Finisher’s ‘Top Shop’ Status Attracts Business

Most companies work hard to build a positive reputation and to be recognized as a leader in their fields of expertise. One finisher, however, built his reputation from the ground up, by first prioritizing a prestigious, industry award recognition. Miramar Metal Processing (MMP) in San Diego, California, decided that the Products Finishing Top Shops award was the most critical to receive above anything else. By participating in the benchmarking survey for a couple years before reaching its goal, the management team had a better understanding of how they could improve the business.

“When we participated and did not earn recognition, we had to figure out where we needed to work harder and smarter,” says Marcos Cielak, president. “We were not far behind the Top Shops, but we were not there yet.”

Striving for recognition as one of the Top Shops, Miramar Metal Processing won its first PF Top Shops award in 2018 and four times since then. Cielak reports how excited he and the team were to reach their goal and that the response to the achievement was met with immediate new business. Potential customers called the shop for RFQs when they heard through word of mouth about the new Top Shop in town. The shop also sent direct mail to current customers to announce its new award, which was met with many congratulations.

“We had a lot of recognition, and it opened the doors to a lot of things for us,” Cielak explains. “Our customers started to demand more and more. If you’ve got the reputation, you have to do the work better than anyone else.”

When its customers, especially those in the aerospace and defense sector, started to require higher product standards, MMP began focusing on upgrading its quality systems. As a result, it earned its ISO certification and most recently its NADCAP certification. 

Creating a niche in So Cal

When Cielak opened MMR in 2014, he intended to provide finishing services that could not be found in the San Diego area. Therefore, by providing unique finishes/coating in the area such as bright dip anodizing, BR-127 primer, phosphoric acid anodizing and FLP etching, MMP stands out from its competition.

Cielak, born in Mexico City, Mexico, learned the trade in his father’s plating shop, which was one of the largest in Mexico. He received a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering in Mexico and then moved to the U.S. to earn a master’s degree in chemical engineering and has worked in California ever since.

When the facility he was working for closed in 2013, he decided to open MMP. He was able to offer employment to some of his former co-workers at the company that had closed. He started with four employees and now has a team of about 33.

Services and equipment

Currently, the company serves the aerospace, defense, marine and medical equipment industries (among others) and is the newest metal finishing facility in San Diego, according to Cielak. He prides himself on the quality control, prompt deliveries and affordable prices MMP offers to its customers.

Besides the unique finishes mentioned earlier, MMP also offers sulfuric acid anodize type II and III, PTFE impregnated anodizing, passivation, paint, primers and adhesive primers, chem film, dry film lubricants, electropolishing, glass bead blasting, powder coating and a couple proprietary finishes. It also provides pickup and delivery within a limited area, serving local customers in San Diego as well as the rest of California and out of state.

The company runs two anodizing lines, one fully automatic and one manual. “We have state-of-the-art equipment and brand new spray booths,” Cielak says. He adds that the shop is continuously upgrading its equipment and most recently purchased new air compressors for the paint shop.

Trend: composites

As a savvy business owner, Cielak stays abreast of the surface finishing industry, noting trends and challenges that might affect his operation. By doing so, he is able to consult customers and offer alternative solutions to finishing challenges. Although the company largely processes aluminum and stainless steel, there is a movement, specifically in aerospace, where parts are manufactured using composites instead of metal. Cielak says MMP is an expert in working on finishing composites and is a leader in this growing market segment.

A zero-discharge shop

In addition to keeping up with the latest industry trends, MMP is also environmentally friendly. Cielak explains that his company is a zero-discharge shop that uses an evaporation system for waste minimization.