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"Not many companies have the expertise we do," said Engineering Manager Bruce Lindblade. "We know more about metal finishing than most of our customers, which is why they seek our advice." Customers benefit from the highly capable staff of experts including mechanical, chemical, metallurgical and electrical engineers. "We can provide a variety of options to solve problems," Lindblade added, "and we carry out all of those processes here."
Customers include manufacturers of metal parts in the aerospace, agriculture, food processing, construction, medical and military industries.
Shop Superintendent Wally Hansen said, "We do consulting and Engineering work on a daily basis at Chem Processing. We understand and have the capability to design many different finishes. When a customer comes in with a problem, the customer walks away with a solution."
Chem Processing's
stellar reputation has converted it into a sophisticated problem
solving company. To maintain that enviable reputation, CPI constantly
modifies and upgrades equipment, uses state-of-the-art computer
technology to achieve optimum control over every process, and continually
trains its skilled staff.
Metal finishing industry executives, customers and environmental
specialists regularly tour the plant for an inside look at this
modern up-to-date facility and its progressive employee philosophy.
Chem Processing
was established in 1970 on 22nd Street in Rockford as a partnership
between Curt Cedarleaf and his brother Marc.
 The
company began providing metal finishing processes that were being
used in Rockford but not yet available locally, such as electroless
nickel plating, solid film lubricants, and Teflon®
coating.
Chem Processing purchased and absorbed Readette and Dunn Plating
Inc, which gave it additional hard chrome, cadmium, copper and silver
plating capabilities. The company continued to grow with the purchase
of Rockford Arrow Anodizing. Chem Processing broke ground for the
$10 million plant in June, 1994, and moved in a year later. The
company operates at two locations in Rockford.
The expertise of the staff and the type of training it receives
distinguish the company from others in the industry. "And
we are different from other metal finishing firms in the type of
customers we serve," Lindblade said. "Our
customers require very high quality and they produce a high quality
product, such as aerospace parts."
CPI is certified
to ISO 9002 specification and also certified to do work for customers
such as Hamilton Sundstand, Woodward Governor, Boeing, Lockheed
Martin Marietta, John Deere, & the U.S. Defense Department.
 Chem
Processing produces consistent results with computer controlled
operations. A part that requires a finish may go through many steps.
Each step is controlled by specific parameters such as time, temperature
and bath composition. "We have a precise
computer program that runs these parts through each process."
Lindblade said. "If the part requires
a 10 second bath, it will be within plus or minus half a second,
and then go to the next operation, and the next."
Customers are able to verify consistency in bath characteristics.
Analytical results on an X-bar chart show acceptable high and low
chemistry limits and where actual results fall for any period of
time. "If you have consistent chemical
and physical parameters, then you will have consistent results,"
Hansen said.
Attendance bonuses, safety recognition events, and competitive salaries
motivate seventy employees. Personnel are encouraged to recommend
changes that help them work more efficiently and safely; They are
recognized publicly and monetarily for their innovative suggestions
and. "We find reasons to celebrate our
successes," said Human Resources Manager Kathy Lundy.
 CPI
far exceeds federal recommendations for environmental safety. The
company invested a million dollars in an innovative environmental
protection system that incorporates extraordinary controls to ensure
that no environmental hazard can spread beyond the building.
The system provides many layers of impressive environmental protection
between the tank and
the ground. Separate containment area were built under all metal
finishing tanks. Resting in the containment area is a second layer
of protection, including a liner and a sealer below the production
line tanks. Under the entire plating area is a lower level that
is totally sealed. This
is the fifth barrier protecting the environment.
"We are not required to have a facility
like this," Cedarleaf said. "We
did this because we are concerned about the environment. We feel
this is what environmental protection is going to come to in the
future, and we are prepared now." The CPI protection
system is so innovative that private and government agencies regularly
tour the plant.
But superior environmental protection is only one of the many qualities
that sets Chem Processing apart. The entire company works as a seamless
unit, constantly searching for new technologies, new products, or
methods for fighting corrosion, and improving wear resistance.
Chem Processing
strives to meet the need of its broad customer base by continually
expanding
on its expertise. Progressive environmental protection, superb employees,
and consistently meeting rigid and demanding customer specification
are just a few of the reasons Chem Processing boosts a reputation
for leadership that is expanding daily in its industry. |
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