Metal Finishing Technologies Names President

Metal Finishing Technologies (MFT) has appointed Zach Kleiner to serve as company president. In this role, Kleiner will leverage decades of experience in manufacturing and aerospace to lead MFT through a new phase of operational growth. Kleiner’s strategic expertise and familiarity with large-scale operations will bring clarity and big-picture perspective to the complex day-to-day demands of the Bristol finishing house.

Before his appointment as MFT’s president, Kleiner spent many years developing his skills through wide-ranging business operation roles in the manufacturing industry. Most recently, he served two years as a plant manager with Praxair Surface Technologies, where he oversaw plant operations in the area of thermal spray, and wear-and-corrosion-resistant coatings. The overlap with MFT (as a job shop environment) has helped prepare Kleiner for the dynamic nature of outside vendor operations.

Kleiner also held a two-year position as director of business operations for PCC Aerostructures. He spent the 11 years before that working with Rolls-Royce in a variety of management positions, including financial, customer service and manufacturing operations. The company says these experiences have given Kleiner a strong foundation in the rules and tools of the aerospace manufacturing industry which will serve him well as he leads MFT into the future.

MFT will face many of the same challenging headwinds as the rest of the industry over the next five years, especially in the area of workforce pipeline development. The average age of manufacturing workers continues to increase as the talent pool for recruitment of qualified candidates remains limited.

This is an area in which Kleiner is passionate, and he is thrilled to take the reins as the company is already engaged with multiple industry and government agencies, designing technical curriculum and developing the framework for a career pipeline into metal finishing. Under his operational leadership, MFT remains committed to providing the platform, laboratory space, chemistry and exposure that opens up career paths for young professionals.

Another area of pride for MFT is the work the company has done with its sustainability efforts. Kleiner is excited to see this work being done not only because of the importance sustainability will have for future obligations but also due to its impact on people. He says that a focus on environmental stewardship makes MFT a rarity among metal finishing companies, which attracts new employees and encourages customers to do business with the finishing house.

“This is a component for a business that is just so critical to have right,” Kleiner says. “I’m eager to get to work on continuing our leadership in that effort, rather than being caught on our heels and trying to play catch-up.”