Each year, the National Association for Surface Finishing (NASF) recognizes members who stand out amongst their peers for their contributions to the finishing industry on the local and national levels. Although SUR/FIN 2020 in Atlanta was postponed due to COVID-19, the Awards Committee of NASF felt it important to still recognize these deserving members and will be presented their physical awards during SUR/FIN 2021 in Detroit, Michigan.

The future is looking ‘bright’ for the team at Technical Plating in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. In the past two years, they have added an additional bright tin line, a second electroless nickel line, a bright nickel line, another passivation line and another reel-to-reel line, bringing their total to 17 lines.

As everyone in the shipbuilding industry knows, repairs are a constant and inevitable fact of marine life, resulting in costly downtime and loss of earnings. Saltwater and harsh operating conditions cause corrosion and damage to key components such as pumps, valves and motors, necessitating regular maintenance or replacement. Commonly used to repair or salvage components and extend in-service life, surface coatings brings many advantages, including corrosion protection and wear resistance.

To an eye doctor, 20/20 translates into perfect vision, the ability to focus equally well on what’s close at hand and what’s far away. As a year, however, 2020 has meant anything but certainty and precise vision, especially in the finishing and coatings industry.

Tyler Thomas is vice president and general manager at Technical Plating in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. He is active in the finishing community as vice president of the NASF chapter in Minneapolis.