parts blasting

Metal Finishing Technologies Acquires Aqua Blasting

Metal Finishing Technologies in Bristol, Connecticut, has acquired Aqua Blasting, providing shot peening and blasting services to the aerospace, defense, medical, and semiconductor markets.

Peter MirabelloPeter MirabelloAqua Blasting is in Bloomfield, CT, and marks a significant milestone for MFT as the first acquisition under its Battle Investment Group partnership. The company says the acquisition expands and diversifies MFT’s surface treatment offerings by adding surface enhancement capabilities.

Founded in 1971, Aqua Blasting capabilities include shot peening, glass bead peening, dry abrasive blasting, wet abrasive blasting, vapor blasting, soda blasting, and automated grit blasting. The company holds important certifications, including FAA Part 145 Repair Station, NADCAP AC7117 & AC7117/2 Surface Enhancement, NADCAP AC7004 Aerospace Quality System, U.S. ATF Federal Firearms License, ITAR compliance, and numerous customer-specific certifications.

Automated Peening and Media Blasting

Zach KleinerZach KleinerAqua Blasting operates out of an 11,000-square-foot facility that houses automated peening and media blasting equipment and several large abrasive blasting rooms that handle parts up to twenty feet in length.

“Over the last three years, MFT has significantly invested in its facility to expand service offerings and capabilities, including the addition of non-destructive testing and new NADCAP plating lines,” says Peter Mirabello, Chairman of MFT. "Aqua Blasting represents an exciting next step in MFT's evolution.” 

Zach Kleiner, President of MFT, will lead the combined company.

“Aqua Blasting already holds key certifications that align with MFT’s strategic growth plan and enable immediate servicing of our current customers,” Kleiner says. “Our ultimate focus is providing customers with industry-leading quality and turnaround times.”

Strategically Building Additional Capabilities

Alex Bosse, Principal at Battle Investment Group, says MFT is strategically building additional capabilities to become a one-stop shop for metal surface treatment.

“We believe the acquisition of Aqua Blasting represents a compelling opportunity to vertically integrate MFT’s solution offering with surface enhancement technologies,” Bosse says. “Customers prefer consolidating metal treatment services to one provider, and the ability to control more of the process provides MFT a competitive advantage in competing for new work. We believe this will present an attractive value proposition for existing and new customers.”

Richard MadambaRichard MadambaRichard Madamba, President of Aqua Blasting, says they are all proud and excited to join the MFT team. 

“Together, we will deliver a broader array of capabilities enabling better service to our new and existing customers,” Madamba says. “We are looking forward to the next chapter in our journey together.”

Metal Finishing Technologies was founded in 1947 and has numerous quality and customer certifications, including ISO 9001, AS9100-D, NADCAP, FAA, and EASA-registered Part 145 repair station. MFT operates out of an environmentally compliant 72,000-square-foot facility with quality control processes and systems across all its various service offerings.

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