About Abtrex Industries

Harold was born into a family of peach farmers in Spartanburg, SC. After graduating from high school, Harold moved to Detroit MI with his uncle whom had gotten a job at Ford Company.  In 1967, Harold began working at Commonwealth Foundry in Detroit, making metal finished bolts and nuts. By bringing an electric current into a finishing bath using a Copper fitting and a rubber coated copper wire called a ‘dangler’, Commonwealth had found a way to produce a better finish using less chemicals and using lower amperage in the process. Harold loved to race cars and would do so in his free time.  He served on a pit crew at Flat Rock with Jim Graham, a co-worker along with the son of the owner of the foundry.  Harold and Jim, known for their work ethic and commitment to delivering on every promise were offered the rights to produce these ‘danglers’ exclusively for Commonwealth by the owner of the foundry.  The cost of purchasing these rights was $50.  Harold then began making the equipment in his garage for the plating industry.  This side business officially became Abtrex in 1969.  The name Abtrex was chosen because Harold wanted to be list first in the phone book (AB) and he believed the T-Rex was the strongest animal.  ABTREX. Harold continued his job as a forklift driver with Commonwealth until Mel Guthrie, the man he had running Abtrex was injured in a motorcycle accident.  Harold and Jim Graham and a few of their friends began at Abtrex full-time.  They purchased the plant in Inkster where the headquarters is still located today.

Abtrex’s main focus throughout the 1970’s and early 1980’s was building plating lines.  The purchase of American Fiberglass Fabricators helped the company service this industry.  During the mid-1980’s however, the plating industry companies began moving their operations down to Mexico and other countries.

Elkhart operations moves to South Bend, IN after Blast-Kote, Inc was purchased in 1985.

Focusing on the steel industry in the 1980’s, Abtrex sales plan included having facilities within 200 miles of the major steel plants like Ford Rouge, US Steel, Inland Steel, etc. Abtrex bought Blast-Kote, Inc. in South Bend, IN and moved the Elkhart, IN operations to this location and it is still home to the Indiana Division of Abtrex Industries.

This allowed Abtrex to service the Pittsburg, PA steel mills by fabricating pickle lines and electro galvanizing lines.  In 1985 through 1999 when LTV Steel filed for Bankruptcy, the steel industry were Abtrex’s main customer.  1999-2005 were pretty bleak years for Abtrex as it was for many companies but Abtrex was able to survive.

Abtrex purchased the intellectual property of one of their competitors out of Hillside, Illinois in 2005.  Reliable Linings and Coatings, Inc. had been in the rubber-lining business since the late 60’s but due to the downturn in the economy, they were forced to declare bankruptcy and ceased operations. With the purchase, Abtrex gained some key personnel and some new customers whom needed rubber-lining work but also need fabrication vendors, a service which Reliable Linings couldn’t provide but Abtrex could.

In 2009, Abtrex expanded again by opening a railcar lining operation in Cleveland, TX.  Abtrex signed an agreement with Untion Tank Car and created a total railcar rehabilitation complex to help their customers meet their requirements.  Union Tank Car does the railcar repairs, Abtrex then strips the old linings off using a state-of-the-art robotic blaster, and the railcar is relined by Abtrex’s technicians.