11 minute read
BUSINESS
Erik Nagli is giving airport hangers a shiny new look with his unique flooring sys-
tem. (Pablo Robles/AFN Staff Photographer)
Airpark flooring company makes hangars shine
BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI
Progress Staff Writer
Erik Nagli was searching for a business to acquire when he came across Airpark-based Brilliant Epoxy Floors in 2018. It was a perfect fit.
“I spent the better part of 10 years looking for a business that was vertically integrated, meaning you are the solution from the beginning to end,” said Nagli, whose resume is rich with experience in building materials and running large construction businesses.
“If you’re reliant upon somebody else, that’s where you get into trouble. I also wanted a company that had a great reputation.”
Brilliant Epoxy Floors is a concrete restoration and epoxy coatings installation company that offers hangar flooring systems. The 27-year-old company provides consultations and epoxy flooring installation services for general aviation and privately owned hangars.
“In the last several years, we’ve developed somewhat of a niche and become well-known for our work within aircraft
Scottsdale.org l @ScottsdaleProgress /ScottsdaleProgress
A family business since 1910, Hinkley’s Lighting produces outdoor and indoor custom and catalog lighting, fans and accessories. It is moving to Scottsdale this fall.
(Special to the Progress)
Hinkley’s turning on the lights in the Airpark
BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI
Progress Staff Writer
Hinkley’s Lighting turned its lights on at its iconic Central Avenue store 70 years ago. This fall, the Phoenix fixture will close that location and move its operation to a bigger warehouse and showroom to 16049 N. Greenway Hayden Loop in Scottsdale.
“We have had a fantastic journey here in this Phoenix building for the last 70 years, but it’s time to expand and move everything under one roof in a bigger and more sophisticated space,” says Michael Jackson, owner of Hinkley’s Lighting.
“The last few years have been very good ones for us and now we are ready to offer our longtime customers and friends a really cool space and experience at our newly expanded Scottsdale location.”
To celebrate the move, Hinkley’s Lighting is hosting a progressive sale with 10 percent of all retail sales of in-stock merchandise benefitting Phoenix Children’s Hospital.
“We’re doing 60 percent off in August and 70 percent off in September,” Jackson says. “Then we’ll have a black tag sale party, where some of the fixtures will either be free or by donation and 100 percent of the proceeds will go to PCH.”
A family business since 1910, Hinkley’s Lighting produces outdoor and indoor custom and catalog lighting, fans and accessories. The company has a variety
hangars,” said Nagli.
“While we attribute our success within the aviation industry to several factors, one of the reasons we get referrals and repeat business is that we understand the rigorous demands placed upon a hangar floor. We know which coating system to use, how to properly prep the surface, and how to professionally install the coatings so that the floor not only looks amazing but is able to stand up to harsh conditions.”
According to Nagli, aircraft hangars have several requirements that separate them from traditional commercial and industrial environments. His company offers coating systems that meet those needs. “Choosing the right flooring for a hangar is critical,” he said. “It can literally impact the efficiency and success of an operation, as well as the safety of those in the environment.
“The difference that separates us is we’re vertically integrated. We do all the prep. Our techs are trained in every facet of the coating business.”
Since Nagli purchased the company, he has doubled business, especially on the commercial side. He partners with Sherwin Williams to train and provide Brilliant Epoxy Floor’s staff with the latest cuttingedge technologies. They also jointly warranty all floor installs.
“Scottsdale Airpark was built in the early 1990s,” he said. “It was built with aggregate. The coating can’t stick to it. This is well known in the Airpark.
“We did Southwest Jet, which is the largest FBO operator in the Airpark. We are able to prep the concrete correctly and educate them on our process; why one guy can charge $3.50 a square foot and the other is $2.50 a square foot.”
Nagli said there are reasons for this. It comes down to preparation, the quality of the materials used, the quality of the technician.
“We focus on that pretty heavily,” he said. The flooring used within hangars must have excellent compressive strength to withstand the weight and mass of an aircraft, while being flexible.
