Over the decades, Colonial Surface Solutions has grown to become so much more than a simple sandblast and paint shop in Columbus Grove, Ohio. What started as a one-man operation out in the family barn has grown into a business respected nationally for outstanding customer service and a dedication to excellence. We have become an industry leader in cleaning and coating applications, specializing in industrial, commercial, military and agricultural products for any size company.
Today, we employ an experienced and quality-focused team in our state-of-the-art facility. Our staff is comprised of NACE-certified professionals who are dedicated to their craft. Our facility features top-of-the-line equipment that is capable of handling both small and large jobs, meaning we are able to meet almost any cleaning and coating need you may have.
For close to 50 years, Colonial Surface Solutions has been passed down to a new generation of the family, yet the original vision of Colonial surface Solutions remains the same. Our goal is to make your future look brighter by exceeding your expectations.
1975
It all started in a barn. After stepping away from his factory job to focus on farming, Tom Langhals found himself with a little extra time—and a few farm tools that needed freshening up. So, he sandblasted and repainted his own equipment. Neighbors noticed, word spread, and just like that, a business was born.
1987
As demand grew, Colonial Sandblasting relocated down the road to a local farm. New buildings followed as the business expanded—always with the goal of better serving our customers.
1994
We introduced burn-off operations, adding a powerful solution for coating removal that made tough jobs easier and more efficient.
1995
Our second aerial photo captured just how far we’d come—and how much room we had to grow.
1998
From tractors to race trucks—our experience in farm equipment led us into a fun new lane: painting rally race vehicles.
1999
We added boats to the mix (briefly!). While it was fun bringing boats back to life, we’ll leave those to someone else these days.
Disclaimer: We no longer coat boats!
1999
Construction began on a new facility—designed to house our inline blaster and upgraded paint booth—marking a big step forward.
2000
We installed our in-line blaster, taking efficiency and precision to the next level.
2000
Our very first load of construction buckets was blasted and painted using our inline system. That job kicked off a 25+ year run of coating buckets, blades, and other heavy-duty implements.
2003
We consulted with Anderson Guardrail on processing their overhead crane—proof that when the job gets bigger, so do our solutions.
2004
Long steel beams for Kalahari Resort tested the limits of our process. With Tom’s motto in mind—“If you can ship it here, we can paint it”—our team rose to the challenge with flawless prep, paint, and delivery.
2006
As customer needs evolved, so did we. In 2006, we expanded our services to include powder coating—giving customers a durable, high-performance finish and opening the door to even more possibilities in industrial coating.
2010
Tom was invited to speak at the Bluffton Lions Club, the same year he purchased Diamond Manufacturing, which would operate alongside Colonial until 2018.
2010
We welcomed U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan for a behind-the-scenes look at our facility, hosted by General Manager Gene Heitmeyer and Brian Langhals.
2018
Colonial officially became a division of Carpe Diem Industries, LLC, laying the foundation for the next stage of growth with Darren and Pat Langhals at the helm.
2019
We proudly became a Certified Women-Owned Business, reflecting the strong leadership that continues to drive us forward.
2020
In 2020, we launched the Darren Langhals Memorial Scholarship through the Putnam County Educational Service Center – a tribute to Darren’s legacy and the values he lived by every day: Be on time. Stay clean. Have fun.
This scholarship honors students pursuing ag-related fields of study and those actively involved in Putnam County 4-H with a focus on character, service, values, and motivation over academic performance alone.
Church participation, community involvement, and volunteerism are central to the selection process, reflecting Darren’s belief that how you show up matters just as much as what you do.
This award continues to encourage the next generation to lead with purpose and integrity, with a little fun along the way.
2023
We broke ground on our Powder Coating Expansion—the next big step in growing our capabilities.
June 2024
To mark the completion of our new powder coating space, we hosted an Open House and welcomed Tom & Jan Langhals back for a grand tour with Pat.
2024
A fresh aerial photo captured the full scale of the Colonial facility—and the vision that keeps us growing.
2025
This year, we proudly celebrate 50 years of dedication to abrasive cleaning, liquid painting, and powder coating. What started out as a one man operation has grown into a nationally respected company full of dedicated team members ready to meet the needs of our customers!
