SIC 3479 Coating, Engraving, and Allied Services, Not Elsewhere Classified

Contenidos

• NAICS CODE(S).
• INDUSTRY SNAPSHOT.
• ORGANIZATION AND STRUCTURE.
• BACKGROUND AND DEVELOPMENT.
• CURRENT CONDITIONS.
• INDUSTRY LEADERS.
• RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY.
• FURTHER READING.

SIC 3479

This industry includes establishments primarily engaged in performing the following types of services on metals, for the trade: (1) enameling, lacquering, and varnishing metal products; (2) hot dip galvanizing of mill sheets, plates and bars, castings, and formed products fabricated of iron and steel; hot dip coating such items with aluminum, lead, or zinc; retinning cans and utensils; (3) engraving, chasing, and etching jewelry, silverware, notarial, and other seals, and other metal products for purposes other than printing; and (4) other metal services, not elsewhere classified. Also included in this industry are establishments that perform these types of activities on their own account on purchased metals or formed products. Establishments that both manufacture and finish products were classified according to the products.

NAICS CODE(S)

339914

Costume Jewelry and Novelty Manufacturing

339911

Jewelry (including Precious Metal) Manufacturing

339912

Silverware and Plated Ware Manufacturing

332812

Metal Coating, Engraving, and Allied Services (except Jewelry and Silverware) to Manufacturing

INDUSTRY SNAPSHOT

The larger firms that participated in this industry were often more diversified in their finishing activities, while independents tended to specialize in one or two types of finishing. During the 1950s and 1960s, there was a tendency for manufacturing firms to set up their own finishing operations. With the increased environmental regulation of the industry beginning in the 1970s, many manufacturing firms opted to subcontract for finishing services, thus getting around the added costs of waste treatment. Parts to be finished were typically shipped to finishing firms by their customers, after which they were shipped back. Since the mid-1970s, about three-fourths of a finishing firm's business came from within a 50-75 mile radius of the firm. Since finishers needed to be near their customers, their operations were located in the same areas as producers of durable goods.

ORGANIZATION AND STRUCTURE

Just over half of the output of this industry consisted of the application of organic coatings such as paints, varnishes, and lacquers. Next to the application of organic coatings, galvanizing was the largest activity in the industry, making up 22 percent of output. Metal coating and allied services, not specified by kind, made up 21 percent of output. The remaining 6 percent consisted of engraved and etched products.

The industry was served by the National Association of Metal Finishers (NAMF), located in Chicago and founded in 1955. The American Galvanizers Association (AGA), founded in 1935, also served the industry. In 2004, the NAMF, the American Electroplaters and Surface Finishers Society (AESF), and the Metal Finishing Suppliers Association (MFSA) planned to consolidate at the start of 2005.

BACKGROUND AND DEVELOPMENT

The industry's primary focus is the application of coatings including paint, lacquer, and varnish. Although metals had been coated by like means since ancient times, their modern application was dependent on the development of phosphating as a surface preparation. Phosphating involved treating a metal, usually steel, with phosphoric acid. This greatly improved the adhesion and durability of coatings. Phosphating alone was also used as an anti-corrosive coating on steel in conditions where the potential...