Coating suppliers stay agile as material mix complexity increases

When UK-based Surface Technology entered the automotive industry in the mid-1940s, its work largely consisted of chrome-plating grilles, door handles and, in the words of Group Operations Director Andrew Courtney, just about every other exterior and interior feature one can think of.

Tastes have since changed, and the company has grown, now serving a number of OEMs including Jaguar Land Rover, BMW and Volkswagen. Today, says Courtney, component coating and plating is big business for OEMs whose customers want the personal touch. “Manufacturers have broadened their