Frontier Galvanizing

For over 75 years, Frontier Galvanizing, formally known as Frontier Hot-Dip Galvanizing, Inc., has been a leader in corrosion protection and trusted by industries that shape communities. Based in Buffalo, the company delivers hot-dip galvanizing services that ensure strength and resilience for vital structures. From bridges and stadiums to highways and utilities, Frontier’s work provides the long-lasting durability needed to keep essential infrastructure safe and dependable. The company’s journey began in 1948 on Austin Street, where it quickly gained a reputation for reliable service and solid craftsmanship. Serving manufacturers and contractors, Frontier earned its reputation for quality during a time of rapid industrial growth. As infrastructure projects expanded nationwide in the 1960s, the need for larger facilities and more production capacity became clear, signaling a moment of transformation that would define its future direction. That transformation came in 1970, when Ray V. Pierce and a group of shareholders purchased the company. Their vision looked beyond the small Austin Street facility toward becoming a regional leader in galvanizing. Soon, operations relocated to a larger facility on Elmwood Avenue, formerly a forge foundry, which allowed greater production scale and improved efficiency. This move positioned Frontier to undertake larger and more technically demanding projects. Ray’s brother, Lewis G. Pierce, later joined him, and together they focused on growth through expanded land holdings and larger work yards. These investments enabled the company to handle larger steel assemblies, fulfill high-volume orders, and meet tight deadlines for both public and private clients. Over time, Frontier became a trusted partner to state transportation agencies, utilities, contractors, and energy providers, steadily expanding its workforce and influence.