Valence Surface Technologies LLC, the largest independent aerospace surface finishing platform in North America, today announced the acquisition of C.I.L. Metal Finishing and C.I.L. Electroplating (CIL), a leading provider of surface treatment for highly engineered products in the North American aerospace and defense market. CIL provides surface treatment to leading U.S. customers and platforms under key approvals, including Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, L3Harris, Boeing, Pratt & Whitney, and their vast group of approved suppliers.

Founded and operated by Jim Coskren since 1986, CIL has built a strong reputation for delivering complex, high-quality metal finishing services. The Company’s capabilities include plating on wire mesh for EMI and RFI shielding, plating on magnesium, large equipment blasting and refurbishment, anodizing, chem-film, hard metal and precious metal plating, and high-performance painting services — all for mission-critical defense, space and commercial aerospace applications.

CIL employs approximately 160 people and operates two facilities in Lawrence, Massachusetts totalling approximately 150,000 square-feet, with capacity for future expansion.

The acquisition of CIL marks another milestone in Valence’s strategy to seek to enhance the aerospace and defense supply chain through an integrated, full-service platform offering product finishing solutions with industry-leading quality and turn times.

David Camilleri, Chairman of Valence, said, “We are thrilled to welcome CIL’s team and capabilities to our platform. We have long admired Jim and the business he’s built, and we believe CIL’s long standing relationships and proximity to key aerospace customers will significantly improve Valence’s service offering in the Northeast region and beyond, while strengthening our ability to offer a complete range of engineered surface treatment solutions to our customers. We closed this acquisition alongside a refinancing, which provides us with additional dry powder for further acquisitions.”

CIL’s existing management team and workforce will remain with the organization as part of the transaction. Jim Coskren will remain on as Vice President and continue to serve as a driver of growth for the business. CIL operations management, including Mike Venable, Dennis Reidy, Alec Jillson, and Rob Couyoumjian, will remain actively involved in the business through this next chapter of growth.

Jim Coskren said, “Valence is the ideal long-term partner to support CIL’s continued progress and innovation. Their commitment to operational excellence and customer satisfaction aligns with everything we’ve built at CIL, and we’re excited to help drive continued momentum as part of the Valence team.”

Valence is majority-owned by ATL Partners and British Columbia Investment Management Corporation, who invested in Valence in June 2019 to accelerate Valence’s strategic initiatives and support its continued expansion. CIL represents the eleventh add-on acquisition for Valence since inception, and Valence will continue to pursue attractive M&A opportunities in both North America and Europe.