When we first shared “Rebuilding After the Flames” earlier this year, the story centered on the aftermath—the smoke, the shock, and the immediate scramble after a catastrophic fire inside a plating facility.
Today, that story has evolved. What was once about loss is now about purpose—and progress. Ronatec C2C and Elite Metal Finishing have turned recovery into momentum, transforming a disaster site into a model for rebuilding smarter, safer, and stronger.
Read Part I: Rebuilding After the Flames: Navigating Fire Remediation in a Plating Shop
From Assessment to Action
Elite Metal Finishing suffered a catastrophic fire in July 2025.In the months following the fire, Ronatec’s engineering and technical teams collaborated closely with Elite to swiftly transition from assessment to action.
Elite’s immediate stabilization moves:
- Kept operations alive without power. Our IT vendor relocated the server to his office; computers and printers were distributed to managers’ homes so teams could work remotely.
- Protected customer commitments. We contracted with other finishers to process orders and negotiated a temporary arrangement for one of our platers to run critical parts at another facility to meet customer requirements.
- Took care of our people. With Insperity (our PEO), we met individually with employees to explain temporary layoffs and assist with unemployment filing.
- Brought in insurance advocacy. We retained Gary Baca, President of Counter Point Public Adjusting, to represent Elite in insurance negotiations.
- Restarted partial operations in weeks. The paint/powder department was back online within three weeks, allowing three paint and five masking team members to resume work.
- Kept logistics moving. Management personally handled pickups and deliveries to maintain service continuity.
- Solved for critical equipment access. With no internet to run software for our laser machine, we moved the equipment to a customer’s facility and restored operation there.
- Mobilized the rebuild trades. In parallel with hiring Ronatec to design, build, and install new plating lines and equipment, we engaged contractors for flooring, carpentry, painting, roofing, sprinkler systems, and electrical work.
- Demolished the affected area to create a clean rebuild zone.
- Set clear timelines and completion goals with subcontractors.
- Maintained transparent customer communication on reopening progress.
- Coordinated major trades for roof, concrete, electrical, sprinklers, flooring, carpentry, and paint.
- Restarted the paint facility to enable partial operations.
- Prepped infrastructure to new POC standards for a clean, code-forward installation.
- Issued POs for support equipment while sequencing orders against lead times to minimize downtime.
Engineering Blueprint for the Rebuild
Jim WetheraldRonatec delivered a comprehensive engineering package that became the backbone of reconstruction, including:
- Complete tank fabrication drawings.
- Point-of-Connection (POC) diagrams for electrical, plumbing, ventilation, and auxiliary systems.
- Containment and ventilation schematics.
- Support equipment layouts and interconnection plans.
Ronatec also conducted a detailed field assessment to verify all necessary upgrades to meet current code, ensuring the new facility would exceed safety and operational standards.
“Our goal from day one was to help Elite not just get back on its feet, but to come back better than ever,” says James Wetherald, President of Ronatec C2C. “A rebuild like this demands precision engineering and a partner who understands the process down to the smallest fitting and vent connection.”
Building the Foundation—Literally
Plans alone don’t rebuild a shop—steel, plastic, and expertise do.
At Ronatec’s Lake Elsinore fabrication facility, tank production for Elite’s new lines is well underway. Each tank has been re-engineered with modern safety and ergonomic considerations, including enhanced secondary containment, efficient exhaust routing, and improved chemical-handling layouts.
“Every tank we fabricate is designed with long-term reliability and operator safety in mind,” says Wetherald. “It’s not just a rebuild—it’s a modernization effort that raises the bar for the entire industry.”
Elite’s Determined Path Forward
Dan RoseWhile Ronatec drove engineering and fabrication, Elite worked tirelessly to prepare the site for full-scale operations.
“We decided early that this wasn’t going to be a temporary patch,” says Dan Rose, President of Elite Metal Finishing. “We wanted to rebuild in a way that makes us more efficient, compliant, and future-ready. Working with Ronatec has made that possible.”
A Case Study in Collaboration
The Elite–Ronatec partnership is becoming a real-world case study in how communication and coordination drive effective fire remediation. Regular site visits, progress calls, and open collaboration across engineering, fabrication, and field teams have kept the project aligned with code, schedule, and customer expectations.
“When you have a trusted partnership, you can move mountains—or in this case, rebuild them,” Wetherald says. “This project shows what happens when everyone rows in the same direction.”
Looking Ahead
With tank fabrication progressing and infrastructure coming together, Elite Metal Finishing is on track for installation and system testing in the coming months. This effort is more than recovery—it’s a benchmark for modernization in the plating industry. By integrating advanced design standards, updated safety systems, and next-generation chemistries, Elite’s new facility will not only meet past standards but set new ones for the future.
“Adversity has a way of focusing you,” says Wetherald. “Elite’s comeback represents the best of what this industry is about—resilience, craftsmanship, and the will to keep pushing forward.”
About the Authors: James Wetherald is President of Ronatec C2C, Inc., a California/North Carolina-based leader in metal finishing chemistry, technology, and engineered systems. Ronatec designs and fabricates complete finishing lines for aerospace, defense, semiconductor, oil and gas, and industrial markets across North America. Dan Rose is President of Elite Metal Finishing, a California-based, state-of-the-art facility specializing in Electroless Nickel plating and light-metal processes such as anodizing. Visit https://ronatec.us and https://www.elite-metalfinishing.com.
