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Boise Metal Works Customer Spotlight

We recently spoke with Rebecca Keralla, the office manager for Boise Metal Works, a Reliant customer that bought an entire batch powder coating system. The system included blasting equipment, a rotary screw compressor, a blasting room, powder spray booth, powder gun, and curing oven. Rebecca told us about her company’s growth and explained how bringing powder coating in-house is helping make them more successful.

Tell us about the history of your company. How did it start?

The company was founded in 1917 by the current owner’s great-grandpa, Charlie Borup. At that time, the business was called Boise Spring Works. The company originally had a shop across town. Then, in 1994, Burke Borup, the current owner’s father, branched out and founded Boise Metal Works as a DBA of Boise Spring Works. In 2016, Jeremy Borup took over ownership. Three generations of family ownership helps make our company unique.

What do you make at Boise Metal Works?

We primarily make railing for multi-family living, like apartment buildings. We have big contracts with large Home Builders and Contractors in the Boise and surrounding areas. On their apartment buildings, the stair systems and railings are produced by our company. Now that we have our powder coating system, we can powder coat it all in-house instead of sending it out. Handrails and staircases are our bread and butter. We also do a good bit of tank manufacturing for a couple of local companies. We can do just about anything custom. We have a water jet, so we produce a lot of custom signs. Single layer signs, single layer signs with back panels, and we can now powder coat those as well. We’ve also done projects like custom kitchen hood vents and fancy dog kennels. If someone comes in with a list of what they want made from metal, we make it happen.

What product or project are you most proud of?

On our website, one example is Banner Bank. We created an awning on top of the entrance. We also take a great deal of pride in all the rails we send out. It gets quality checked to very high standards. Scott Winger in our powder coating department is phenomenal about making sure it’s attractive and perfectly finished. I would say any of the products that go out for multi-family construction projects where folks passing by can see what we do help showcase our work to the public, so we’re super proud of that.

What was your process like prior to bringing powder in-house?

We utilized four different vendors for powder coating based on the amount of work we needed done and when we needed it to go out. We’d get a PO written, schedule with the vendor, they’d come pick it up, and once it was powder coated, they would bring it back to us. We did that for many years, and it could get hectic. Sometimes, it was a challenge to determine who could fit us into their schedule. We typically selected vendors based on who said they could meet our timelines. Once we fabricate the railing and push it through the coating process, it’s ready to be installed. So, what was happening was we were getting behind because our vendors were so busy. Sometimes we wouldn’t get a job back for 3-4 weeks. I think that’s what prompted us to bring coating in-house. We had the space and we needed a solution that could match our throughput.

That sounds like a hassle to deal with. How has bringing powder coating in-house improved your processes?

Now, we only have to transport the parts about 300 feet and there isn’t a bunch of redundant handling. Scott gets it done, and it just takes a couple days to turn a project around. Now, we’re getting our products and our billing out on time. It’s phenomenal having it in house. Incredible.

What sets Boise Metal Works apart from your competition?

From a finishing standpoint, I would say we’ve got a manager out there, Scott, who has such love and a pride for what he does that it comes through in the final product. He takes his time and is so meticulous that anything he sends out is perfect. He coordinates with our Sherwin Williams tech if he has questions or sees a potential issue. The local powder tech is out here all the time just to double check quality. I’d say what sets us apart is quality. In our first ten months of being operational, it’s remarkable that there’s been no issues, no complaints, and nobody has brought anything back. I think the pride factor is what helps make us successful. We’re genuinely proud of what we produce. Although new to coating, we have a strong desire to do things right, and we have the right person in the position to make that happen.

Tell me how things went with the purchase of your Reliant system.

That was handled by our owner, Jeremy Borup. When the decision to bring coating in-house was made, I was heavily involved with getting the buildings up. Since it was a major purchase, Jeremy interacted with different equipment companies and ultimately chose Reliant. My job now includes all inventory, so not only am I ordering the material and consumables for this shop, I also maintain inventory for the powder coating facility.

