Zinc Nickel Plating Backed by Solar Powered Operations
From SolrDefense™ to Facility Solar Panels
Sustainability Applied at the Process and Facility Level
Innovation at DeKalb Metal Finishing extends beyond the finishes applied to customer components. It also shapes how our facility was designed and operates.
SolrDefense™ was developed to meet the corrosion protection and cost demands of the solar industry, delivering reliable zinc iron performance while reducing total system cost. That same focus on efficiency and long term value led DeKalb to integrate solar energy directly into facility operations.
By generating power on site, DeKalb reduces reliance on external energy sources while maintaining the consistency, throughput, and quality standards required by high volume manufacturing customers.
Facility Solar Impact in Real Time
This facility uses on site solar panels to offset a portion of daily energy consumption. The information below reflects live operational performance.
- Daily, Monthly, Annual Renewable Power
- Local ECO Power
- CO2 – Avoidance
These figures update continuously based on live production data from our solar installation, offering transparency into how operational decisions translate into real environmental and financial results.
Built on a History of Firsts
“When you look at our history, innovation at DeKalb Metal Finishing has always been about more than developing new finishes. It is about how we operate as a company,” said Matt Morris of DeKalb Metal Finishing.
“Being early to zinc iron plating and later developing SolrDefense™ for solar components showed what was possible at the product level. Investing in solar panels at our own facility reflects that same mindset in our operations. We believe sustainability should be built into how we manufacture, not treated as a separate initiative. This is about applying the same discipline, testing, and long term thinking to our facilities that we apply to every part we plate.”
Why This Matters to Our Customers
DeKalb Metal Finishing’s approach to sustainability is rooted in operational discipline and technical expertise that extends to our facility and finishing. We have made operational choices that directly benefit our customers, neighbors, and the environment:
- Stable, efficient manufacturing supported by on site energy generation
- Plating processes engineered for long term corrosion performance
- Facilities designed to support customer ESG and supplier responsibility goals
- A technically driven partner with decades of plating experience
Sustainability and performance are not tradeoffs. At DeKalb Metal Finishing, they are designed to work together.
About DeKalb Metal Finishing
DeKalb Metal Finishing provides zinc nickel, zinc, and zinc iron plating solutions for manufacturers that demand proven performance, consistent quality, and responsible operations. With decades of experience serving the automotive and advanced manufacturing industries, DeKalb pairs technical plating expertise with operational investments designed to support long term efficiency and sustainability.
This includes the development of SolrDefense™, a zinc iron electroplating system engineered for solar panel components, as well as the use of on site solar panels at our newest facility to reduce energy consumption and operating impact.
As a U.S. based plating company for more than 70 years in Auburn, Indiana, our electroplating specialists are known for rigorous testing, including rubber to metal bonding and performance driven specifications. DeKalb Metal Finishing is IATF 16949 certified, providing added assurance of quality management and process control.
For more information, contact DeKalb Metal Finishing at 260-925-1820, email info@dekalbmetal.com, or explore our website.