2
Business View Magazine
The Lindgren Group
Making metal last
Porosity, Nickel Boron, Chromate Conversion, Passivate,
Electroless Nickel, Hexavalent Chrome, RoHs, Molybde-
num Disulfide, Anti-Galling, Sulfuric Anodizing, Anodic &
Cathodic, Vibratory Deburring, Vapor Degreasing, Hard-
coat– these are all terms whose meanings might very
well elude most of us - even if we could pronounce them
correctly. They are, however, very well understood and
very important to anyone involved in the art and science
of metal finishing. They describe some of the elements
and processes that finishers employ to coat and protect
the myriad number of tools, machine parts, and count-
less other metal objects that all of us come into contact
with, everyday of our lives.
Since its founding in 1971, The Lindgren Group of Minne-
apolis, Minnesota, has been a recognized leader in the
metal finishing industry. The two companies which com-
prise the Group are Nico Products and Avtec Finishing
Systems. “In the beginning, it was Nico Products,” says
Mike Roberg, General Manager of Avtec. “There was a
group of owners that started that company. Two of the
owners split away in the mid ‘80s. They continued to own
Nico Products, but they went out on their own and bought
Avtec as a separate entity. Avtec started in 1978 in the
