Category: News

HighTech Finishing Announces Leadership Transition: Rick Niefield to Retire, Amanda Taylor Promoted to Vice President of Sales & Marketing

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Houston, TX – HighTech Finishing, a leading provider of decorative metal plating for the aviation industry, announces the retirement of Rick Niefield, Vice President of Sales & Marketing, at the end of the year. After 24 years of dedicated service and impressive growth, Rick leaves behind a legacy of excellence, having played a pivotal role in expanding the company’s market presence and strengthening customer relationships.

Stepping into this esteemed role is Amanda Taylor, who has been an integral part of HighTech Finishing’s sales leadership team. Amanda’s promotion to Vice President of Sales & Marketing reflects her deep industry expertise and commitment to driving innovation and customer satisfaction. Since joining the company, she has been instrumental in enhancing the customer experience and spearheading strategic growth initiatives.

“We are incredibly grateful for Rick’s contributions to HighTech Finishing. His leadership has been invaluable, and we wish him the best in his well-earned retirement,” said Simon Haining, President of HighTech Finishing. “At the same time, we are excited to welcome Amanda into this new role. Her vision and passion for the aviation industry make her the perfect choice to lead our sales and marketing efforts into the future.”
Through the remainder of 2025, Rick and Amanda will share company responsibilities, ensuring a seamless transition for customers and partners.

About HighTech Finishing
HighTech Finishing specializes in high-quality decorative plating for aircraft interiors, serving OEMs, refurbishment centers, and aviation professionals worldwide. With a commitment to craftsmanship and innovation, the company continues to set the standard for excellence in aviation interior finishing.

Growing With Purpose: Our Next Step Forward

March 28th 2025
As our industry has expanded, so too has High Tech Finishing and as a result we have outgrown our home of the past forty-one years. As such, we have purchased a new building in north-west Houston. The address for which is:
5425 North Sam Houston Parkway West,
Houston, Texas, 77086, United States of America

Our new building is a substantive upgrade on our current location as it provides a significant increase in floor space, all under one roof. It has allowed us to redesign the layout of our departments, which has been done with a Lean Manufacturing philosophy in mind.
Working with city officials, safety and environmental professionals, insurance advisors, architectural experts and plating industry specialists, we have built a truly world-class facility to ensure that High Tech Finishing continues to deliver the best quality decorative plating hardware in the aerospace industry. We expect to begin our transition to our new building in June. Our success stems from our experience and we are proud that our exceptional team is excited to make the fifteen-mile move north as we embark on the next chapter of our company.
We are in the process of transferring our FAA Repair Station, ISO 9001 and AS9100 certificates to our new address. It is important to highlight that we will continue to operate our existing facility simultaneously. This will ensure a seamless transition and prevent any disruption to our delivery schedules.
Along with the building, we are installing new state of the art plating and anodizing lines. These lines have been designed to provide additional capacity, while improving quality and efficiency. To eliminate environmental risks, the plating line incorporates a new waste-water treatment system that will remove all metal contaminants, balance pH and destroy other chemicals before being discharged. Every plating tank also includes a new air-scrubber system to remove acidic/caustic vapor before the air is ventilated to the atmosphere. Importantly, new safety devices are in place, such as hot-water heating instead of electrical heating to eliminate the risk of fire, electronic air quality monitoring to eliminate the risk of vapor build-up and electronic monitoring of solution pH, to eliminate the risk of corrosion.
On behalf of the High Tech Finishing team, I am honored to share this news with you and we look forward to continuing our partnership into the future.

Simon Haining
President of High Tech Finishing

High Tech Finishing’s New Plating Facility

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High Tech Finishing’s New Plating Facility: A Leap Forward in Aviation Interior Plating
High Tech Finishing, a leading name in aviation interior plating, is embarking on an exciting new journey with the construction of our state-of-the-art plating facility in North Houston. This new facility, as large as two aircraft hangars, is not just an expansion; it’s a significant evolution in the company’s mission to provide premium decorative plating solutions for the aviation industry.

A New Era of Efficiency and Growth
The new facility is designed to accommodate future growth plans and provide a larger and more efficient space for our current operations. This move is a testament to HighTech’s commitment to innovation and excellence in the aviation plating industry. The new building will enable High Tech to enhance production capabilities, ensuring we continue to meet the high quality standards and rapid turn times customers have come to expect.

Follow the Journey
Embarking on this exciting new chapter, we invite you to follow us on our journey as we’ll be sharing updates on the progress and key milestones on our LinkedIn page. This is an opportunity to witness the evolution of a company that has been at the forefront of aviation interior plating for over four decades.
Stay tuned for more updates as High Tech Finishing continues to lead the way in aviation interior plating.

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Welcome Our New Team Member: Lauren Stout

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HighTech Finishing is excited to introduce the newest member of our sales team, Lauren Stout, who joins us in the position of national sales manager. Lauren brings over 13 years of experience in aircraft interior design, project management and aircraft interior sales and has previously held key management positions at Constant Aviation and Flexjet.

