Powder Coating Drives JWF Industries’ Diverse Capabilities

Bill Polacek has a very simple mantra for how he operates JWF Industries, a manufacturing and powder coating operation in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, that he serves as president and CEO.

Bill Polacek“Execute a strategy for growth with the right people, right processes, in the right markets, with the right customers,” Polacek says.

With annual operating sales over $100 million, more than 1.1 million square feet of manufacturing space, and employing over 350 business and skilled labor professionals, Polacek also has a knack for being in the right place at the right time too.

Several years ago, Polacek invested over $4 million in a powder coat line after hearing from some customers that they could use additional coating options. A while later, new laws and safety regulations were passed that saw JWF with $6 million a month in business from one customer that couldn’t build lifts fast enough.

Providing Quality Products That Meet Customer Requirements

At JWF Industries, all steps in the manufacturing process are essential to providing quality products that meet customer requirements. Serving the defense, renewable energy, and commercial industries, JWF Industries designs, manufactures, and integrates metal-centric products by growing with the right combination of people, processes, markets, and customers.

Polacek says JWF Industries owns and operates the largest non- dedicated powder coating line east of the Mississippi River in part size, weight, and quantity of parts per day. The company’s capabilities include blast, prime, paint, and powder coat for polyurethane, water, and epoxy-based paints that meet military and commercial requirements.

“What really sets us apart from other large-scale coatings facilities is our wide range of paint capabilities as well as the experience, expertise, and dedication of our employees,” says Will Polacek, the Manager of JWF’s Coatings Department and Bill’s son.

“This allows us to coat everything from small, delicate parts to military vehicles and to uphold the same high standard of quality for every one of those parts and to every customer.”

Powder Coating and Liquid Coating for Military and Others

A 60,000 square feet automated paint line offers powder coating and wet coating for military coatings Chemical Agent Resistant Coating (CARC) paint, aerospace, and Naval Seas Systems Command (NAVSEA). Steel shot blast, pre-heat oven, wet coat booth, and bake booths are available, and all 20’ x 20’ x 60’. A large part paint line has a part capability of 10’ x 20’ x 30’.

Polacek’s father, John Polacek Sr., worked at Bethlehem Steel in Johnstown, but with limited financial income, he struggled to provide for his wife and nine children. To make ends meet, John started Johnny’s Welding in 1957 in the back of his pick-up truck. The business expanded to a two-car garage and soon employed his son, Bill.

After John’s passing in 1987, Bill purchased Johnny’s Welding and started Johnstown Welding and Fabrication Company. He once bid on a job making staircase railings for Bethlehem Steel, and 11 years later, JWF — which employed about 200 at that time — bought the same former Bethlehem Steel buildings that had those very staircases in.

Name Change to JWF Industries

After years of growth and expansion, the company name was shortened to JWF Industries to reflect its continuing diversity.

“We continue to grow, expand, and diversify products, services, and capabilities for customers in the defense, renewable energy, and commercial industries,” Bill says.

JWF Industries’ 2,100-foot conveyor is capable of handling 6,000 pounds per part. The company also offers a six-stage pre-treatment for steel and specializes in processes for zinc phosphate and zirconium pretreating. Custom part marking and part packaging is available, and part sub-assembly, part assembly, and part kitting are also offered to customers.

JWF Industries is an approved supplier for priming, painting, coatings, zinc phosphate, and/or chem film for the U.S. Department of Defense and commercial contractors, including AM General, BAE Systems, General Dynamics, JLG Industries, Kongsberg Protech Systems, Lockheed Martin, Mack Defense, Oshkosh, Plasan-North America, and SAAB Defense.

‘Proud To Serve Defense Customers’

“We are very proud to serve our defense customers and provide quality products that protect and save the lives of United States servicemen and women on the front lines protecting American freedoms,” Bill says.

The company is consistently awarded defense contracts for vehicle builds and has been recognized and praised by United States entities, including United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM), Tactical Communications Electronic Warfare System (TACOM), and Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA)

Always working on expanding services, William says JWF Industries recently added a large drive-thru blast booth, powder booth, and oven to its array of equipment and workspace.

“We would like to add an industrial, automotive grade paint booth for additional superior quality finishes on NAVSEA and aerospace contracts,” he says.

JWF Industries works closely with its coatings suppliers and recognizes their efforts to provide quality products for the completion of finished goods. BASF/Chemetall is the exclusive supplier for all pretreatment and wastewater chemicals, and Sherwin-Williams supplies military and protective coatings for marine and industrial needs.

“Both companies work closely with JWF Industries for onsite training and technical support,” William says.

For information about JWF Industries, please visit https://jwfi.com/

JWF Industries offers the following capabilities in their Coatings Division:

60,000 square foot automated powder coating / wet coating CARC paint line
Blast, prime, paint, and powder coat
Pre-heat oven
Wet coat and bake booths (all 20′ x 20′ x 60′)
Polyurethane, water, and epoxy-based paints
Military and commercial requirements
2,100′ conveyor capable of handling 6,000 pounds per part
Large part paint line with 10′ x 20′ x 30′ part capability
Six-stage pre-treatment for steel with steel shot blast
Blast capabilities to SP5 / NACE #1 finish
Direct to metal
Heavy mill application
Custom part making and part packaging
Part sub-assembly, part assembly, and part kitting

Automated Paint Line

60,000 square foot powder coating / wet coating (CARC) paint line
2,100′ conveyor capable of handling 6,000 pounds per part
Six-stage chemical pre-treatment
Seven-stage stainless steel washer with phosphate coating system
Zinc phosphate
Polyurethane, water, and epoxy-based paints, military and commercial requirements
Custom part making, custom part packaging, and part kitting

Powder Coat Paint System: 20′ high x 20′ wide x 40′ long