Were you involved in the installation & start-up processes? If so, how did those go?

Once our new powder coat facility was fully signed off on with the city and we had our Certificate of Occupancy, Reliant got their part handled and we got the system operational. As far as the installation work by Reliant, I think that went very smoothly. We had one issue with the purge valves on our cartridge collector. That was it. Once it was fixed, the rest went well. While your techs were here for the installation, our electrician was also here, so they were able to work together towards getting ready for start-up.


Reliant’s techs were here when you said they would be and they wrapped up when you said they would. It was great. Whenever I’ve had a question about the equipment, or put in a phone call about products, I get fast, reliable service from Reliant regarding my questions. It has been an absolute pleasure working with Reliant.

If you could give one piece of advice to folks starting out in powder coating, what would it be in regard to site prep, permitting, etc.?

When you’re specifying the building and dealing with the permitting, get with your mechanical and electrical contractors, the fire protection company, and the gas contractor to make sure your controls, gas supply lines, exhausts, and sprinklers are all going to be set up correctly. We were not allowed to be operational until we got all that taken care of, so I would say it’s important to understand everything that is involved. Learn about the chemicals, powder, and blasting media–anything that might come under scrutiny.

How has the Reliant media blasting enclosure been working for you?

Great! Our current powder coating manager came from a powder coat background, so he was super knowledgeable right out of the gate. He manages the blasting media we use, completes the maintenance on the equipment, and checks inventory. He’s all over it. That has been working well. We had an issue with a valve on the blasting rig, but that’s because the person we had operating the equipment with was doing something incorrectly. So, once we were able to determine that, we’ve had no issues.

What’s next for Boise Metal Works?

Micron has a huge facility here and they’re just entering phase two, which is going to last five years. The amount of growth and people coming to our area is huge. So, I know there will be a boom for us as a result. This area is growing and growing. 

In terms of Boise Metal Works? We’ve started promoting our powder coating capabilities and right now we’re trying to get new customers in. We’re hoping to increase that as a stand-alone business service. Not just doing in-house work, but bringing it to the public. We’ve had a couple outside parties come in, but we’ve got plenty of room for growth in terms of powder coating services. We’re slowly getting word-of-mouth referrals, and we’ve added powder coating to our website. That’s a big part of our plan for the next couple years–expanding our coating business as much as we can and seeing what happens with the growth.

Rebecca, thanks for the chat. We’re happy that things have gone well with your relationship with Reliant Finishing Systems. Thank you for trusting us. It’s great to hear about your growth and we’re sure Boise Metal Works will enjoy even greater success in the future!

If your company is considering bringing powder coating or industrial painting capabilities in-house, needs to upgrade an existing finishing line, or needs a dependable source for filters, powder coating guns, or maintenance help, please give Reliant Finishing Systems a call at (256) 355-9000.

If you’d like to learn more about Boise Metal Works, check out their Facebook page or visit their website.

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Lamar Trailers Customer Spotlight

Today we’re talking with Chance Neal from Lamar Trailers in Sumner, Texas. Lamar is one of the leading trailer manufacturers in the United States, with thousands of customers across the country. Chance is the Safety Manager for Lamar and we talked about how the company got started, what they manufacture, their company culture, and their experiences with Reliant Finishing Systems.

So, how did Lamar Trailers get started?

We started back in 2003 in a small red barn. George Fehr founded the company. He’s a devout man and a hard worker. When he first got started, it wasn’t about building a big business, it was about taking care of his family, creating opportunities, and honoring God. Through diligence and strong ethics, the business grew.

In 2018, after a period of rapid expansion, George refocused Lamar on excellence rather than growth. God has blessed him tremendously and today his company is thriving. Lamar has over 200 employees, a 200,000 square foot facility, and we ship roughly 50-60 trailers a day. George actually just won the Lifetime Achievement award from the North American Trailer Dealers Association. It’s just a testament to George–he’s a great guy and an excellent owner who believes if you’re willing to work and stay faithful, opportunity will follow.