Lauren will cover the domestic decorative plating market for the company while seeking growth opportunities in other industries as well. We are confident she will be a great addition to the company.

Please join me in welcoming Lauren to the HighTech team. We are excited to have her on board and look forward to the positive contributions she will bring!

Hurricane Beryl

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As you may know Houston was impacted by hurricane Beryl.

Fortunately all HTF employees are safe and well and our buildings and equipment sustained no damage.
However we are currently without power.
We are working with our utility company to find out when this will be restored and allow us to get back to work.
We appreciate your patience as we work this problem.

Rest assured, all HTF employees are ready to work around the clock once the power is restored.

Image from (Raquel Natalicchio / Associated Press)

Introducing High Tech Finishing’s New Facility!

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Over the next several months we’ll be moving into our brand new building in North Houston.
This will provide us with a larger, more efficient space to accommodate our growth plans. But more importantly, it’s a building befitting of our amazing employees and world-class customers.

This isn’t just an expansion, this is an evolution of the premium decorative plating aviation company in the world. Follow us on LinkedIn for updates, as we embark on the biggest journey in our company’s history.

If you’re not High Tech, you’re low tech.
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Update

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Proud members of the High Tech Finishing team that gets it done.
We know the importance of excellent service and we are working around the clock to deliver for our customers.

Update

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Regretfully we report that one of our buildings sustained damage following an accidental fire on Saturday. Importantly no one was hurt but it has impacted on our immediate capabilities.
We have initiated our emergency contingency plans and expect to begin some plating next week. Our capacity and capabilities will continue improve as we proceed.

We apologize to all of our customers for the inevitable delays, but rest assured the entire High Tech team is working extremely hard to get back to normal as soon as possible.
We appreciate the support and offers of help that have poured in these past few days and I promise that High Tech Finishing will become stronger from this. Whatever it takes!

A company’s excellence is defined not by the avoidance of problems, but by how it reacts, learns and improves because of those problems.

Business Jet Interior Design: 5 Ideas to Captivate Your Customers

Your design journey for business jet interiors can open the door to a fascinating new world of inspirational possibilities. With such a vast sea of choices, deciding which direction to channel your creativity can sometimes be challenging. As you and your design team consider which luxury interior configurations to use for private planes, drawing inspiration from both tried and true design concepts and the latest trends in aviation can be helpful.

To help engage your imagination, we have put together a list of five captivating ideas to inspire private jet interior designers. These impressive business jet interior design ideas can help innovators create modern, sleek interiors with chic, elevating touches to impress passengers and clients alike.

Need help with aircraft interior designs? At HighTech Finishing, our skilled team of leading jet design specialists can help you create the ideal aircraft interiors for private jets, planes, and more. Our award-winning company has provided brilliant decorative metal finishes for aircraft interior parts since 1984. We can easily plate the parts you need to match the overall design of the aircraft interior to elevate its look and feel. The finished product helps create a luxurious ambiance that your clients will love!

Our Latest Business Jet Interior Design Tips

Without further ado, here are five of the most captivating design ideas for private aircraft in 2022 and beyond.

1. Bridging the Gap Between Modern Interior Design Trends and Air Travel

As with all things fashionable, interior design trends are constantly moving. To keep pace with an ever-evolving world of modern ideas, the latest and greatest interior designs merge current trends with timeless standards. The result is a composed and elegant look that is simultaneously savvy and chic.

For example, many retro trends have been emerging in what was recently a bohemian domain space. Perhaps, this is due to a recent shift in the mainstream consciousness toward sustainability. Therefore, be sure that any design concept you are considering will stay relevant and attractive for years to come.

Premium quality and competent design plans will always be pertinent. As such, while adding trendy touches is fine, for aviation applications, these concepts must also be able to stand up to the test of time. This brings us to our next concept: sustainability through quality.

2. Sustainability Done Right for Timeless Allure

Although going green is trending, it is wise to remember that the most sustainable designs are those built to last. There’s nothing wrong with sustainability. However, educated clients are more than aware of the impracticality of “greenwashing.”

Ultimately, choosing durable, high-quality materials and ensuring that layouts will be well-suited for the long haul will lead to more sustainable design outcomes. This yields the most benefits for clients and designers alike. As you work on your design, ask yourself:

  • Which materials are most durable?
  • How can a space serve multiple functions?
  • Will this design stand up to the test of time?
  • What retro concepts have never gone out of style?
  • How will my client interact with this material?

Using your ingenuity to integrate only the most pragmatic trends will create a smarter, more sustainable end result. Moreover, when adding trending design touches, the top designers almost unanimously agree that less is more.

Gentle color suggestions and neutrals are always in vogue. If using patterns, stick with the classics. Real materials like leather, wood, and stone never go out of style. You may also want to choose a conceptual piece to use as a jumping point for your design scheme.

