Seacole is proud to support Minnesota’s surface finishing industry through active involvement in the Minnesota Association of Metal Finishers (MNAMF), including leadership from current president John Atkins and past president Tyler Thomas. Through MNAMF, Seacole stays connected to regulatory developments, emerging technologies, suppliers, and industry professionals, helping its team deliver stronger technical expertise and surface finishing solutions to customers.
Seacole is proud to be deeply involved in Minnesota’s surface finishing community. One way that we give back to our industry is by actively participating in the Minnesota Association of Metal Finishers (MNAMF). Our territory manager John Atkins is the current president, and our director of sales and marketing Tyler Thomas is a past president.
Recently, we asked Tyler why participating in MNAMF is so important to the Seacole surface finishing team and how the organization helps us stay ahead of industry trends so we can serve you better.
What role does MNAMF play in Minnesota’s surface finishing industry?
TT: MNAMF serves as the voice, advocate, technical resource, and educator for metal and surface finishing companies across the state. It maintains relationships with the National Association for Surface Finishing (NASF) board and leadership team as well as regulatory bodies in Minnesota.
How has MNAMF membership benefited Seacole and our customers?
TT: Our participation in MNAMF has provided several big benefits. First, our membership gets us access to resources that help us navigate the regulatory environment in the state. Additionally, we have the opportunity to network with customers, suppliers, and competitors, which ensures we have a brand presence in the marketplace and can be found by our customers. Our sponsorship of MNAMF activities and involvement in leadership have been especially helpful in growing our brand awareness and reputation in the state with supplier partners and customers alike.
What are the biggest challenges facing the surface finishing industry today, and how is Seacole partnering with MNAMF to navigate them to better our customers?
TT: Environmental regulations and the transition away from PFAS formulations, workforce development and the transfer of institutional memory to new employees, and navigating a shrinking and more volatile supply chain are all challenges our industry faces. Seacole is not immune to these challenges, but being in MNAMF has helped us anticipate and overcome them. We’ve leveraged our role at MNAMF to make sure we have exposure to emerging technologies and direct access to suppliers. This directly benefits our customers through more innovative products and faster timelines.
About Seacole’s Surface Finishing Capabilities
If you’re after a flawless finish at your operation, Seacole delivers. We offer complete solutions for all your surface finishing needs, including the specialty chemicals you require to clean, activate, and plate metallic and non-metallic surfaces. From anodized aluminum to electroless nickel plating and other specialized plating processes, our expert technical team will help you find the products that are appropriate for your operation.
Our participation in MNAMF helps us stay ahead of industry trends and deliver better products and superior service to you. For support for your surface finishing process, contact us today.
MNAMF FAQs
What is the role of MNAMF in Minnesota’s surface finishing industry?
MNAMF serves as a voice, advocate, technical resource, and educator for metal and surface finishing companies across Minnesota. The organization also helps connect industry professionals with regulatory resources, suppliers, and educational opportunities.
How does Seacole benefit from participating in MNAMF?
Seacole gains valuable access to regulatory information, networking opportunities, suppliers, customers, and other surface finishing professionals. Leadership involvement and sponsorships also help Seacole maintain a strong presence within Minnesota’s surface finishing community.
What challenges is the surface finishing industry currently facing?
Key challenges include evolving environmental regulations, the transition away from PFAS-containing formulations, workforce development and knowledge transfer, and supply chain volatility. MNAMF helps members navigate these issues through education, industry discussions, regulatory connections, and access to suppliers and emerging technologies.
How does Seacole’s involvement in MNAMF benefit its surface finishing customers?
Active participation helps Seacole stay informed about industry trends, regulatory changes, new chemistries, and emerging technologies. That knowledge, combined with Seacole’s technical expertise and supplier relationships, helps the team identify effective products and solutions for customers’ surface finishing processes.
