By: Davies Hood, Induron President
Flipping the calendar to the new year is always one of my favorite times because of the spirit of renewal and optimism it brings. As a business owner, I am naturally optimistic—I see the glass as half full all the time. The chance to set goals, meet with my team, and chart a course for the next 12 months gives me energy.
Last year, my enthusiasm led me to take the entire Induron Sales Team and their spouses to a resort on the Mayan Riviera for our annual sales meeting. Yet, because of the improvements and changes we made in 2024, I’m even more excited about our growth opportunities this year. A corporation is built on people, place, and product. In 2024, Induron Coatings, LLC made significant strides in all three areas, positioning us to “Thrive in ’25!”
How 2024 Set Us Up for Success
This blog is more about the future, but it’s worth highlighting some of our key accomplishments from last year. We achieved a perfect safety record with ZERO lost time due to injuries. We passed our annual ISO 9001 Quality Audit with ZERO issues, aced a surprise ADEM/EPA inspection with ZERO corrective action recommendations, and successfully renewed our contract with the USW Union in just one day—a testament to the mutual trust and respect between our management and manufacturing teams.
We also strengthened our technical department by improving documentation and increasing efficiency in developing valuable new products. This progress enhances our ability to serve all stakeholders—from contractors and specifying engineers to inspectors and asset owners—in the markets we target. Additionally, we were confident enough in our team, systems, and processes to hire a new salesperson and focus on training him “the Induron way.” These collective efforts position us for even greater success in 2025.
Looking Ahead to 2025
We are excited to introduce innovative products designed to be safer, easier to apply correctly, and more resistant to corrosion in the aggressive environments where we specialize. One standout development is NovaSafe Novolac Epoxy, based on the same technology behind Protecto 401 Ceramic Epoxy and our entire ceramic epoxy line. This product combines user-friendly application properties with the “gold standard” corrosion protection currently used on much of our nation’s ductile iron sewer pipe infrastructure. We’re also enhancing the longevity and safety of the power transmission grid with a significantly lighter version of Induraguard 9200.
Another breakthrough is Perma-Clean 100 Single Leg, a 100% solids ceramic epoxy designed for potable water lining. What makes this high-build, corrosion-resistant material truly unique is its ability to be applied up to 50 mils DFT on vertical surfaces (we’ve actually achieved much more) while offering a pot life compatible with conventional single-leg spray pumps. We believe Perma-Clean 100 SL will be a game-changer in the water tank market.
Building Our Team and Culture
We’re committed to expanding our team with more top performers. I’m immensely proud of the culture we’ve built at this third-generation family business. While we enjoy fun activities like sporting clays at Selwood Farms, a Christmas party at the iconic Vulcan Park, and go-kart racing at Autobahn K1, we are equally serious about continuous improvement. We rigorously test and refine our products, enhance their application properties, and train our sales and technical service professionals to demonstrate these strengths effectively.
Induron is a growing family business producing high-quality coatings right here in the U.S., and I’m proud of that. But what excites me most is the incredible team we have assembled—the true reason I’m optimistic about the new year. I believe Induron will “Thrive in ’25,” and I hope you and your team will, too!