Micro Platers was founded in Detroit, MI in 1948 by Paul Thompson, Howard Hicks, and Roy Hicks. Starting from nothing, the trio initially began plating steel before quickly expanding into repairing and chrome plating OEM bumpers. Following the death of Thompson in 1952, the Hicks brothers took command of the business and continued to grow as they relocated from Detroit to a more suitable building in Highland Park. In the 1970s Micro continued to advance by adding aftermarket bumper covers to our product line. With Howard Hicks leading the way, Micro persistently grew by acquiring several automotive firms in the Metro-Detroit area. In the 1980s Howard’s four children: Tammy, John, Kim, and Howard Jr. all joined the family business and continued to further the company's legacy to even-greater heights. Increasing steadily throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Micro established itself in the aftermarket paint industry as a BASF Jobber headquartered in Highland Park with branches in Wayne and Flint. Simultaneously Micro expanded services to satisfy customers’ by entering the plastic molding of fascias.

Recently in 2016, our company opened three new paint stores in Chicago, Grandville, and Saginaw. Today, Micro Auto Group is an award-winning company and industry leader. In 2018 BASF named Micro as the Distributor of the Year at the ColorSource Conference. Our company has many goals which we strive to achieve every day, however, our foremost concern is to provide the best quality products to our customers at the lowest price. Our hardworking associates are committed to providing personal service to our loyal clients. At Micro, we live to satisfy our customers. We believe the number one reason for a business’ success is based on customer service, and we have always stood by what we believe. Although our company has immensely grown over the last 70+ years we are still a family business and, to us, our customers are family as well.

View Our Detailed Timeline