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Finishing is an essential step in preparing fabricated metal parts and components for assembly and/or sale. The quality of the finish, including the application of protective coatings, will have a monumental impact on the product’s ultimate performance and longevity.

In other words, you need a mass finishing and coating partner you can trust, without fail, every single time.

We are proud to offer key advantages that will not only improve the quality of your products but help you cut costs and streamline your production as well!

1. One-Stop-Shop For Mass Finishing & Mass Coating

Latem Industries offers a full range of mass finishing processes, including parts washing, ultrasonic cleaning, blasting, peening, vibratory finishing, tumbling and sanding. We have close to a dozen vibratory units, multiple barrel tumblers, blasting and peening machines, two drum washers and what is quite possibly the largest commercial ultrasonic cleaning set up in Ontario.

Through our sister company Plastico Industries, we can also offer you numerous mass coating solutions. All our coating processes, including spray nylon and dip nylon coatings, Plastisol coatings, and Polyarmor coatings, are engineered to meet demanding automotive, heavy equipment and military specifications.

2. Smooth Pick Up and Delivery

Our 45,000 sq. ft. mass finishing and coating facility is conveniently located just off Highway 401 in Cambridge, Ontario. You’ve probably spotted our big blue sign on your commute!

Because of this location, we are able to offer shipping at a very competitive rate from the Kitchener area to the Greater Toronto Area.

For help with your trucking needs, call our Logistics Department 519-740-0292 ext. 247.

3. Industry-Leading Staff Expertise

With an ever-changing workload, experienced staff is a must. We invest in our employees through continuous education and training to stay ahead of the curve on all our processes and equipment.

You can count on Latem for a consistent, time-efficient finishing process each and every time.
 

4. Flexibility On Process and Volume

You’ll benefit from our flexibility in both sides of our businesses! Plastico and Latem Industries run two shifts a day, and many of our employees are cross-trained on a vast array of equipment and processes. This flexibility enables us to offer finishing and coating services for small runs, one-offs and prototypes in addition to mass production.

5. High-Quality Assurance

We have achieved recognition as an ISO 9001:2015 certified metal coater and finisher, demonstrating our commitment to the high level of quality and consistency our customers expect. Our most recent ISO audit was conducted in 2019 by The Registrar Company, a trusted certification body accredited by the ANSI-ANQ National Accreditation Board (ANAB).

See the ISO 9001:2015 Certificate of Registration for Plastico Industries and Latem Industries Ltd.

6. Experience and Technical Capability

Latem and Plastico have been in business for a combined 50+ years, polishing our processes and rounding the burrs that have come up along the way. We have plenty of experience putting out every kind of ‘fire’ that can pop up in mass parts manufacturing: sharp edges, rust, oil...the works!

Whether you’re dealing with a common manufacturing flaw or a brand-new product, you can count on us to come up with an ingenious solution.

7. Rapid Processing Time

You’ve got deadlines to meet! Finishing and coating are just two parts of a much bigger picture, and we know you can’t afford any delay.

With our well-trained staff and ample equipment, we’re able to commit to speedy processing times. We’re heavily automotive-based, so we’re well-acquainted with tight turnaround and the need for urgency.

Let our scheduling department impress you with what we can do!

8. Location, Location, Location

Did we mention we’re just minutes off the 401 in Cambridge, Ontario? Latem set up shop here for a reason! Not only are we able to deliver impressive shipping rates throughout the Greater Toronto Area, but we’re located in the heart of Southern Ontario’s manufacturing centre.

Latem Industries is proud to be the premier metal finisher in Southern Ontario.

9. Transparent, Competitive Pricing

To put it simply, we wouldn’t have stayed in business this long if we weren’t competitive! From closely watching efficiencies to improving processes and cycle times, Latem Industries is committed to offering competitive rates that help keep your production costs in check.

10. Environmentally Aware

Did you know our nylon powder coating is derived from Castor bean oils? Our Aquence coating is also environmentally sustainable, containing no heavy metals and very few volatile organic compounds (VOCs.) We also have an extensive wastewater treatment system that’d make a small city jealous!

Plastico and Latem Industries are committed to sustainability and constantly improving our environmental awareness.

At Latem Industries, we can say with confidence that you can count on us for your coating and finishing needs. You don’t have to take it from us - ask any of the hundreds of North American manufacturers who partnered with us over the years!

