Frontier Galvanizing may not be a household name, but the regional leader in steel treatment and coating services actually has a significant impact on the strength and longevity of structures across North America.

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Based in Buffalo, New York, Frontier Galvanizing has specialized in hot-dip galvanizing for over 75 years. With access to major transportation routes that ensure efficient regional and international delivery, it has proven expertise in enabling steel components to withstand the elements and decades of use. As the demand for reliable construction solutions increases, the company’s brand of service continues to spread beyond New York.

A Proven Legacy of Craftsmanship

Frontier Galvanizing began offering its services to manufacturers and contractors in Buffalo in 1948. Even then, clients valued the company for its reliability and consistency, qualities that helped propel the business through a period of industrial growth.

In 1970, a change in ownership paved the way for the company’s expansion. It was then that Ray V. Pierce and a small group of shareholders acquired the firm, identifying untapped potential in the local and regional market.

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The move from the original Austin Street site to larger facilities on Elmwood Avenue improved workflow and operational capacity. Ray was later joined by his brother, Lewis G. Pierce, and together they invested in property and equipment that made higher volume production possible. Combined with expanded laydown yards, this growth enabled the efficient management of larger-scale steel assemblies.

By expanding indoor operations and outdoor laydown yards, the team improved handling for large steel assemblies and complex logistics. The expansion of the workforce allowed Frontier Galvanizing to take on clients such as public utility companies, state transportation departments, and major energy providers.

Innovation Driving Durability

The steel galvanizing industry relies in large part on process control, environmental responsibility, and technical knowledge. Frontier Galvanizing has continued to advance in all three areas.

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Recent operational improvements include continuous flux treatment, which supports coating uniformity; hydrochloric acid regeneration, which minimizes waste; and hex-free, paintable passivation that aligns with modern environmental expectations. These measures help improve product quality while reducing environmental impact. Testing and performance monitoring also support compliance with international specifications.

Growing Beyond Borders

Frontier Galvanizing’s reach is evident in the scale and visibility of its completed work. Its expertise can be seen in the Daytona Motor Speedway, the Peace Bridge linking Buffalo and Fort Erie, Boston’s Green Line Extension, the Queensboro Bridge in New York City, and the Buffalo Bills’ new Highmark Stadium.

The company has shipped millions of pounds of steel to projects in Australia, Canada, Jamaica, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, including utility grid restoration components that required additional corrosion protection during extended transport and storage. This demonstrates the company’s ability to meet technical standards in countries with longstanding galvanizing capabilities.

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Industry Recognition 

Local recognition of the company’s quality standards has also earned it acclaim in international markets, including the Excellence in Hot Dip Galvanizing Award from the American Galvanizers Association. The award was given in acknowledgment of the company’s work on the Franklinville Bridge 31 project in New York in 1998.

Leadership Looking Forward

Under the leadership of Lewis G. Pierce and his son, Robert V. Pierce, Frontier Galvanizing continues to adopt new approaches that enhance performance while maintaining trusted relationships. 

Flexible production planning and scheduling help the company respond to tight deadlines without compromising quality. The company remains focused on operational quality, safe working conditions, environmental stewardship, and responsiveness to client needs, reflecting its equal commitment to durability in both its products and the organization itself.

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The Strength to Support the Future

Today, Frontier Galvanizing is still a well-known and long-established name in the line of business that seeks reliability. Based in Buffalo, the company participates in and backs construction projects that determine the community’s mobility, connectivity, and growth. Its activities, whether for a sports arena or an ice-free, easily congested, and heavily salted during winter bridge, are all directed towards creating long-lasting structures.