It must also resist chemicals, fuels, corrosive liquids, waxes and other substances commonly used within hangars. Superior high-wear properties are required so the flooring can resist scratches and abrasions. Finally, the flooring must be protected
SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | AUGUST 8, 2021 against staining that can be caused by hot tires coming in off the runway “For these reasons, resinous floor coating systems have long been a preferred specification for aircraft hangar floors due to their durability and performance factors,” Nagli said. “Epoxy resins combine with the concrete, creating a continuous layer and a surface that is stronger than concrete alone. This increased strength dissipates the load and increases the weight bearing capacity and durability of the concrete base, all while remaining flexible under stress.”
Within aircraft hangars, high-gloss epoxy systems in neutral colors, such as white or gray, are typically specified to improve available light and brighten the facility. In addition to showcasing the aircraft, the use of lighter colors and high-gloss finishes creates light reflectivity, which provides illumination above and underneath the aircraft, as well as better visibility to spills, items or debris on the floor. While epoxy floors are often specified for hangars, according to Nagli, not all epoxy floors are the same. He explained that the overall quality of the floor depends on several factors, including choosing the right coatings for the space, the quality level of the epoxy coatings, the proper restoration and preparation of the concrete surface, and the skill level of the coating installers. “Each part of the process is important, but if I had to pick just one variable that separates an ordinary epoxy floor from a Brilliant floor, it would have to be the way we prep the surface,” Nagli said. “After removing existing coatings, we industrial diamond grind or shotblast the concrete, which creates an ultrasmooth surface that’s ready for a smooth application of coatings. Surface preparation is the key to getting a floor that both shines and performs.” Nagli also attributes the quality of the company’s end-product to its use of commercial-grade coatings and the expertise of its in-house installers. “Our technicians are expert craftsmen; they undergo extensive training and are very skilled in surface preparation and coating system installation,” Nagli said. “We have the best team in the business.” Brilliant Epoxy Floors has recently installed hangar coating systems for Southwest Jet Center and several private clients,
seeEPOXY page 25
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Hinkley's represents more than 500 major lighting manufacturers. (Special to the Progress)
LIGHTS ���� page 23
of resources for finding antique lighting fixtures from castles, villas, old temples and estates throughout the world. They make these unique fixtures of the 18th and early 19th centuries available to customers refurbished or modified to fit their desired décor.
From modern, contemporary and traditional, Hinkley’s represents more than 500 major lighting manufacturers domestically and internationally. For those seeking a bespoke option, the team at Hinkley’s can create or custom-fabricate a design from scratch, using elements inspired by another light fixture or an off-the-shelf option to coordinate with any architectural style or furnishings.
These aren’t typical lamps. Chandeliers, lamps and luminaries, as well as candlesticks and sconces can be created.
“I like the creative part of the business,” he says. “I like to do things that are unique, which is what we do.
“We’re different in that way. We draw something for you, make it for you and it’ll only be at your house and nowhere else. You can tell the story of how it was created and how it was made just for you. I’ve always enjoyed people. I’m a people person. Everybody’s different, even with managing employees. I love everyday challenges.”
A graduate of Central High School, Jackson started with Hinkley’s Lighting when he was 14. His sister married into the family and his brother-in-law hired him part time. After high school, Jackson started working full time and has been there for 45 years.
“I started as a back-room guy,” he says. “Now, I can sell it to you, wire it, install it and do the whole thing, if I need to.”
Hinkley’s Lighting
4620 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix 602-279-6267 16049 N. Greenway Hayden Loop, Scottsdale 480-948-8799 hinkleyslighting.com
EPOXY ���� page 24
and recoated the Great American Hangar in Scottsdale Airpark.
Nagli’s work isn’t limited to the Airpark. Brilliant Epoxy Floors has collaborated with Intel and Honeywell.
A Seattle native, Nagli moved to the Valley, where he studied automotive at Universal Technical Institute in Avondale. He had plans to work in that industry, but he shifted toward building and served as corporate executive vice president of a lumber yard.
“I ultimately decided that no matter how high I got, I still had a boss,” he said. “I had an idea of how I wanted to run a business. I found that in Brilliant Epoxy Floors.
“We take extremely good care of our employees. They’re all trained on highend equipment. Our core value is to do the right thing.”
Brilliant Epoxy Floors
16099 N. 82nd St., Suite B-11, Scottsdale 480-203-2444, brilliantaz.com
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