Read more about George’s success story here: https://www.natda.org/2026-lifetime-achievement-award–george-fehr

Willie Peters is our CEO. He’s been with the company for years and continues to focus on excellence and team-building. These guys that oversee the company have done a great job of making sure that even though we’re getting bigger, we still have that mom-and-pop feel. Everyone knows each other’s names and you’re not just a number here.

It’s important to mention that God is at the core of our company. Our company’s values include honoring God, serving humbly, and keeping it simple. I believe these values help set us apart and ensure that we treat our customers the way we’d like to be treated.

What products does the company make?

We predominantly produce deckover goosenecks in different sizes and configurations. We do a lot of dump trailers as well–telescopic, small dumps, utility dumps. Car and equipment haulers are another product line we offer, as well as utility trailers.

Part of our core value of keeping it simple applies to our products. We offer one color: Lamar Gray. Staying away from frivolous options like custom colors that might complicate our business allows us to really hammer down the things that are important to the customer.

How long have you been powder coating?

We’ve been powder coating our products for a long time. Originally, it was liquid painting and then the industry shifted and the demand for powder coating increased. Powder is the superior product from everything I’ve seen.

What was your main reason for bringing powder coating in house?

When we purchased our equipment from Reliant, we were focused on expansion and increasing throughput–trying to get more products out the door while maintaining our quality standards. The reason we went with Reliant was that we had done a lot of research prior to buying and felt like Reliant’s products were streamlined and simple. That was sort of the deciding factor. The equipment looked great and seemed easy and intuitive to use. It was no hassle to get the equipment installed and maintenance is straight-forward.

What about the installation process. How did that go?

It was pretty “hands-off” and went well. The installation technicians were quick and efficient. It was pretty easy for me. When you pay for industrial-grade equipment, you want to make sure it’s installed the right way. The installers were attentive and polite and answered all my questions. Really, it was a set it and forget it type deal.

What did you think of the support materials you received from Reliant? Maintenance guides, equipment manuals, wiring schematics, that kind of stuff?

It’s great for the typical buyer and there’s plenty of documentation to wade through. Whenever I had any further questions, the Reliant engineers and techs were quick to jump on the phone or get me to the person I needed to talk to.

I know you’ve had a couple service issues since getting the equipment installed back in 2024. How has the support been after the sale?

Service after the sale has been great. Getting warranty parts has been super easy. Finding someone to talk to and answer my questions has also been easy. Reliant has shown a big interest in our success. We recently had Reliant’s CEO and lead engineer visit our facility to review the equipment and discuss a future expansion. The Reliant team is great and so is the customer service–one of the best places I’ve dealt with on something like this.

Chance, that sort of answers the next question about Lamar’s future-it sounds like further growth may be on the horizon. Thank you for choosing to partner with Reliant Finishing Systems and for taking time to chat with us about your business. We wish you continued success!

Visit Lamar Trailers at https://www.lamartrailers.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/lamartrailers. 

You can click https://lamartrailers.com/dealer-map/ to find a Lamar trailer dealer near you. 

Interested in adding powder coating capabilities or bringing them in-house? Contact a Reliant specialist at (256) 355-9000 or click here to discuss your powder coating equipment needs.

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Reflections in Metal Customer Spotlight

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Aaron Anderson, Reliant’s Customer Service Manager, recently spoke with Andrew Krob, one of the owners of Reflections in Metal, a fabrication and metalworking company based in Cortez, Colorado. Andrew discussed how the company started and has employed 3 generations of his family. He also explained how upgrading from an older powder curing oven helped propel the company forward.

Please tell us about the history of your company. How did you get started?

