Precision powder coating firm is off to a fast start
Photos by LOREN BENOIT/NIBJ Ashton Palmer sprays paint on a railing for a customer at Precision Powder Blast and Coating company in Rathdrum. In the first five months of business, Precision has attracted about 40 customers, including manufacturers, fabricators and mom-and-pop operations.
Justin Maciosk pushes a large rack of step railings into a large operation oven at Precision Powder Blast and Coating company in Rathdrum. Precision Coating has one of the largest steel operation ovens in the Inland Empire.
Precision Powder Blast and Coating company blasts, finishes and paints boat trailers, car frames, truck beds and step railings, like these shown here.
Ellis Cucksey puts together old restored lawn chairs from the 1960s at Precision Powder Blast and Coating company.
Photos by LOREN BENOIT/NIBJ Powder coating business owner Wade Gagnier opens a large steel oven as he poses for a portrait in Rathdrum. His business just started in early November in a 7,200-square-foot facility where they blast, finish and coat steel products and more.
Wade Gagnier loves seeing the rapid results of his Precision Powder and Blast company.
"Instant gratification," he said of his Rathdrum-based powder coating business.
"We can take a rusty pile of sh-- and 90 minutes later turn it into something beautiful."
Gagnier moves fast.
His business started in early November in a 7,200-square foot facility he built on Boekel Road. He’s already sold the building due to the need for more space and is leasing it from the new owner.
He plans to construct a 15,000-square-foot building later this year two blocks to the south of the existing building.
"With the new facility, we will blast, wash, spray and cook everything in a linear motion so we're not leapfrogging," Gagnier said.
It will also be better for employees, he said.
"We want to automate the system so the guys don't have to push the carts," he said. "It will introduce a new level of efficiency and safety."
Gagnier said he now understands what it takes to optimize his business better.
"You never do it right the first time," he said with a smile about the building change. "This wasn't my industry, but now that I'm doing it I know exactly what I want."
Gagnier describes the past two months of his business as "flawless with very minimal down time."
"We're off to the races and hoping for a great spring/summer," he said. "Maybe I'll even have my beard shaved and look more professional."
In the first five months of business, despite not having a sign on the building, Precision has attracted several dozen customers, including manufacturers, fabricators and mom-and-pop operations.
"We'll powder coat a 3,500-pound (welded assembly) to a 6-ounce trinket or part," Gagnier said. "We can put one item or 200 parts on the same rack."
Precision's 10-by-10-by-40 oven, perhaps the largest of its kind in the region, distinguishes the business from some other companies.
"We can do boat trailers, car frames or truck beds in it," said Clint Bower, an outside sales and marketing consultant. "Not coming from the metal industry, I was surprised at how many industries need powder coating."
Precision, which has four full-time employees and expects to employ five by this summer, also performs blasting-only services for some customers who paint their products on their own.
Gagnier was a co-owner of Mark's Marine on U.S. 95 before opening Element Fabricating Inc. to focus on building boats and boat accessories. A need for the fab industry led him to sell Element and start Precision.
"One of my biggest battles was getting products coated properly," he said of his previous business. "I had to go to Billings to have a 39-foot trailer powder coated."
When Gagnier switched gears from his fab shop to powder coating, demand immediately increased.
"We've gone from being among (many) fab shops in the region to one of 10 coaters," he said.
Gagnier said he gained insights into the coating industry, along with lessons on what not to do, when he was a coatings inspector before starting Precision Powder.
"We clean surfaces, coat and cure by the book," he said. "The first thing Mother Nature wants to do is take back iron and make it rust. What we're here for is to provide corrosion protection to the end users. People just care how things look. They want to spend money, but they just want to spend it as wisely as they can. We're committed to putting on the finishing touch properly."
The key ingredient, Gagnier said, is attention to detail.
"When the customer brings a job here, it gets a cleansing bath, blasted and thermo-cleaned, then the applicator applies powder and it's cured properly," he said. "When all those come together properly, you have a high chance of having a good product."
Warranties range from 90 days to a year, depending on the product.
Precision's powder coating products have little to no volatile organic compounds, so they're environmentally friendly. Customers can choose from hundreds of different colors, and colors can be custom-made.
INFORMATION: http://precisionpowderandblast.com/