Formed in 1927 by Ralph Hoensheid, Commercial Steel Treating Corporation made its name by supplying quality heat treating on items such as reamers, dies, punches and other various high speed and tool steels. The success of the operation and the emerging automotive industry provided growth into a total of three facilities, all located in the metropolitan Detroit area.

In 1963, Merle Hoensheid (Ralph's son) recognized the automotive demand for fastener and small stampings to be finished utilizing dip/spin technologies for the application of organic and inorganic coatings versus traditional plating and formed Curtis Metal Finishing Company. The plants supply Phosphating, electrodeposition and dip-spin paint systems.