When DECKED expanded its truck-bed storage offering through CargoGlide, increased demand exposed two connected problems: the existing coating process was not producing the needed consistency, and the plant needed more room for fabrication.
The production challenge
Buying coating equipment was only one possible answer. The broader question was how fabrication, finishing, handling, transportation, and distribution could work as one production system. An in-house coating line would require floor space, people, maintenance, and process control that could otherwise support fabrication.
An outsourced finishing workflow
DECKED worked with Salt City Metal Coatings to move the powder-coating step into a dedicated regional finishing operation. That allowed the manufacturer to keep more plant space focused on fabrication while Salt City handled the coating portion of the workflow.
Custom handling for repeat production
The parts still had to travel safely through unfinished and finished stages. Salt City developed custom jigs and transport racks to hold CargoGlide components, move them between facilities, protect finished surfaces, and support repeat releases. The handling plan became part of the coating plan rather than an afterthought.
What this example shows
Repeat-production coating works best when the customer and finisher define the complete flow: part condition, racking, preparation, coating, cure, release quantities, transportation, packaging, approvals, and communication. The value is not simply applying powder; it is helping the finishing step function reliably inside the customer’s larger operation.
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