About Us
WE LOVE WHAT WE DO AND WE HAVE FUN DOING IT
Thomas Dufour
Partner
Tom Dufour was the hydrographics designer and custom painter at Grace-FX Hydrographics for five years and has over 30 years of automotive experience. In 2016, Tom purchased the company and created Liquid Addiction Hydrographics & Custom Paint.
Ernie Darias
Partner
Ernie Darias is a business entrepreneur, inventor, and designer holding multiple patents. In 2005, he became certified through PCI Institute/Tiger Drylac and founded his first powder coating and metal finishing company, now proudly operating in its 20th year.
In 2010, Ernie expanded into metal fabrication and stripping with the launch of Metal Shop USA. That same year, he became certified by TWN Industries as a hydrographics film applicator and dealer, a business that has been successfully operating for 16 years.
In 2024, while managing several established ventures, Ernie partnered with a fellow car restoration pioneer to form Elite Powder Coating and Hydrographics, combining advanced finishing technologies with restoration expertise.
That same year, Ernie introduced state-of-the-art laser cleaning services, along with vibratory deburring and polishing solutions for a wide range of metal parts. As a passion project, he also dedicates time to personal automotive restorations, which can be viewed at www.elitepch.com and www.69Dart.com.
In 2024, Ernie joined the Laser Institute of America and completed advanced training and certification as a NuWave Laser contractor, specializing in both continuous and pulse laser cleaning systems.
In 2026, Ernie opened a new facility in Hudson, Florida, featuring “The Big 35” powder coat oven—capable of handling commercial and industrial coatings up to 35 feet in length.