My dad, Jason Krob, was a pipeline welder in Alaska. The job paid great money, but the hours were terrible. He’d have to leave us for 3 weeks at a time, then come back for a week. While he was there, he discovered he loved working with metal and he really liked the way the colors worked out on the steel. He was doing stainless tig welding, so he’d get the pretty welds and see the colorful stuff the metal does when heated. In 1992, he started his own side business when he was at home from the pipeline work. It worked out well and he was able to leave his job and grow his own company. In 2004, he went full time with Reflections in Metal. That’s when we started doing our metal art on a larger scale.

At that time, my grandpa, Jerry Krob, partnered with him. It was just him and my grandpa basically working out of the garage doing metalwork full time. I had been working with them since I was a kid, but once I graduated, I wanted to go out and get my welding certs. I was trying to decide if I wanted to stay with the family business or go out on my own. I got all my welding certs in Phoenix and did tig welding outside in Phoenix, Arizona. It wasn’t long until I realized I didn’t want to work for anyone else again for the rest of my life.

Back then, I was young and making good money. I thought I was big and bad but wanted more. I came back home took over 33% of the family company. From 2013 until my grandpa’s death, it was a split company. We were growing and things were really kicking off. We were doing art shows all over the country, selling gates and railings, and we began upgrading to industrial fabrication equipment, like brakes and shears.

What does your company make?

We do just about anything made out of metal. The majority is decorative metal art–wall art, business signs, logos, things like that. As we’ve grown, an increasing portion of our work involves serious fabrication. These projects can require hundreds of feet of railing, large decorative gates, even structural components. We just helped build a Starbucks in Gallup, New Mexico, where we erected the steel and put it all together. That’s the nice thing about our company; we can do just about anything under the sun that’s metal.

Since your family has welding experience, that probably comes in handy, doesn’t it?

Yes, that certainly does make it easier, but I can tell you the whole family aspect of it can make it challenging sometimes. I joke that my dad likes to stick weld everything like it’s 1965. 

Since most of your experience is with metalworking, what was your main reason for bringing powder coating in-house?

When my dad first started doing metal art, he didn’t know the best way to seal it. At that time, he’d just do raw cut outs or spray paint it. He was doing nice large pieces and he started applying the burned finishes, where you grind the metal and apply the heat, and it gives it that cool rainbow patina. He was limited in his coating ability because he was using an automotive clear coat, probably a lacquer, and it just wasn’t lasting.

In 2009, he discovered powder coating, built his own oven, and it was off to the races. He only had that one for 2 years. Believe it or not, homemade ovens are not the smartest move if you’re trying to run a serious business. Next, he ended up buying a used oven. It worked for a while, but everything was antiquated and the oven was only 7’ x 7’ x 9’. Powder coating was a great move, and it was the right choice for finishing everything we made. If a customer wanted something simple, like black, or something more detailed, like copper vein, we could do that no problem. He quit messing around with any other finishing techniques, but we were severely limited by our oven. That oven had been discontinued, and there was no support. We were making parts for it, building our own burner components, and dealing with issues with the safety devices–it was horrible.

Once you got the new Reliant oven, what were some of the major differences you noticed between it and the used oven? 

I could talk all day about that! Simplicity, as far as ease of use and reliability, is the most notable difference across the board. You go over, turn it on, it gets to temp, and you get to work. You’re not over there watching it and worrying about it shutting down, overheating, or failing to reach temp. The reliability is incredible. We’ve had it running almost non-stop since May and it just keeps going like clockwork. We do a small bit of routine maintenance like we were told to, and it just keeps going. No major breakdowns or loss of time or messing up. Our used oven wouldn’t always get up to temperature, so you’d end up in a panic trying to fix the thing while you had parts curing in it.

Another benefit I wasn’t expecting–that’s been a big plus–is the efficiency. With the Reliant oven, we can get a huge rack of parts up to temp, cure them, and roll them out in less than an hour. With our old oven, which had only about 1/3rd of the capacity, this would take up to 2-3 hours. Our gas bill is also lower. We figure we’re using about a 1/3rd of the propane we were using with the old oven, while tripling our output. It’s nuts.

