Our History

ACME Surface Dynamics, Inc., was founded as ACME Hard Chrome in Alliance, Ohio, in 1953. Lester P. Miller set up his fledgling business in a building that had once housed one of the earliest Greek Orthodox churches in the area. Today that building houses part of the plating facility in a much-expanded business.

During those early years, ACME also did some plating work in copper, zinc, cadmium and nickel, but it was soon determined that hard chrome was the preferred process, and the other metals were discontinued. The first of several additions was undertaken in 1964.

Rich and Debbie Burton assumed ownership of ACME in 1975 and engaged in the business turnaround that would see their first expansion in 1981, when space was added to accommodate shipping, receiving and storage facilities. An important step forward was taken in 1983, with the introduction of Electroless Nickel Plating and a modern second-generation Ion Exchange Waste Water Treatment System. During this same year, the company’s offices were moved into larger space in an adjacent building in order to accommodate increased staffing.

Growth was steady and sure: in 1989 a new, 5,000 square foot office building was constructed across the street from the production facility. At the same time, ACME Hard Chrome Inc,. became ACME Industrial Group, Inc., to better reflect the wider range of services being provided. Another expansion followed, in 1991, that provided an additional 6,000 square feet for plating facilities and expanded polishing, storage, and lunchroom areas.

In the last two decades, renovations and the addition of two new departments, Electropolishing and Passivation of Stainless Steel, have been accomplished.