Ken Martin often likes to look at things in a different light, which gives him a unique perspective on the work that his team puts out at Texas Finishing Co., where he is general manager.
Ken Martin, GM of Texas Metal FinishingIt also gives Martin a chance to see the special effects of mica liquid coatings that Carrollton-based Texas Finishing applies on some architectural parts that allow the appearance to change from one color to another based on the angle and sunlight.
The facility specializes in Kynar 500/Hylar 5000 PVDF Coatings in a broad range of colors, including micas and metallics. Their line can coat parts up to 30 feet in length.
"We have mastered the art of applying special effects mica finish," Martin says. "Both Sherwin Williams and PPG manufacture this unique product to give architects a creative edge in their building design."
Shift to Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF)
Having the ability to deliver unique architectural coatings has been a differentiator for Texas Finishing , which was started in 1976 as a horizontal paint line finishing aluminum extrusions for the residential window market. In the 1980s, the company shifted from residential to architectural with the application of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) high-performance coating.
PVDF is a highly non-reactive thermoplastic fluoropolymer produced by the polymerization of vinylidene difluoride. It is a specialty plastic used in applications requiring the highest purity, as well as resistance to solvents, acids, and hydrocarbons.
One of TMF's premier projects was working on AT&T Stadium, the home of the Dallas Cowboys. The PVDF coatings allow Texas Finishing to be highly sought after for coatings on fabricated aluminum products for the commercial, architectural, curtain wall systems, canopy walkways, and bleacher seating markets.
One of its premier projects was working on AT&T Stadium, the home of the Dallas Cowboys. It also was a key coater at the nearly $2 billion Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas that will be home to the NFL Las Vegas Raiders.
The new stadium is replete with distinctive black and silver colors. PPG provided an extensive roster of easy-to-apply and long-lasting products to protect and enhance the stunning appearance of the venue now situated adjacent to the world-famous Las Vegas Strip.
Coating in a Controlled Environment
"It's been incredible to see a wide range of PPG coatings come together in the design and construction of Allegiant Stadium," says Bryan Iams, PPG vice president, corporate and government affairs. "We are extremely proud that our paints, coatings, and specialty materials have played a central role in the design and construction of this extraordinary facility.
Texas Finishing painted aluminum extrusions and panels for the curtain wall system using PPG's products.
TMF was a key coater at the nearly $2 billion Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas that will be home to the NFL Las Vegas Raiders."It's much better at their plant to do it because they're equipped with all the right support for beams of this weight," says PPG Steve Lockwood, who worked with Texas Finishing on the project. "And, you have a controlled environment."
Working on the Cowboys and Raiders stadium projects is a sign of how Texas Finishing's reputation has grown over the decades, says Carolyn Beard, the president, and owner of the company.
"Over the years, we have built an outstanding reputation in this industry by creating strong, long-lasting relationships with each customer to meet their unique needs," Beard says. "We respond quickly to assist our customers with any issues that may arise and build strong partnerships with suppliers."
Great Communication with Customers
Texas Finishing employs 70 people on two shifts at the 57,000 square-foot facility located near Dallas and Ft. Worth. Martin agrees that the company's growth has gone hand-in-hand with working well with its customers.
"Good communication with our customer base as well as our paint suppliers who are connected to architects and designers for future projects," Martin says. "We have received a lot of business through our website and also through referrals in our industry."
For example, one of those projects was at Chaffin Junior High School in Fort Smith, Arkansas., where Texas Finishing finished over 3,500 square feet of painted, multi-colored aluminum panels that were integrated into an $8 million renovation project at the school.
Equus Metal, a metal fabricator in Tulsa, Oklahoma, has worked with Texas Finishing previously and immediately called on them to work on the school project. It was a fast-tracked job because it had to be completed during the summer months when school was out.
Martin's team took the 1/8-inch thick aluminum panels and put them through a 5-stage pretreatment to clean and etch the aluminum surface, then used a chromate conversion to better adhere the primer and paint to the metal.
Following the chrome phosphate coating, the panels were given a 0.02-0.04-mils dry film thickness of primer and a 1.0 to 1.2 mils DFT of color coat before heading to the curing oven. The PVDF coating is expected to last at least 20 years.
Growth in Architectural Markets
Martin says he believes this company will succeed for decades to come as they continue to finish custom profiles for the architectural market.
"We specialize in assisting our customers with unique designs and shapes to meet the needs of architects," he says. "We continue to be on the leading edge of innovative changes in architectural finishes and to explore new markets."
Martin celebrated 30 years in the finishing industry at Texas Finishing in September and is still as excited today about working in the industry as when he first started.
"I love our process and seeing projects come to completion knowing I was a part of it," he says. "Especially the monumental ones like AT&T Stadium and Allegiant Stadium. We have finished thousands of projects, both large and small, but each one is very important."
