Previously, coating caps for aerosol spray cans was the primary business for Coulter.
Jerry BurciagaSoon, Coulter plans to double their capacity — but for new markets — according to Jerry Burciaga, Sales and Marketing Director for the Middlebury, Indiana, firm.
That’s because Coulter is finding more customers in the cosmetics and beverage industry who need the company’s metallization and coating expertise, and soon they hope to add automotive to that list, too.
Growing into Cosmetics and Beverage Coatings
“We have a big grasp on the aerosol market today, and we expect to see steady growth in the coming years,” Burciaga says. “But we have seen exponential demand in other markets.”
Coulter is quickly heading into physical vapor deposition technology to meet the growing demand in cosmetics and beverages. In Q4 of 2023, they will be adding a PVD machine for additional projects coming into the company, and Burciaga expects that line to produce more than 50 million parts per year.
“The new line is already filling up,” he says. “We are seeing demand in new markets like automotive.”
Coulter offers metallization and spray coating finishes on closures, jars, and bottles for some of the world’s most recognizable brands.
Top Provider of Plastic Decorations and Custom Finishes
Coulter offers metallization and spray coating finishes on closures, jars, and bottles for some of the world’s most recognizable brands.
Founded in 1984, Coulter has made a name for itself as a top provider of plastic decorations and custom finishes across multiple industries, including aerosol, home products, beauty, cosmetics, and beverages.
The company can coat on various surfaces and styles:
- Decorative paint finishes on plastic can be customized with thousands of different colors in any sheen and texture. Coulter can coat ABS, polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), and mixed plastics for a vibrant finish.
- Liquid paint is applied through manual or automatic spraying, which is then cured by r heat, UV, or air drying. The coatings are also formulized using solvents and other additives to give the finish a certain look and feel.
- Chrome plating to glass or plastic gives products a mirror-like finish, which can be taken a step further by adding unique colors to customize the finish. Coulter will have two methods to provide their metallization
- Silver metallization deposits a thin layer of pure silver to a part, which gives a strong packaging beauty for brands in several industries.
- Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) applies a layer of metal, typically aluminum, in a vacuum chamber
- Coating fasteners and painted screws with various colors and sheens provide durability and aesthetics to any size of the project. In fact, Coulter can provide up to 100,000 fasteners a day.
- Decorative glass coating that can be matte, silver metallic, or any other finish. Coulter’s chain-on-edge process applies a sleek layer of paint onto glass that can also be UV cured.
Moving into the Metallization Coating Process
Coulter’s growth accelerated in the late 1990s with the development of custom-painted caps for the aerosol spray paint industry. Coulter built two high-speed chain-on-edge (COE) machines to support the growing demand. In the early 2000s, they moved into the metallization business, converting one of their lines to support the new product portfolio.
By 2009, Coulter saw interest from the cosmetics industry and made further enhancements to its technology to accommodate new customers. This growth continued in 2017 when a third COE machine was developed. Coulter’s success attracted the attention of private investment firm Lakewind Investments, which purchased the company in 2021.
“Lakewind had been a great partner for us,” Burciaga says. “They sat down with us and asked us what we needed to grow, and they have supported us. They want to grow this business, and we know we can.”
Since then, Coulter has invested in UV curing technologies and taken over an extensive portfolio of beverage customers due to an acquisition.
Sam SnemisSam Snemis joined Coulter as president in early 2021 after Lakewind took over ownership and has focused on the digital transformation and modernization of the company across various industries.
After working at Oracle for many years, Snemis says moving to Coulter has been the best decision of his career to date.
“First and foremost, the people at Coulter are incredible,” he says. “They exhibit an unrelenting work ethic backed by years of experience. Their willingness to collaborate has been refreshing and allowed the company to hit the ground running since I came on board.”
Snemis says he quickly learned that Coulter’s ethos focused on servicing the customer above all else, which is why he says the company continuously adapted to help a customer in need, even if they had no experience in that field.
For example, he says that even though originally a custom woodworking and paint shop, Coulter dove head first into high-volume spray coating for the aerosol industry. Snemis says Coulter’s leadership team embodied this spirit of innovation.
“Instead of taking years to enter into a new market or deliver a new product, Coulter’s team designs a solution in weeks,” he says. “Too often, companies today try to sell their solution to a client’s problems; the classic square peg in a round hole. This often creates friction and failed endeavors. Coulter has stood out with our ability to create a custom solution, even if a new process or leap of faith is required.”
Adding a PVD Line
This client-centric problem-solving has led Coulter to invest in a new facility that will house a high-speed PVD line engineered to meet our customers’ demands.
Coulter is developing this line to focus on tamper-evident beverage closures and high-end cosmetic finishes. Burciaga says the line will have several advantages over traditional coating processes.
The line has near-zero emissions compared to other spray applications and has considerable recyclable advantages, too.
“The PVD line has that stamp of sustainability,” Burciaga says. “And we are dedicated to doing our part to make our process greener.”
Working with Numerous Substrates
Coulter has the ability to work with numerous substrates — including various types of plastics — and has a team with decades of R&D experience constantly looking at new substrates and coating requirements.
“Not much scares us when it comes to plastic substrates,” says Burciaga. “And with the ability to metalize glass, we think we are in a great position to help any customer that needs a unique coating.”
Snemis says the next several years will be exciting times for Coulter as it works to enter new markets while at the same time taking care of its existing customers as they have for years.
“I am beyond thrilled for the opportunities that await both Coulter and the customers we serve,” he says.
