Canadian Surface Finishing Industry Economic Impact Study: CASF + Orr & Boss Consulting

Introduction & Background

The Canadian Association for Surface Finishing (CASF) engaged Orr & Boss to conduct an Economic Impact Study of the Canadian Surface Finishing Industry. The study evaluated numerous economic factors and data sets including the size of the surface finishing industry in Canada, jobs created, GDP impact, and taxes generated.

The Surface Finishing Industry was defined as the entire surface finishing market including both Job Finishers and Captive Finishers. Also included were raw material suppliers, professional surface providers, and capital equipment providers since the surface finishing generates economic activity from these sectors as well. The report investigated all types of surface finishing including: Anodizing, Antiquing, Electroplating, Electropolishing, Etching, E-Coating, Hot Dip Galvanizing, Polishing, Powder Coating, Physical Vapor Deposition, and Electroless Finishing.

Summary of Results:

Surface Finishing Output:

The Total Output of surface finishers in Canada is estimated to be $3.5 billion.

This is the revenue of the surface finishing companies themselves; those companies actually applying the surface finish to the metallic or non-metallic substrates.

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Supplier Output:

The industry generates $930 million of output by suppliers to the industry.

The raw materials used in the industry generate $723 million of output. Raw materials include both commodity and proprietary raw materials (Ie. Metals, chemicals, etc). In addition to the $723 million of raw materials, there is $206 million of spending on other suppliers to the industry including professional service suppliers and capital equipment suppliers.

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Employment:

Total employment in the industry is estimated to be 17,198.

This includes both employees at the surface finishers themselves and the suppliers to the surface finishers

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Salary & Wages:

Total salary and wages in the industry are estimated to be $705 million.

The average wage and salary are about 26% higher than the Canadian average reflecting the higher skill level required as well as the relatively high productivity of the industry.

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