In the West Michigan Is Going Places series, we are talking with local business owners and community leaders about their business successes and challenges and highlighting the resources available in the West Michigan business community.
In this interview we talked with Don Post about his company, Electro Chemical Finishing. ECF is an industry leader in the application of decorative surface finishes and offers a variety of process offerings, including electroplating and trivalent chrome.
CC: Could you tell us a little about what your business does and how it got started?
Don Post: Electro Chemical Finishing (ECF) provides decorative finishes primarily for the automotive, kitchen and bath, and appliance markets. It was founded in 1977 when Terry Vollmer, Larry Hanna, Richard Grogal, and John Giere started providing gold plating celebrity phone components to Western Electric at the corner of Stafford and 44th street in Wyoming, Michigan.
Later ECF expanded to its current operation location at 2610 Remico Street in Wyoming, and it has reached employment levels of nearly 400 people. ECF currently provides a wide range of decorative finishes at its Remico operation, and original founder member Terry Vollmer is still active in the organization.
How has your business changed since you first started out?
Don Post: Marketing segments have come and gone over the years with ECF currently providing finishes components primarily to the automotive, kitchen and bath and appliance markets.
Environmental requirements have continued to increase over the years and the current trivalent chrome that is in demand is much more environmentally friendly than the hexavalent chromes that were popular in years past.
What makes you passionate about what you do?
Don Post: It’s exciting to see the new products being offered in the various markets. Finishing processes continue to be more environmentally friendly. And even though robotics have become more prevalent in production and the application of finishes, interfacing with people is still as common as when we first started.
How has being here in West Michigan helped your business?
Don Post: Our primary customer base of automotive, kitchen and bath, and appliance are still located near our operations. West Michigan continues to maintain an outstanding work pool, and educational opportunities for trades and professional office personnel is abundant.
What’s your approach to customer service and connecting with the community?
Don Post: Provide products and services that meet our customers’ needs, be honest, and do what you say you are going to do.
How do you plan to grow or adapt your business for the future?
Don Post: We provide a work environment that is attractive and provides opportunities to employees. And we continue to improve our processes and bring new talent into our organization.
Are there any local organizations or networks that have been particularly helpful for you in building your business?
Don Post: Having a website that accurately portrays your company and includes search function features that effortlessly bring customers to your doorstep is paramount. Corporate Conversions is our website partner.