What made you decide to choose Reliant?

To be candid, we were looking at a lot of different companies and trying to really do our homework. We already had some experience buying new equipment. Around the time we purchased the Reliant oven, we were buying lasers and all kinds of other equipment, plus new powder coating guns. We really got a bad taste in our mouth from another company that we bought an air compressor from. So, on our future equipment purchases, we wanted to vet the companies and make sure the equipment was American-made and the company would be easy to get ahold of if we needed them.

We like companies where you can talk to one person and they’ve got a team that can help you out. A big plus was when we called and your guys were able to work with us on the double-ended oven design. It just seemed like we were making a human connection, as weird as that sounds. It’s not like dealing with some crazy corporation where I’m talking to “John” who doesn’t really exist. We looked into your company, and the reliability of the equipment seemed legit and the reviews were excellent. We even went as far as Googling companies addresses to make sure there were real businesses there and, honestly, you guys passed the vibe check. We saw where you were located and it was a real place where you’re actually manufacturing the equipment, and not just a sales office or some kind of front.

So you saw our no-frills factory and sales offices?

I saw an American business. Your guy came down and saw our shop. It’s a smallish family business where everything seems to be in chaos right now. At our place, I’m looking at weeds that I need to knock down, but that’s not the most important thing about running a successful business and turning out a quality product.

Speaking of our tech who came out, how did the start-up go?

Amazing, absolutely amazing. Wasn’t his name Tim?

Yes, he’s one of our in-house technicians. So, you were pleased with the outcome of his visit?

He was an absolute godsend. We had some issues, because the regulator system that was on our old oven was a little redneck engineered. For the new oven, we had to get a different regulator installed and make sure it was flowing right. Your tech stayed and made sure everything was on point and functioning like it should. He walked us through how to operate the oven. He ran it to temp a few times and that was crazy to watch. He was doing the start-up sequence, and the oven was getting to 400° so fast. Unbelievably fast to us based on our old oven, so we were like “this is amazing.” He said, “this isn’t even that great–we can get a little more out of it.” We were blown away. I can’t say enough good things about how everything went.

What are your future plans?

Well, thanks to y’all’s oven we’ve already started focusing more energy on larger projects. I’m now able to do 60′ of linear railing in a single batch. It would have taken 6 full batches with my old oven. We’re looking to take on more large-scale fabrication jobs since we have greater capabilities, while continuing to do metalworking projects. I’ll always do metalworking because I love some aspects of it. I was born into it, and I watched my dad and grandpa do metalwork for years.

It’s exciting because now we can accomplish so much more and on a larger scale. I recently did a 15′ eagle sculpture that I never would have been able to do before. I got it worked up, powder coated it, and I could feel proud of the finished product because it turned out amazing.

Andrew, thanks again for your business and for taking time to tell us about your company. We’re extremely happy that Reflections in Metal is growing and getting great results from your Reliant powder curing oven and we look forward to hearing about your continued success!

If you need custom fabrication and metalworking services in Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, or Utah—or just want see see some beautiful examples of custom metal fabrication—please visit https://www.reflectionsinmetal.net/ to learn more. You can also find Reflections in Metal on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/reflectionsinmetal/.

If you’d like to discuss how Reliant Finishing Systems can help you launch, expand, or upgrade your powder coating operation, give us a call at (256) 355-9000 today.

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Metal Fab Guys Customer Spotlight

Last month, Reliant’s customer service manager, Aaron Anderson, checked back in with Richard Stewart, the CEO of Metal Fab Guys LLC in Walker, Louisiana. Metal Fab Guys is a US-based company that provides automated fabrication services utilizing their new state-of-the art production facility.

Please tell us a bit about your company. How long have you been in business?

 Metal Fab Guys is a manufacturing company that focuses on servicing OEMs. We provide products that start as sheet metal and end up in a box and ready to use. All our powder coated products go through Reliant equipment.

