Home / Chemical Solutions / Case Studies / Success Begins With Pretreatment

Success Begins With Pretreatment

Indianapolis’ Fastest Shop, Arrow Powder Coating, Racing Toward Growth

PretreatmentWhen someone comes to Arrow Powder Coating with a piece of raw metal, what that person wants — and what they receive — is a durable, vivid finished product. They aren’t so concerned about the process it took to get it that way, but Troy Simmerman is. He is Quality Manager at the powder coating shop that boasts a four-day turnaround time, the fastest in Indianapolis.

“Pretreatment is the cornerstone to our business. There are no shortcuts in this step of the process. The metal substrate is either clean or it isn’t,” he says. For several years, Accessa Chemical Solutions has provided Arrow with pretreatment options and new products as they come to market. Innovating their system and process has earned Arrow the respect of contractors and customers around Central Indiana.

Contractors’ metal jobs that have gone through the line at Arrow are now installed in various ways at the Indianapolis Convention Center, Lucas Oil Stadium, The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis International Airport, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Carmel Performing Arts Center and many more notable venues.

Making Way for Growth

Arrow Powder Coating Owner Brian Staggs.
Arrow Powder Coating Owner Brian Staggs.

When Arrow’s owner, Brian Staggs, and his team decided the time was right in 2016 to expand their services and market segments by doubling the size of their washer, they turned to Accessa Chemical Solutions to help guide them.

“This will allow us to take one stage of mixed purpose and split it into two stages, thereby making the chemicals more efficient. The first step in the upgrade is to automate our current setup, which is already underway. Later we will add additional stages and more automation,” Simmerman says.

By automating the operation, Arrow will be able to reduce the amount of human interaction with chemicals kept onsite, but making such changes doesn’t come easy. Existing permits must be followed, so any changes in the process have to fall within strict specifications.

To help Arrow tackle the challenges, Accessa President Joe Todd led an Accessa team that included Accessa Coatings Consultant Ryan Morton and others to conduct a line survey of Arrow’s system. They measured current washer dimensions, tank dimensions, line speed, liquid carryover, chemical usage, water usage and other aspects before recommending the appropriate solutions. The audit involved on-site visits and conference calls to make sure all the bases were covered.

“Accessa made recommendations for chemical upgrades and hardware including electronic controllers, pumps and sensors. There is room for expansion, so when our chemical upgrade takes place, it’s an easy transition,” Simmerman says.

Earning Repeat Business

Screen Shot 2016-03-21 at 4.12.29 PMWhile steel and aluminum are the most common substrates that come through Arrow’s door, the team also coats stainless steel, galvanized steel, cast iron and other non-ferrous metals. Products vary, from decorative railing and sculptures to car frames, brackets, boxes and screws.

“We get very little — if any — notice that parts are coming to us. Since we have the quickest turn time in the state and limited storage space, we don’t fully know what our chemical demands are even weeks in the future,” Simmerman says. “It’s important to have a supplier that can stock and provide product quickly if needed. Accessa has always met that need.”

Morton is the person at Accessa charged with making sure Arrow stays on top. By regularly visiting the facility to check inventory, being responsive and available, and testing to make sure chemicals are meeting expectations, he strives to match Arrow’s rapid turn time and exemplary customer service.

“Any salesman or vendor can provide a product to make a sale. To earn repeat business and establish a relationship, a vendor must sell the correct product and provide technical knowledge and service behind it. The only way to do that is to know our business and what our customers expect,” Simmerman says. “When something unexpected pops up, Accessa can respond fast while keeping our business in mind.”

How Arrow Powder Coating Stays Ahead

The ways in which Accessa Chemical Solutions provides value to Arrow Powder Coating are plentiful.

PRETREATMENT EXPERTISE. With experience across multiple industries that require pretreatment systems and through relationships with a variety of chemical manufacturers, Accessa is equipped to research related challenges and find solutions to keep Arrow performing at their high standards.

ACCOUNTABILITY. Accessa is committed to Arrow, as it is to each of our customers. Keeping lines of communication open, being responsive and asking questions help us stay accountable to the Arrow team and their needs.

IMPROVED SYSTEM. Accessa led the line survey and provided recommendations that will make it possible for Arrow to grow its bottom line in 2016 and beyond.

INVENTORY AND SPEED. So that Arrow can perform any unexpected job, coating a range of substrate types, Accessa responds quickly to inventory needs and keeps pretreatment chemicals on hand so that they can be delivered to Arrow when they’re needed.

PRODUCTS THAT PERFORM. It’s simple: If a metal isn’t clean before it’s finished, the coating will not look or perform the way it should. Accessa makes sure customers such as Arrow have the right chemicals and tools for the job.

Is this the kind of value you would like to bring to your business? If so, contact vtoddjr@accessa.com to start a conversation about how Accessa can be a partner for you.

Top