Afusa

Advanced Finishing USA started in 1970 when Walter J. "Walt" Yahn founded the company with a vision to establish a force in the then-emerging powder coating industry. Today, the business remains family-owned with Walt's son Greg Yahn running operations. That continuity matters—it means the founding vision of quality and reliability still drives every job that comes through their doors.

They're based at 7401 Klier Drive in Fairview, Pennsylvania, about 15 minutes from Erie. The location is strategic: they're right near the intersection of I-80, I-79, and I-90, which makes them accessible for companies across the Northeastern USA and beyond. The 80,000 square foot facility gives them serious capacity for large-scale and complex work.

Advancing Finishing is the largest independent Decoral® licensee in America. They use dye sublimation technology to apply wood grain finishes to metal and aluminum that look and feel like real wood but perform like industrial coating. No warping, no rotting, no pest damage—just the aesthetic of wood with the durability of metal.

Common applications include: - Architectural ceiling systems - Building cladding (internal and external) - Window, door, and curtain wall framing - Environmental control sunshade systems - Railings and facade panels

All wood grain finishes are available in smooth and textured options that meet AAMA 2604 specifications.

They use powders from all major powder manufacturers and state-of-the-art application equipment. They've handled epoxy powder coating jobs for pump systems in massive fountains and municipal water treatment systems. On the polyester side, they've coated entire stadium seating installations—the kind of high-volume work that requires both capacity and precision.

Application methods: - Electrostatic spray (most common): Powder is charged and attracted to grounded metal parts, then cured in an oven - Fluid bed dipping: Hot parts are dipped into fluidized powder. Their largest fluid dipping bed is 8' long × 3' wide × 4' deep

While powder coating is often more efficient, sometimes wet paint finishing is the right call. Advanced Finishing handles medium to high-volume industrial painting, including military-spec work. They offer: - Batch painting for medium volume - Spindle conveyor painting for high-volume and mil-spec work - In-house pre-treatment or partnerships with trusted local providers

Beyond coating, they offer: - Assembly work - Packaging and labeling - Temporary storage - Delivery of finished products - Custom solutions for distribution challenges

Thickness varies by application method: - Cold application to flat plate: 1-3 mils (.001" to .003") - Application to warm parts: 3-5 mils - Spray/fluid bed dip on hot parts: 8-12 mils - Multiple coats can exceed 125 mils (1/8 inch)

Lifespan depends on environment: - Corrosion and abrasion coatings: 2-3 years typical - Outdoor applications: 5-7 years with minimal color/gloss reduction - High-end architectural (AAMA 2605 specs): 10-20 years warranty possible - Electrical applications (bus bars, etc.): 10-15 years

In general, powder coating lasts longer than paint.

They work with color standards like RAL colors and Federal Standard colors. There are infinite color and texture options available. Common finishes include flat, low gloss, various gloss levels, texture, wrinkle, hammertone—in multiple resin types (epoxy, polyester, nylon, urethane, fluoropolymers).

• •Quality Statement: "Best quality, on time every time, using the QMS for continuous improvement."

They operate under a tight quality assurance system. Every step from cleaning and pre-treatment through final inspection is documented and controlled. Post-finishing inspection ensures finished products meet specifications before shipping or pickup.

• •Environmental Compliance:
• •Most powders contain zero VOCs (volatile organic compounds)
• •Powders are non-flammable, non-toxic, non-hazardous inert plastics
• •Batch cleaning uses iron phosphate (disposed through licensed industrial waste management)
• •Henkel Bonderite NT pretreatment system—sustainable, non-polluting, municipal wastewater compatible
• •All wastewater sent to municipal treatment plants

Advanced Finishing organizes around five stakeholder groups:

Employees - Part of the family, treated as such. Working together benefits everyone.

Customers - Give the company reason to exist. Work must be done properly and on time.

Suppliers - Provide the means to deliver service. Must be treated fairly.

Community - Provides for employees, customers, and suppliers. Everyone must participate.

Shareholders - Have a stake in everything. Business stays strong when the other four groups are taken care of.

• •Phone: 814.474.5200
• •Fax: 814.474.5205
• •Address: 7401 Klier Drive, Fairview, PA 16415

They're ready to discuss custom finishing solutions for large projects, high-volume work, or anything in between.