We’ve been accepting orders since May of last year, so we’ve only been in business about 14-15 months as Metal Fab Guys. Before starting the company, we had decades of experience in the fabrication industry, received over 100 patents, and enjoyed success manufacturing retail products.

What do you make now and what’s your best-selling product?

We do have a couple products we sell ourselves, but we primarily service national brands. We support the data center market and garage cabinet market–we’re manufacturing very large quantities of garage cabinets. We’re also involved with dehumidifiers and air purification equipment.

How has your Reliant equipment helped your business to thrive?

Well, most companies typically invest in one side or the other. What I mean is they focus on either coating and finishing or metalworking and fabrication. Having the ability to get great results on both sides of the business, and do it all under one roof, has been a big benefit for us. We’re able to supervise all our production tasks at a single location, and that’s allowed us to better manage our costs. We’re at an advantage when it comes to attracting and retaining customers. Sometimes, we just throw powder in for free to help close a deal. In-house coating is one of those things that’s vital for total growth.

Why did you choose Reliant?

I searched a bunch of different companies and ultimately Reliant came through with the fastest lead time and best package pricing that I could find for what we needed.

You purchased factory installation. How did that go?

It was extremely easy and hands-off. All I had to do was basically unload the truck when the equipment got here and set it aside until the installers showed up. They took over from there. I had to specify an area where I wanted it installed, and that’s all I had to do as far as getting everything assembled. They took care of the rest and made sure everything fit together nicely. Other than assembly, I just had to get the exhaust ducting ran, get the gas hooked up, and get the incoming electrical service hooked to Reliant’s controls. The rest of the wiring was done by the installers and the burner adjustment was handled when their tech came to start us up.

How would you rate the fit and finish once they were done?

Perfect. It looked just like the pictures online. It went together well, with no issues. It has been incredibly reliable. We have not had a single thing go wrong. 

Some business owners tend to purchase smaller sized equipment when they first get started. What made you guys decide to invest in larger equipment?

Thankfully, we’re not hurting for capital. This is a second business, so we’re doing this a little differently. We’ve got the experience to “go big or go home.” When you go bigger, you attract bigger customers. That was the idea behind it when we sized the equipment.

We wanted to support a variety of products at the highest throughput we could in our building’s limited space. That meant we needed to have enough room to support numerous products in a batch. We’ve achieved that by starting with larger equipment, but we already wish we had more capacity now that things are rolling. Realistically, we probably should have switched over to a conveyor by now with the production volume we’re doing…but we’ve made it work. Impressively, the Reliant oven cures hundreds of cabinets a week, and does a good job.

Early on, we were told one powder coating gun would be enough. We actually needed more because of the throughput we’re trying to achieve. We can’t afford the downtime the way slower-paced businesses can. Fortunately, we made the decision to purchase six guns as part of our equipment package. That helped us minimize downtime. Our doors and inner skins on some parts of the cabinetry are different colors. So, the multi-gun approach allows us to avoid downtime and gun cleaning linked to color changes. While one batch is curing, another batch is getting sprayed. It doesn’t matter about color changes since all the common colors are already loaded up in dedicated guns. This gives us greater speed and versatility. Our coaters just grab a gun and spray the color they need. They can quickly spray different colored parts and keep ‘em rolling in and out all day.

Tell us about your experience doing business with Reliant. Did it go smoothly?

Doing business with Reliant was definitely easier than what I expected from your competitors. Like most businesspeople considering a big investment, I looked around for a while before I made a selection. Most of the other equipment companies in your space did not follow up effectively during the quoting process. Right from the start, I figured the company that followed up and answered my questions would be the better choice. Y’all have always been communicative and helpful.

What’s next for Metal Fab Guys? What does the future look like?

Well, we’ve already expanded three times. We’ve almost doubled our square footage in the last year and we’re looking at adding another 40,000 square feet to accommodate some future production commitments we’re getting. We’ll probably need a conveyorized system before long. 

