Company History | Corporate Environmental Policy | Memberships | VCMS
Company History
Company Founders (L to R): W. Wilson Loveless, Curtis M. Varland, & Edwin Roof
Varland Metal Service, Inc., was founded in 1946 by Curtis M. Varland, Edwin Roof, and W. Wilson Loveless. At our inception, polishing, buffing and bright rack nickel-chrome plating of appliance trim, plumbing hardware, and automotive parts comprised the majority of our production operations.
Sales & Process Focus
Beginning in the mid-1970's the Company's sales and process focus evolved in response to our customer base. Polishing and buffing were already no longer being done. We then began a phase out of rack plating so we could fully focus on what we do best—precision barrel plating of small parts.
Through the years, our barrel plating capabilities, capacity, and sophistication have continued to evolve and improve. We currently have the capability to provide the following types of barrel plating—nickel (electrolytic and electroless), copper, zinc, zinc-iron alloy, tin-zinc alloy, tin (both bright acid and matte stannate), cadmium, and brass. Additionally, we offer other related (non-plating) processes and services.
Click here for a more detailed description of our processes.
Facilities
Our present four acre plant site, at 3231 Fredonia Avenue, was purchased in 1961. The original plant contained 40,500 square feet of production space along with 6,500 square feet of office space. The first barrel and rack plating lines were installed in 1962. Two major building additions have been made to the original plant.
In 1984, an 8,400 square foot Shipping/Receiving building was completed in response to expanding plating sales and an increase in shipments from customers outside the local area. This addition allows us to handle commercial trucks and trailers at four docks readily accessible from Fredonia Avenue.
The 1990's were a decade of increasing sales accompanied by further facility improvements. In 1991, plans were developed for another building addition. This 16,000 square foot facility, which was completed in 1993, allowed for the future growth of the Company, and provided an efficient, safe environment for the storage and staging of customer parts, in addition to allowing for an increased capability in non-plating operations such as baking and packaging. Also in 1993, the parking lot was enlarged and the entire plant property was landscaped.
Quality
At Varland Metal Service, quality has always been a key priority. We take great pride in the quality of our plating and we strive to meet our customers' needs 100% of the time.
In 1985, the Company created a Quality Control Department, appointed a Quality Control Manager, and developed a Quality Control Manual. Quality training with our production employees began in 1989. That same year, the Company was proud to become the first metal finisher in the country to receive the Ford Q1 Preferred Quality Award.
We have had x-ray fluorescence thickness checking ability since 1984. Currently we have two Fischerscope X-ray fluorescence instruments that give us the ability to non-destructively measure plating thickness on our customers' parts with very high precision.
More recently, top management made a commitment to establish compliance with the requirements of the ISO 9001:2000 quality standard for all of its electroplating and related metal finishing activities. The Company received its ISO 9001:2000 certification on February 7, 2003 and was recently re-certified for another 3 years in November of 2005.
Click here to learn more about Varland's commitment to quality.
Click here to contact a member of our Quality Assurance team.
Computerization
Beginning in 1974, when two NCR 399 computers were installed, Varland Metal Service has embraced computerization. With these first computers, custom programming provided for customer processing procedures, shipping documents, invoicing, production reporting, payroll, and general accounting.
The 1980's brought many major changes and improvements. In 1981, an IBM Series/1 mid-range computer system was installed along with the Varland Computerized Management System (VCMS) software. This interactive, multi-user system allowed the use of computer terminals and printers in the sales, order entry, production and accounting departments. In 1983, the Company began in-house computer programming with the addition of a systems analyst and computer programmer to the staff. In 1986, an IBM System/36 mid-range computer system was installed and the VCMS software was converted and enhanced to run on this new system.
The first sale of a VCMS software license to another metal finisher was also completed in 1986. Nine software licenses in six states are now supported by the VCMS programming and support staff.
Subsequent computer hardware improvements and software enhancements have continued through the years as we keep up with technological advances. An Ethernet network links all plant floor and office computers. Our current IBM iSeries computer running our VCMS software allows full integration between production control, shipping and receiving, order tracking, accounts payable and receivable, payroll, and material management systems.
Click here to learn more about the Varland Computerized Management System (VCMS).
Computerized monitoring of plating processes began in 1988. This capability and sophistication has greatly advanced through the years and is now an integral component of our process lines. Our ability to design and implement customized monitoring and control software for our processing equipment has greatly increased the consistency and quality of the work we process for our customers.
Click here for a more detailed description of our processes.
Environmental
Varland Metal Service is concerned about the environment and has gone to great lengths to be an environmentally responsible company.
In 1984, the Company made a major investment in the future with the installation of a wastewater pollution abatement system. Designed with adequate capacity for growth, the system allows the Company to comply with city, state, and federal wastewater regulations.
A sand filter was added to the wastewater treatment system in 1992. Since then, all treated process waters leaving the plant pass through this final filtering step to ensure the highest quality effluent.
In 1993 the Company began the 100% recycling of treated chemical waste. All treated chemical wastes are shipped to a processor for recovery and recycling. Because of this policy, none of Varland Metal Service's waste is sent to landfills.
Click here to review our Corporate Environmental Policy.