3. Detailed Touches to Transform a Design

When it comes to the interior of an aircraft, the devil is always in the details. This is why premium aircraft use custom-crafted interior parts. Not only will passengers and clients notice detailed touches when stepping inside the jet, but they won’t be able to turn their eyes away from well-crafted pieces as they are enveloped in luxury during their journey through the air.

The question then becomes, how can you enhance your design using small, thoughtful touches? Whether you want to add decorative statement pieces in the main cabin or utilize a metallic filigree along the sides of a table, these details can transform your configuration.

Bring your vision to life by juxtaposing contrasting elements or breathe life into a look using natural materials. Or, use subtle complementary touches to draw the eye in the direction of your choosing. While most creators do this already, in a plane or jet, this notion is more important than ever.

4. Playing With Light and Technology to Make Spaces Feel Comfortable

For aircraft interiors, ensuring that a space is both functional, enjoyable, and beautiful is paramount. This is true no matter what the design concept may be.

Even when a configuration is supposed to create intimacy, no one wants a cabin to feel claustrophobic. For this reason, consider your use of light, reflective surfaces, and the latest technology carefully. Using light to enlarge spaces can create interior magic in a jet!

Implementing new technology is a smart way to make spaces multi-functional. Using your ingenuity to add duality to furnishings or constricted areas is wise and sophisticated. Your implementation of light can make or break your design’s entire look.

Additionally, the effects of illumination and refraction are incredibly important. Allow these elements to work for you, not against you in an aircraft’s interior design.

5. Adding Enchanting Metallic Finishes to Complete the Look

Finally, you should think long and hard about the quality and use of any and all metallic finishes. Which finishes will you be utilizing to bring together your design concept? Make sure to use high-quality materials that immaculately fit with the rest of your design. These finishes must also endure for the long haul.

For many aviation designers, this means custom-ordering all metallic finishes for an aircraft through specialists. That’s where High Tech Finishing comes in. Not only do we have some of the finest interior aircraft plating specialists on our team, but we can help you select the perfect metal finish for each custom-plated interior part.

High Tech Finishing: Bringing Business Jet Interior Designs to Life

Ready to bring your conceptualizations to life with interior aircraft plating partners you can depend on? If so, contact HighTech Finishing. We can enhance your ideas by custom-plating the unique, premium aircraft interior parts you need for essentially any aviation design concept.

Whether you are renovating a private aircraft or updating business jet cabin interiors, our experts can assist you. Moreover, with our interior parts plating services, you can streamline the design process for all manner of aircraft interiors.

To learn more about our services, we encourage you to contact us today. We can be reached toll-free at 800-949-0124 or locally at 713-666-0550. Let’s utilize these business jet interior design ideas on your next project.

Join Us at NBAA-BACE 2022 to Discuss Aircraft Interior Parts Plating

Traveling by private aircraft or business jet is booming in the post-pandemic world. This has placed tremendous pressure on aircraft manufacturers, refurbishment centers, and design firms to keep up with demand by increasing the number of aircraft in service.

At HighTech Finishing, we provide industry-leading aircraft interior parts plating services that will satisfy your timeline for completing the interior of each aircraft. This year’s NBAA-BACE 2022 Convention & Exhibition represents a great opportunity to speak directly with our team about how we can support your latest projects.

Join Us at NBAA-BACE 2022 in Orlando

Our team will be on-site at NBAA-BACE 2022 set for October 18-20 in Orlando, Florida at the Orange County Convention Center. You can find HighTech Finishing at Booth #3491 in the North/South Building.

In addition to visiting with your team to discuss aircraft interior solutions, we are looking forward to learning more about the latest trends and innovations in the business aviation community. This is an exciting time for the industry thanks to increased demand for business jet and private aircraft travel, and we look forward to seeing how we can help our customers take advantage.

What We’re Looking Forward to at NBAA-BACE 2022

The program schedule for this year’s conference is filled with powerful keynote addresses, intriguing workshops, and great opportunities to see new types of aircraft and technology in person.

We are particularly interested in learning more about what’s ahead in the emerging sector of advanced air mobility (AAM) and urban air mobility (UAM). This year’s conference will include a workshop, Urban Air Mobility: Creating the Future Airspace Operations, that will examine the technological advancements that will be required for this new aviation business model.

No matter where the market goes, we will be ready to adapt. We are fully capable of applying our interior parts plating service to traditional business aircraft as well as new types of aircraft that your company might be working on.

If you are looking for reliable partners to help you embrace new technology, look no further than HighTech Finishing for your aircraft interior needs. For more than 35 years, we have satisfied the diverse needs of our global customers through our award-winning processes.

We look forward to visiting with you in Orlando to discuss your latest projects. Stop by Booth #3491 to chat with our team. Let’s find solutions to help your company solve today’s challenges or prepare for exciting new opportunities on the horizon.