Metal Coating, Engraving & Heat Treating
Industry Profile Report
Dive Deep into the industry with a 25+ page industry report (pdf format) including the following chapters
Industry Overview Current Conditions, Industry Structure, How Firms Operate, Industry Trends, Credit Underwriting & Risks, and Industry Forecast.
Call Preparation Call Prep Questions, Industry Terms, and Weblinks.
Financial Insights Working Capital, Capital Financing, Business Valuation, and Financial Benchmarks.
Industry Profile Excerpts
Industry Overview
The 4,830 metal finishing companies in the US provide finishing services for manufacturing and construction customers. Major revenue categories include metal coating and engraving; electroplating, plating, polishing, anodizing, and coloring; and metal heat treating. Companies provide finishing services for customer-supplied metal goods and may sell finished metal goods. Some companies offer finishing services for alternative materials, such as plastics and composites.
Waste and Regulation
The metal finishing industry is highly regulated because processes often involve dangerous chemicals and the generation of hazardous waste.
Captive Finishing
Companies may compete with manufacturers that opt for in-house metal finishing activities instead of outsourcing to a third party (“captive finishing”).
Industry size & Structure
The average metal coating, engraving, and heat treating service provider works out of a single location, employs about 26-27 workers, and generates $6-7 million annually.
- The metal coating, engraving, and heat treating services industry comprises about 4,830 firms that employ about 130,000 workers and generate about $29.5 billion annually.
- Most industry categories are concentrated, with the top 50 companies accounting for about 59-66% of industry revenue. The electroplating, plating, polishing, anodizing, and coloring sector is less concentrated, with the top 50 companies accounting for 34% of sector revenue.
- Companies specializing in metal coating and engraving account for about 47% of firms and 54% of industry revenue. Companies specializing in electroplating, plating, polishing, anodizing, and coloring account for about 41% of firms and 27% of industry revenue. Companies specializing in metal heat treating account for 12% of firms and 19% of industry revenue.
- Large companies include Material Sciences Corporation, Metal Improvement Company (Curtiss-Wright Surface Technologies), and Bodycote. Some large companies are owned by foreign companies or have international operations.
Industry Forecast
Metal Coating, Engraving & Heat Treating Industry Growth
Recent Developments
Jun 21, 2024 - Producer Prices Reach New High
- Producer prices for metal coating, engraving, and heat treating firms rose 6.8% in April compared to a year ago to reach a new record high, according to the latest US Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Employment by the industry dipped 1.1% in April year over year, while average industry wages rose 5.3% over the same period to $22.92 per hour, down $0.26 from their peak in March, BLS data show. New orders for fabricated metal products – an indicator of future demand for metal coating, engraving, and heat treating services – dipped 0.9% in March compared to a year ago but were up 7.2% versus February, according to the Census Bureau.
- The global metal coatings market was valued at about $16.3 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $27.6 billion in 2032, a CAGR of 6.1% over the forecast period, according to a new Global Market Insights (GMI) report. In 2023, the North American metal coatings market was valued at $5.3 billion. Market growth drivers include increasing demand from the automotive and construction industries, infrastructure development, and an increased focus on durability and aesthetics, according to the GMI report. Growing pressure on the coatings industry for more eco-friendly and sustainable products has led to increased adoption of water-based and powder coatings. The industry also sees increased demand for coatings that provide superior corrosion resistance, durability, and aesthetic appeal as customers look to extend the life of metal components and structures, per the report.
- According to newly released Census Bureau figures, US capital expenditures for robotic equipment totaled $12,960 million (not statistically different than 2021) and accounted for 1.1% of total equipment expenditures in 2022. The manufacturing sector was the largest investor, accounting for more than half (56.2%) of all robotic equipment expenditures – nearly $7.3 billion that year. Amid a stubborn labor shortage, manufacturers rely increasingly on automation, including robots, for some tasks to achieve greater productivity. Metal finishing firms use robots for various applications, including robotic buffing, deburring, grinding, and polishing.
- White is losing ground to black as the most popular color for light passenger cars, Products Finishing (PF) reports. Trend data from the 2023 BASF Color Report for Automotive OEM Coatings shows black surging in popularity at the expense of white’s market share. On a regional basis, North America shows a growing preference for lighter shades of silver over darker grays, while in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, the trend leans toward darker shades, according to the BASF Color Report. Meanwhile, chromatic colors (including blue, red, brown, and beige) have remained stable, with no significant changes in their market share (19%). In 2023, North America had the highest share of red cars compared to other regions. However, blue held first place as the most popular chromatic color in North America.
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