empire Coating leverages this partnership for expanded service offerings beyond their core coating capabilities.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Curtiss-Wright Corporation: Curtiss-Wright is a diversified defense/aerospace industrial manufacturer that includes surface treatment capabilities within its broader portfolio. Not a dedicated coater, but competes for coating-adjacent work at primes overlapping with Empire's customer base.
• SIFCO Industries: SIFCO operates industrial metal finishing and surface treatment services for aerospace and defense OEMs globally. It is a broader incumbent offering overlapping capability (selective plating, surface treatments) but as part of a wider portfolio of engineered products.
• Precision Castparts Corp (surface treatment division): Precision Castparts (Berkshire Hathaway) operates in-house aerospace surface treatment and finishing as part of its vertically integrated component manufacturing empire. Represents the in-house captive alternative to which primes may shift work.
• Triumph Group (surface treatment operations): Triumph Group operates aerospace component manufacturing with internal finishing/coating operations. Represents another broad incumbent with overlapping capabilities and access to the same defense primes as Empire Coating.

Direct peers

• Anoplate Corporation: Anoplate is a contract metal finisher specializing in anodizing, plating, chem film, and painting with aerospace/defense focus, including MIL-SPEC work. Closely comparable specialty/regional coater competing for similar prime contracts.
• Valence Surface Technologies: Valence is a U.S. aerospace-focused surface treatment and coatings specialist with multiple sites and NADCAP accreditation, serving many of the same primes (Boeing, Lockheed, etc.) as Empire. It is the most directly comparable scaled aerospace coatings peer.
• Pioneer Metal Finishing: Pioneer is one of the largest independent contract metal finishers in North America, offering powder coating, wet paint, chem film, and specialty coatings across aerospace, defense, automotive, and medical — directly overlapping Empire's service portfolio at significantly larger scale.
• Engineered Coatings Inc. Engineered Coatings is a powder coating and industrial finishing service provider serving aerospace, defense, and commercial customers. Comparable as a regional industrial coatings applicator with similar MIL-SPEC orientation.
• St Louis Metallizing Company: St. Louis Metallizing provides thermal spray, plasma, and various industrial coatings with MIL-SPEC and aerospace capability. Comparable as a specialty industrial coatings applicator competing in similar defense sub-tier programs.

Emerging players

• MAGNAPlate Corporation: MAGNAPlate specializes in engineered/specialty functional coatings (anti-corrosion, anti-friction, release) for industrial and aerospace customers. Comparable as a specialty coating technology peer, though at smaller scale than major metal finishers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/empire-coating-inc

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 Empire Coating