Call us at 1-888-664-9998 or reach out online to learn more about our mass coating and mass finishing services in Southern Ontario.

As of September 6, 2018, Plastico Industries is officially recognized for conforming with the ISO 9001:2015 standard in our industrial metal coating services.

For Plastico Industries (and our parent company Latem Industries), ISO 9001:2015 certification means:

• Plastico Industries’ top management demonstrates leadership and commitment to upholding a Quality Management System that meets ISO 9001:2015 standards.
• Our Quality Management System comprehensively addresses risks, opportunities, changes and quality objectives.
• We have plans and processes in place to meet our customers’ requirements for our services.
• All our employees have the training and resources they need to support our Quality Management System.
• The roles and responsibilities necessary to uphold this commitment have been assigned, communicated and understood.
• We continuously monitor, measure, analyze, and evaluate our Quality Management System with an aim to improve wherever we can.

We’d like to take a moment to explain what it means to be an ISO 9001:2015 certified industrial metal coater and why it matters to us and our customers.

What ISO 9001:2015 Certification Means

ISO stands for the International Organization for Standardization. It is an independent, international organization that sets quality, safety and efficiency standards for products, services and systems.

Both the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) are membership bodies of the ISO.

The purpose of the ISO’s universal standards is to encourage manufacturers (and other organizations) to consistently meet customer expectations and regulatory requirements, and to enhance customer satisfaction by effectively applying a quality management system.

So, what does it mean to be ISO 9001:2015 certified?

In short, it means the organization has a proven commitment to providing quality and consistency to its customers.

To an industrial metal coater like Plastico, ISO 9001:2015 certification means delivering quality coatings that hit the deadline and meet or surpass our customer’s expectations every time.

To our customers, it demonstrates that our promises are backed up by a universally-recognized quality management process. We put lots of time and effort into ensuring our work meets the ISO standards from beginning to end.

How Plastico Earned ISO 9001:2015 Certification

Although the International Organization for Standardization develops these standards, the task of auditing organizations for compliance falls to independent certification bodies.

Plastico Industries passed an audit by The Registrar Company (TRC). TRC issued Plastico’s Certificate of Registration for ISO 9001:2015 on September 6, 2018. TRC is a trusted certification body accredited by the ANSI-ANQ National Accreditation Board (ANAB) for over twenty years.

ISO 9001:2008 vs. ISO 9001:2015

If you’re already familiar with the previous standards set in 2008, you’ll find few changes in the ISO’s current criteria. What has changed is:

• New structure (expanding from 8 clauses to 10)
• Renewed focus on top-level accountability, involving the highest levels of management in implementing and maintaining ISO standards
• Emphasis on risk management throughout the organization, using the system as a preventative tool that encourages continuous improvements to process
• More flexibility for organizations like Plastico to develop ISO documentation in a format that meets our needs as a industrial metal coater
• Alignment with other key management system standards

Work with a Certified Metal Coater

Plastico Industries is proud to produce results that meet internationally-recognized quality standards. Start working with an ISO 9001:2015 certified industrial metal coater today.

A-coating and E-coating are two industrial metal coating technologies used to apply a rust and corrosion-proof coating to metal parts. Both are dip-coating processes that see wide use in the automotive and heavy machinery industries as a means of coating large components.

Despite these similarities, there are important differences to consider when selecting the correct industrial metal coating process.

What is A-Coating?

A-coating is a colloquial term for coating with Aquence, a Henkel® specialty coating product. Aquence was previously marketed as Autophoretic coating.

Aquence or A-coating is a waterborne poly coating that bonds to iron on contact. When a part made of ferrous material is dipped in a tank of liquid Aquence, the product bonds to the part with a chemical reaction. Next, manufacturers place the part in an oven to cure the coating.

A-coating has gained recognition in the automotive and heavy industrial manufacturing industries as a reliable metal coating technology. It has unlimited throwing power, and excellent corrosion and scratch resistance.

Aquence is also environmentally sustainable, containing no heavy metals and very few volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Any wastewater resulting from the A-coating process can be treated and disposed of in an environmentally-friendly way.

There are two types of Aquence coating available:

Aquence 866 leaves a matte-like finish and cures at low temperature, enabling manufacturers to coat full assemblies without affecting plastic or rubber bushings.
Aquence 930 is an epoxy acrylic coating with a semi-gloss appearance, ideal as Class B finish or primer coat.

