Blog

Celebrating 60 Years

Following WWII, John Mulder and his high school friend, Wally Reed, started a metal finishing business in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Wally was the salesman, selling metal finishing equipment and supplies to metal manufacturing firms. John led the metal finishing job shop side of the business. Several years later, in 1959, they dissolved their partnership. Wally set up his own equipment supply sales business and John Mulder establishing Master Finish Co. as a metal finishing job shop providing deburring and burnishing services to metal manufacturing firms. John remained president of Master Finish until his retirement in 1985 when he turned the reins over to his sons, Dale and Mike, and his nephew, Doug. Dale led the company until 2018 when his sons, John and Aaron, purchased Dale’s equity.

John and Aaron had been raised in a family encouraging
their entrepreneurial spirit. After earning their engineering degrees, both
started their careers at manufacturing businesses outside of Master Finish,
gaining business and technical experience. After 10 years working outside the
family business, they were ready to join Master Finish Company, bringing their
education, experience and entrepreneurial spirit to direct the company’s future
success. Following EOS Business Model, John acts as the company “visionary”
serving as President. And Aaron’s role as “integrator” puts him in charge of
all day-to-day operations as our CEO.

Master Finish is a third-generation family business founded in 1959 by John Mulder. Over the last 60 years, we have seen many great technological changes to the industry. Chrome plated parts now last longer retaining their original brilliance improving life cycles of the products we plate. Chemical improvements allow better appearance and corrosion protection than any time in the past. Automated controls improve the accuracy and repeatability of the finishes we now provide. Our 60 years in serving metal manufacturers’ plating needs have kept up our solid reputation as a high-quality metal finisher. The last decade has been one of options in finishing. Chrome plating in today’s world offers a host of different appearances with available satin nickels and dark trivalent chrome options. The future of Master Finish certainly looks to be full of great finishing opportunities for our broad customer base. We are thrilled to be able to serve you with your finishing needs!

Master Finish Welcomes Josh Ferris as Our Third-Party Sales Representative

With a Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Josh has dedicated over 14 years to the automotive industry. Throughout this extensive career, he has honed his expertise in various critical areas, including engineering, purchasing, quality, program management,...

Introducing Aaron Menyes: Master Finish’s New Business Development Representative

Master Finish is excited to welcome Aaron Menyes as our new Business Development Representative. Aaron recently relocated to Grand Rapids from Chicago, bringing with him over three years of experience in sales and project management in healthcare facilities. His...

Master Finish Showcases Expertise at IMTS 2024

From September 14-19, 2024, Master Finish proudly participated in the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) held at McCormick Place in Chicago. As one of the largest industrial trade shows in the world, IMTS 2024 brought together 89,020 attendees and...

Join Master Finish at IMTS 2024 in Chicago – Discover the Future of Manufacturing Innovation!

Master Finish is excited to announce that we will be exhibiting at the InternationalManufacturing Technology Show (IMTS), held from September 9-14, 2024, at McCormick Place in Chicago. This event is one of the largest manufacturing trade shows in the world, and we...

Passivation Process: Nitric Acid vs. Citric Acid

Master Finish offers passivation services using Nitric acid. This service uses the chemistry that we have in place for cleaning and stripping the plating racks we use for our chrome plating lines. Passivation is a chemical process used to improve the corrosion...

Enhancing Efficiency and Safety: The Advantages of a Central Chemical Feeder System in Electroplating

In the intricate world of electroplating, every detail matters. From the composition of the chemicals to the efficiency of the equipment, each element plays a crucial role in achieving high-quality finishes and ensuring operational safety. One often overlooked, yet...

65 Years of Excellence and Environmental Stewardship

As we commemorate the 65th anniversary of Master Finish Company, it’s a perfect opportunity to celebrate our rich heritage, our unwavering commitment to quality, and our deep-seated respect for the environment. Our journey, deeply interwoven with the fabric of Grand...

An Interview with John Mulder, Master Finish

BY SCOTT FRANCIS Editor-In-Chief, Gardner Business Media John Mulder, president of Master Finish of Grand Rapids, Mich., discusses his company’s experience with trivalent chromium and offers advice for those thinking of transitioning their current hexavalent chromium...

Decoding Chrome Plating: A Guide to Decorative vs. Industrial Chrome Plating

Understanding the Basics of Decorative Chrome Plating Before we dive into the specifics, let’s grasp the fundamentals. Chrome plating is a process that involves electroplating a thin layer of chromium onto a metal object. This not only enhances the appearance but also...

Understanding the Difference Between Electroless and Electrolytic Nickel Plating

When it comes to metal plating, nickel is one of the most commonly used materials due to its excellent corrosion resistance and versatile properties. However, there are different techniques for applying nickel plating, with two primary methods being electroless and...