MILITEX: INDUSTRY FOCUS

Invisible Armour: Militex Paints the Future of Defence

BY MARC MONTGOMERY

In today’s defence landscape, a strong Canadian supply chain is no longer optional — it’s essential. One company at the heart of this effort is Militex Coatings, a Canadian-owned business based in London, Ontario. The company plays a critical role in preparing and applying corrosion-resistant finishes to military platforms, ensuring durability under the harshest conditions.

The work Militex does often goes unnoticed, yet it is both sophisticated and vital. Few outside the industry realize the degree of processing, technology, and testing required to properly paint or coat military hardware. Every step must meet rigorous standards, and Militex has consistently achieved compliance with Canadian, American, and international requirements. This commitment to quality has not gone unrecognized: in 2024, Products Finishing magazine named Militex Coatings the “Top Shop” in North America for liquid and powder coating processes.

Speaking with CDR, company President Andre Maas explains that coatings on military parts, assemblies, vehicles, and aerospace systems go through multiple stages before the final finish is applied. Whether it is a CARC (Chemical Agent Resistant Coating), a liquid or powder application, or a polyurea finish, every process begins with meticulous preparation of the underlying metal. That includes ferrous and non-ferrous materials alike — everything from armour plate to aluminum, titanium, and complex alloys.

As an example, the application of a corrosion-resistant zinc phosphate coating is itself an eight-stage process, as is chromate conversion. Both can only be carried out after the surface has been completely cleaned of even the smallest contaminants, such as oil molecules or welding smoke. The process then continues with abrasive surfacing to increase the anchoring area for the coating, followed by additional cleaning and rinsing before primers and topcoats are applied. The level of detail may be invisible on the finished product, but it is what ensures the long-term survivability of equipment in demanding environments.

Over the years, Militex has earned a reputation for excellence in coatings, not only in North America but internationally, with clients in Europe and Asia. “We have repeatedly welcomed all audits, and we have always passed them,” Maas tells CDR. “This gives manufacturers — from OEMs to Tier 1 contractors and beyond — complete confidence in both our process and our finished work.”

VERSATILITY IN ACTION

The company’s success and growth, reflected in its 100,000-square-foot main facility, is built on its ability to deliver consistently high-quality finishing. “Whether it involves cleaning, surface profiling, chemical conversion coating, priming, top-coating, or baking, we have the full range of technologies and experience,” says Maas. “Our versatility allows us to handle everything from parts the size of a dime to entire armoured vehicles.”

This capability has proven valuable for OEMs who sometimes ship large assemblies, hulls, or complete vehicles to Militex to meet production demands and deadlines. The company is also an approved provider for Tier 1 contractors and, by extension, the many smaller firms supplying into those programs. Handling such a wide variety of projects has allowed Militex to develop unique expertise in adapting its processes to virtually any metal, substrate, part, or assembly.

One example of this adaptability is Militex’s work with Rolls-Royce’s Naval Handling Centre of Excellence, where the company supports a contract for a U.S. Navy shipborne heavy launch and recovery system. Coatings for this project required four times the thickness of those applied to land-based vehicles in order to deliver the necessary corrosion resistance in a harsh ocean environment. Another specialized contract has involved the treatment of 155mm artillery shells, including interior coatings, exterior painting, and labelling.

To meet rising demand, Militex recently completed a 15,500-square-foot expansion to its London facility. The addition includes a 35-ton crane, a 70-foot downdraft painting operation capable of accommodating two large armoured vehicles at once, and a state-of-the-art infrared oven. The new large-scale chromate system, designed to handle items up to 10’ X 10’ X 35’, will be of particular interest to aerospace and marine clients.

QUALITY ASSURANCE

Quality control is deeply embedded in Militex’s operations. For every production run, the company prepares a “verification coupon,” or test plate, made of the same material as the item being processed. These coupons undergo rigorous evaluation in Militex’s in-house laboratory.

Among the tests is the demanding salt-fog chamber trial, where samples must endure 1,000 hours without blistering or creep from a scribed line. Other tests simulate extreme conditions, such as rapid temperature cycling between hot and cold, as well as assessments of hardness, conductivity, and other performance factors. Across more than 30 years and hundreds of thousands of treated items, Militex has maintained a remarkable 99.5 percent acceptance rate — a testament to both precision and consistency.

BEYOND COATINGS:
A FULL-SERVICE PROVIDER

While mil-spec coatings remain Militex’s core service, the company has expanded into additional areas that make it a one-stop shop for defence clients. It has the ability to assemble parts into complex subassemblies for OEMs and Tier 1 or 2 suppliers, a capability that demonstrates the confidence industry partners place in Militex.

Militex also offers in-house labelling and stencilling services in any language required, ensuring that finished parts, assemblies, vehicles, or hulls meet all customer specifications. The company has also developed a spray-on polyurea system for self-sealing fuel tanks, and since 1995 it has been licensed to manufacture ballistic liners (also known as spall protection) for vehicles. To date, Militex has produced and installed more than 10,000 kits. These liners are made from aramid or E-glass materials, layered with binders and fire retardants, then coated and affixed to vehicle interiors in client-specified thicknesses.

CERTIFIED AND SECURE

Because the company regularly handles sensitive defence-related items, it continually updates its processes and security protocols to meet strict regulatory requirements. Militex complies with the Controlled Goods Program (CGP) and ITAR, and recently achieved the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Level 2 — a distinction held by only about 300 companies in North America. This is in addition to global ISO certifications in environmental management, information security, health and safety, and other areas. “CMMC Level 2 puts us ahead of the curve,” Maas notes, underscoring the company’s commitment to security and compliance.

THE FORMULA FOR SUCCESS

When asked why Militex has become such a sought-after option in the defence industry, Maas points to three things: cost efficiency, uncompromising quality, and quick turnaround. “Our goal is to complete most jobs within a week, from the time they arrive at our loading dock to the time they go back out the door,” he explains. “And that’s while meeting every applicable quality standard.”

With decades of accumulated expertise, a culture of flexibility, and an unwavering focus on customer needs, Militex has built its reputation as a company that rarely says no to a challenge. In doing so, it has positioned itself as one of Canada’s most capable and dependable partners in the defence supply chain.

Marc Montgomery is a Regular CDR Contributor