Plastico is the only industrial metal coating company in Canada to offer A-coating in both Aquence 866 and Aquence 930 coatings.

What is E-Coating?

E-coating refers to electrophoretic painting or electrocoating, a metal coating technology developed to apply anti-corrosive coating.

The e-coating process involves immersing the part in a series of dip tanks, first to pre-treat and apply zinc phosphate and then to coat, clean, rinse, and condition it. When the part is dipped into the coating materials, the manufacturer activates an electrical current that passes through the tank using the part as an electrode. This electrical activity causes a layer of resin to adhere to the part, coating all surfaces exposed to the substance.

As with A-coating, a part coated with E-coating must be cured after application.

It is possible to control the thickness of the coating by adjusting the electrical current to the tank. A higher voltage will result in a thicker coating.

Differences Between A-Coating and E-Coating

While these metal coating technologies sound similar, the differences between A-coating and E-coating are significant.

A-coating bonds to metal using a chemical reaction, while E-coating bonds through the application of an electrical current.
A-coating equipment requires fewer dip stations and has a much smaller footprint than E-coating equipment. E-coating involves a lengthy pre-treatment process with multiple washing, cleaning, rinsing and conditioning stations.
Since it uses less equipment, the A-coating process consumes significantly less energy than E-coating.

While durable, E-coating is vulnerable to UV rays. A-coating is a durable poly coating that withstands UV.

Aquence®, previously branded as Autophoretic® and known also a-coat, is an environmentally-sustainable dip coating made exclusively for parts made of iron. This thin but highly durable rustproof paint is widely used as an industrial metal coating for automotive parts.

Why use Aquence coating? Whether you call it Aquence, Autophoretic or a-coat, the product offers solutions to many common metal coating concerns, including:

• Coating fully-assembled parts
• Coating parts with a complex shape
• Protecting parts from scratches or corrosion
• Providing a very thin coating (between 0.5 and 1.0mm in thickness)
• Minimizing environmental impact
• Coating iron parts while leaving other metal parts untouched

Able to Coat Fully-Assembled Parts

Aquence has the ability to coat entire parts, inside and out, which is a rare feat for an industrial rustproof paint. The coating uses an organic polymeric emulsion to chemically bond to the surface of iron. This property makes it possible to produce a uniform coating parts that are already partially or fully-assembled.

Superior Throwing/Wetting Power

The consistency and properties of Aquence coating make it ideal for coating iron parts that have an odd or complex shape. Aquence has nearly unlimited throwing or wetting power, providing uniform coverage even in those hard-to-reach areas other coatings leave dry. And since it bonds with a chemical reaction, you can trust Aquence to coat every iron surface it touches.

Durable, Scratch-Proof and Corrosion-Resistant

Aquence uses a chemical reaction to forge a highly durable bond to clean iron surfaces. Though it goes on thin, Aquence rustproof coating is remarkably durable, corrosion-resistant, and scratch-proof. Additionally, Aquence has a Neutral Salt Spray (NSS) rating of 1000 hours. This toughness is part of what makes Aquence an ideal choice for demanding applications like vehicle frames and chassis components.

Thin Coating

For parts that will operate with minimal clearance, Aquence can produce an extremely thin coating of between 0.5 and 1.0mm in thickness. Though it goes on no thicker than paint, Aquence coating still provides iron with reliable protection from scratches, salt, and corrosion.

Environmentally-Sustainable

More and more manufacturers have ecological impact on their radar, fuelling an increasing demand for industrial metal coatings that are safe and environmentally sustainable. Aquence 866 is a water-based coating that is free from heavy metals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs); Aquence 930, an epoxy-acrylic urethane coating, contains no heavy metals and a low level of VOCs. Both coatings provide a durable, rustproof surface with minimal impact on the environment.

Bonds Only to Iron

Need to coat an iron part while leaving the rest of the workpiece dry? Aquence 866 is formulated only to bond to iron. The low curing temperature of 220-240° means you can coat iron parts in assemblies that also contain rubber, plastic or Teflon pieces without causing any damage or movement restrictions.

Aquence Coating in Ontario

Plastico remains one of few Aquence coating suppliers in Ontario, and the only Canadian commercial coater to offer metal coating services using both Aquence 866 and Aquence 930. Contact us for inquiries about metal coating services in Ontario.