Well, Richard, we look forward to talking with you about a conveyorized coating system in the near future. We want to thank you again for choosing Reliant. We’re pleased to hear about your rapid growth, and it’s great to know that your Reliant powder coating equipment is providing dependable results!

You can visit Metal Fab Guys  to contact them online about their products or check out their Facebook page  for the latest news and updates on their most recent projects.






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Thumper Fab Customer Spotlight

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Aaron Anderson, Reliant’s customer service manager, recently got a chance to take a break from the summer heat and talk with J. C. Kester from Thumper Fabrication in Marshall, Texas. In a few short years, Thumper Fab has become an industry leader when it comes to durable, well-made UTV accessories.

 Let me start by saying that some of my coworkers who enjoy outdoor activities have encountered the Thumper Fab brand. They want to know more about how your company is growing with the help of powder coating equipment we built. How did you get started?

 Well, we started out of necessity. We began creating a few of our own designs for accessories for side-by-sides like Polaris and Can-Am. At first, we had a sister company that was a dealership for UTVs. We were having a hard time finding high-quality accessories for the vehicles we sold, so we started designing them and having third-party manufacturers make them for us.

We got some recognition for our designs and the popularity of our products spread by word-of-mouth. Long story short, we sold a lot of accessories through the dealership. We decided we needed to start our own brand for the products we were designing, and we launched Thumper Fab in 2019 to do just that. We spun the business off and began making the products ourselves.

 What do you manufacture?

 We make pretty much anything that goes on a side-by-side. Suspension parts, bumpers, roofs, roll cages, doors, bed racks, roof racks, nerf rails, you name it. We produce both steel and aluminum products and we do absolutely everything in house.

How has equipment from Reliant Finishing Systems helped your business to thrive?

 Powder coating is critical for the longevity and overall look of our products, so it’s very important. The first thing every customer sees when they pull something out of the box is the finish on it, so we need to get consistently good results from our coating equipment.

 Our process starts with metal coming in, then it gets cut and bent and welded out, and then it gets coated. Getting the Reliant equipment installed was one of the key steps that allowed us to bring production in-house and get control over it from start to finish. We needed to hit the ground running with a reliable system. We also wanted to be able to ramp up to meet growing production demands.

 What was your main reason for bringing powder coating in-house?

Mostly, it’s about having complete control from a quality standpoint. It also makes the production process easier to manage because we can do everything in-house and don’t have to outsource the work. It’s a time and cost savings, especially with regards to logistics. We don’t have to ship parts to a coating shop, wait for them to do the work, then have them shipped back to us.

What are some obstacles you faced early on?

 Growth–rapid growth. We had to work hard just to keep up with the demand for our products. That kind of growth really throws a bunch of complications at you. It’s super easy to make one bumper and make it look fantastic. It’s a lot harder when you start making hundreds or thousands of them because you want to make sure you get that same level of care and quality on the 999th one that you put into the very first one that you made.

 What did you do to overcome those early challenges? 

 When we got rolling in 2019, we started out with a blank space for our building, which allowed us to spec the latest and greatest machinery and develop a smart layout for what we wanted to do. We looked for the best equipment out there for building our products. We also worked on developing a strong team of people. We paid attention to everything that’s needed for a successful business, including reliable production equipment, modern software, inventory management, quality employees, and everything else that goes into building a successful start-up company. The challenges seemed even greater because we were jumping into manufacturing. We not only had to sell the products, we had to make them. There are tons of obstacles and opportunities for failure in a manufacturing business on a good day, and there are even more when you’re managing a start-up. We had to pay close attention to every aspect of the business and stay focused on quality.

Tell us about your experience with the service provided by Reliant since you bought your equipment. Has it been a good fit for your company?

 The support has been top notch. You folks have always been there to help us out. If we ever have an issue, you make sure we have what we need to get back up and running…and running strong.

 What are your future business plans?

