Smith Electrochemical

HISTORY

Harold F. Smith, founder of Smith Electrochemical Company, graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 1927, where he received his degree in Chemical Engineering. He had several engineering positions designing and developing new products. During WWII, he gained extensive experience at the Sperti Corporation, installing and supervising their plating facility.

When Sperti Corp. moved from Cincinnati in 1948, Mr. Smith built his 900 sq. ft. plating shop next to a small polishing and buffing shop. The plating shop gravitated toward military projects during the Korean War and military hardware soon became a very dominant portion of the parts processed. Since General Electric’s large Jet Engine Plant was conveniently located close to Smith’s, a large portion of the business involved silver plating jet engine parts. Plating these precision parts was primarily responsible for Smith Electrochemical’s reputation for quality and by 1959, Smith’s plating facility had expanded to about 8000 square feet.

Donald W. Kifer, Mr. Smith’s nephew joined the company in 1959 and worked as a co-op student while attending the University of Cincinnati, where he received his degree in Metallurgical Engineering in 1964. During this time, Mr. Kifer developed a method of diffusion, bonding silver to high nickel alloys in order to meet high temperature requirements for jet engine applications. The AMS 2411 specification was revised to allow for this process.

Mr. Kifer and Michael P. Smith, an outside accountant, purchased the 15,000 sq. ft. business just a few months before Mr. Smith’s death in 1982. The facility was expanded to 25,000 sq. ft. in 1998 to accommodate a hoist zinc line (in operation) and a hoist anodize line (currently being installed).

Mr. Robert T. Kifer, Donald’s son, graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 1990 and joined Smith Electrochemical Co. in 1992. Robert purchased Michael Smith’s share of the business in January 2000. He currently supervises the anodize department, along with his administrative duties, including personnel related problems, quotations and customer relations.

Mr. Richard Schneider, a graduate of Thomas Moore College, joined Smith in 1971 and has been the Plant Manager since 1982. He has thorough knowledge of all processes performed at Smith, which enables him to schedule and troubleshoot.

Charles Broerman, a graduate of Xavier University, joined Smith in 1982 and is now the Process Control Manager in charge of chemical processes and the testing lab.

Anne Kifer, Donald’s wife, has worked in the offfice since 1984 and currently is the Office Manager.

Although the military work has greatly diminished, Mr. Smith’s emphasis on quality and customer satisfaction lives on through the generations at Smith Electrochemical Co.



HISTORY Harold F. Smith, founder of Smith Electrochemical Company, graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 1927, where he received his degree in Chemical Engineering. He had several engineering positions designing and developing new products. During WWII, he gained extensive experience at the Sperti Corporation, installing and supervising their plating facility. When Sperti Corp. moved from Cincinnati in 1948, Mr. Smith built his 900 sq. ft. plating shop next to a small polishing and buffing shop. The plating shop gravitated toward military projects during the Korean War and military hardware soon became a very dominant portion of the parts processed. Since General Electric’s large Jet Engine Plant was conveniently located close to Smith’s, a large portion of the business involved silver plating jet engine parts. Plating these precision parts was primarily responsible for Smith Electrochemical’s reputation for quality and by 1959, Smith’s plating facility had expanded to about 8000 square feet. Donald W. Kifer, Mr. Smith’s nephew joined the company in 1959 and worked as a co-op student while attending the University of Cincinnati, where he received his degree in Metallurgical Engineering in 1964. During this time, Mr. Kifer developed a method of diffusion, bonding silver to high nickel alloys in order to meet high temperature requirements for jet engine applications. The AMS 2411 specification was revised to allow for this process. Mr. Kifer and Michael P. Smith, an outside accountant, purchased the 15,000 sq. ft. business just a few months before Mr. Smith’s death in 1982. The facility was expanded to 25,000 sq. ft. in 1998 to accommodate a hoist zinc line (in operation) and a hoist anodize line (currently being installed). Mr. Robert T. Kifer, Donald’s son, graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 1990 and joined Smith Electrochemical Co. in 1992. Robert purchased Michael Smith’s share of the business in January 2000. He currently supervises the anodize department, along with his administrative duties, including personnel related problems, quotations and customer relations. Mr. Richard Schneider, a graduate of Thomas Moore College, joined Smith in 1971 and has been the Plant Manager since 1982. He has thorough knowledge of all processes performed at Smith, which enables him to schedule and troubleshoot. Charles Broerman, a graduate of Xavier University, joined Smith in 1982 and is now the Process Control Manager in charge of chemical processes and the testing lab. Anne Kifer, Donald’s wife, has worked in the offfice since 1984 and currently is the Office Manager. Although the military work has greatly diminished, Mr. Smith’s emphasis on quality and customer satisfaction lives on through the generations at Smith Electrochemical Co.
Home - Anodizing & Passivating - Plating - History SMITH ELECTROCHEMICAL CO. 5936 Carthage Ct. Cincinnati, OH 45212 Ph: 513-351-7227 Fax: 513-351-9911 e-mail:sec@isoc.net