This year marks 20 years in business for Denver, NC-based Calico Coatings. Located in Balsom Ridge Business Park, Calico Coatings was founded by racers, for racers. Tracy Trotter, owner and a racer himself, set out to develop the industry’s most technologically advanced coatings — with the ability to withstand the extreme conditions of high speed and engine wear. Calico quickly gained a reputation as the leader in the coatings industry by working with race teams and engine builders to solve issues of friction, wear, heat and corrosion.

Trotter started the company with a little help from a special friend, his grandmother. “After working in the industry for several years I knew I could do this for myself. So, with the little savings I had and a small loan from my grandmother, I opened the doors of Calico Coatings.” Starting with only two employees Calico has now grown to 33 employees running two shifts in order to meet the growing demands of their customers.

Over the past 20 years, the Calico team has worked relentlessly to maintain its reputation as a high quality coating company in the industry and to remain on the cutting edge of coating technology, including advances in thin films. “Our goal is to be the best in the coating business when it comes to quality,” said General Manager Russ Salerno. “I have been blessed with an unbelievable team of people at Calico Coatings and each one of them are the reason for our success through the years.”

“We are poised to have the best year in the history of the company,” said Trotter. “It’s really exciting to see this happening on the company’s 20th anniversary year.”

After 10 years in the coatings business, Calico expanded its operation by adding a laboratory dedicated to the research and development of new coatings, including diamond-like coatings. By the end of 2012, to keep up with the growing demands of its customers, Calico combined its operation into what is now its headquarters — a state-of-the art, 20,000 sq. ft. manufacturing and research facility located in Denver, NC.

The company is now exploring expanding its headquarters, as well as opening a second facility in Trotter’s home state of Texas.

Today, Calico’s performance coating knowledge and expertise is in demand across numerous high-performance industries including automotive/motorsports, the U.S. Military, aerospace, molds and dies, diesel engine, firearms and others.

For more info: CalicoCoatings.com.