In a down economy, at least one company is still investing in its business. Specialty Finishes, a Portland, Oregon-based industrial coatings company, recently was awarded the prestigious QP-3 certification by SSPC, the Society for Protective Coatings.
Specialty Finishes is the only company in Oregon to attain QP-3 status. Only forty-five coatings facilities world-wide have been designated QP-3.
"Having QP-3 certification allows us to pursue additional customers and markets that weren't previously open to us," stated General Manager Dan Molyneux. "We're now part of an elite group of paint companies that have demonstrated their dedication to the highest standards of quality control."
To become QP-3 certified, a company is thoroughly evaluated and audited in several key areas: management procedures, technical capabilities, quality control, and health/safety/environmental compliance. It is an intense process that requires a commitment of time and resources at all levels of the company.
The path to certification was additionally challenging for Specialty Finishes, given the scale at which they operate. The company operates one of the largest coating facilities on the West Coast. They routinely prep and coat large pieces while simultaneously handling large volume production runs. While preparing for the audit, the company performed surface preparation and coated over sixteen million pounds of steel plate and upwards of twenty-three thousand pieces of fabricated steel parts, as well as other miscellaneous structural steel, wood, and plastic pieces.
"Our scope of work and the size of our facility really sets us apart in the coatings world," continued Molyneux. "Many shop coating companies in the region operate on a much smaller scale than we do. Having the QP-3 certification will distinguish us in the industry - not only do we have the facility to do the work, we also have the skill to do it well."
