Surface Technology and SIFCO ASC create dynamic force in coatings technology
Norman Hay plc has created a new specialist Coatings Group incorporating SIFCO Applied Surface Concepts (ASC) and Surface Technology providing a single global access point in surface coating technology.
Lee Shelton, Group Managing Director, Surface Coatings Group
SIFCO ASC, which was acquired by Norman Hay in 2012, is the world leading supplier of selective plating services, chemical solutions and equipment as well as creator of the renowned SIFCO Process®. Sister company, Surface Technology offers an extensive range of specialist surface treatments for industrial applications and by combining their technical expertise and market knowledge the group creates a new dynamic force in the coating and surface finishing industry. The new Coatings Group will be headed by Group Managing Director Lee Shelton, who joined Norman Hay in 2000. Lee, a fluent Japanese speaker, started working for Norman Hay in its impregnation business, Ultraseal International, as Director of International Business, based in Japan. Following several years in key business development and leadership roles for Norman Hay in the Asia Pacific region, Lee relocated to the US in December 2012 as MD of SIFCO ASC. Lee explained: “Since acquiring the SIFCO ASC business in 2012 and bringing the business into the Norman Hay Group, a number of synergies have emerged. The leadership team at Norman Hay feel that now is the right time to formalise this collaboration by bringing some of the best talent in the industry together under one umbrella. In doing so, we will identify new applications and ways of working which will ultimately benefit our customers’ processes.” Based in Cleveland, Ohio, SIFCO ASC has operations in three further US states, the UK, Sweden and France as well as partners in Europe, South America, Canada and Asia. Surface Technology, headquartered in Coventry, covers the whole of the UK through seven sites and has plants in Australia and China. In addition to helping the two businesses expand into new locations, the creation of the Coatings Group will also ensure the company maximises its reach in existing markets such as oil & gas, automotive, aerospace and power generation. Well proven for enhancing, repairing or refurbishing critical components, the SIFCO Process® can now be easily adopted into manufacturing production lines thanks to the company’s recent investment in developing workstations to automate the SIFCO Process®. Lee believes that with the support of Surface Technology, a wider scope of opportunities can be established, providing manufacturers across many industries the opportunity to meet their goals of both increasing quality and productivity and consolidating their supplier base. When asked what differentiates Norman Hay’s Coatings Group from competitors, Lee said: “Our knowledge and expertise are unrivalled. The industries in which we are most prominent are heavily regulated, such as aerospace, automotive and also oil & gas. Customers in these sectors need reassurance that they are dealing with suppliers who are technical experts driven by the most robust standards and processes to meet highly demanding specifications. We now have more engineers and Quality Managers in our group than ever, with a combined service of 243 years.” Significant investments are being made into recruitment, such as the recent appointment of a new European Sales Manager and a Design Engineer on the robotics side, along with refurbishment of existing facilities and new equipment. Vic Bellanti, Chief Executive of Norman Hay, concluded: “We already receive requests from customers to offer a wider range of services in order to keep their supplier base to a minimum and now, through our Coatings Group, we offer an enhanced one-stop, multi-coat, capability. The team will now be selling the combined capability of the Group rather than one individual company.”