 Well, we’re continuing to expand our product offerings, grow our business footprint, and improve overall. In order to do this, we keep increasing our capabilities. We’ve already added on to our original facility a number of times. Fortunately, we’ve got 40 acres around us to expand even further. 

J.C., thank you again for choosing Reliant for your business. We’re glad to hear about your success and we’re excited that you’re still getting great results from your Reliant powder coating equipment!

You can visit Thumper Fab to contact them online about their products or check out their Facebook page for their latest news and photos of their most recent projects.






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Gemstone Powder Coating Customer Spotlight

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We recently got the chance to talk with Max Rasmussen, the founder of Gemstone Powder Coating in Rexburg, Idaho. Gemstone provides high-quality powder coating services to customers throughout the region.

Like many small business owners, Max started by recognizing a demand that wasn’t being fulfilled and saw an opportunity. He launched a company to provide coating services that were badly needed in his area. By investing in a large batch powder coating system from Reliant, which included blasting and coating equipment and a 12’ x 12’ x 35’ curing oven, Max was able to accommodate projects that were simply too large for his competitors.

Can you give us a brief history of your company?

Sure! We’re a new powder coating company located in eastern Idaho. I’ve been in and around the industry for almost two decades, but Gemstone has only been up and running for a little over three months now, so we’re brand new to the market.

What made you decide to get into powder coating?

I’ve been a fabricator and welder for years and have worked with several different finishes. I’d been around powder coating and wet paint for a long time and noticed a demand in our area for premium quality finishes. Gemstone provides coating services to high-end clientele from nearby communities like Jackson Hole, Wyoming. There’s a lot of growth, which provides new construction and remodeling work, as well as the opportunity to meet new business clients.

What makes you unique in your market?

We super-sized our system because there’s a need in our area for equipment that can accommodate larger projects—plus we wanted to have that advantage over our competitors. A bigger powder coating system gives us greater flexibility and expands our reach in the market. We’re a custom coater, so if you’ve got wheels, car or truck parts, lawn furniture, a custom bumper, ATV/UTV accessories, etc. we’ll take care of you. We can coat larger parts and assemblies like handrails, fencing, or ag equipment with ease.

Another thing we’re focused on is lead time. No one wants to wait a month for powder coating. Bigger equipment means we can do larger batches and maintain excellent throughput. Quick turnaround has given us a definite edge over the competition, along with the quality of our finish work.

What has having in-house powder coating capabilities allowed you to do?

Well, we control the entire process from start to finish. We can design your product, build it, blast it to prep for coating, powder coat it, and even install it. We’re in control of the whole project. Even if it’s just a small powder coating job, we can get better results than other shops because we have the tools for any size job and the added experience of working with large and challenging projects.

You purchased a blast enclosure from Reliant as well. I imagine that’s also helped with quality control.

Absolutely. The ability to properly prep parts ensures a superior finished product. One of our customers had just been wiping down parts and roller brushing them with macropoxy. We were able to provide a much better finish for them with a lot less hassle. For many industrial/commercial applications, blasting can enable us to achieve a durable, attractive finish at a lower cost. Having a large blast booth also allows us to offer stand-alone blasting services for customers who need to have parts or equipment sandblasted, but don’t need to have them coated.

You chose cartridge filtration systems on both your blast room and your powder spray booth. Can you tell us how effective those units have been?

They work very well for our style of use. At a previous facility, the booth had cartridge filters, but the air was exhausted outside. On our Reliant booth, the final filters on the exhaust unit allow us to reuse shop air. The shop stays relatively clean and we don’t have to pump in make-up air. We still have some maintenance–you know you’ve got to keep up on things–but it’s been really nice. These units work well.

What made you decide to buy Reliant equipment?

We looked at a few different brands as we got going, and with Reliant it was just a feeling. We went with our gut. Communication was there, pricing was reasonable, and everything felt right. Quality was another factor. We could tell just by talking with you guys that you take pride in your products and care about what you send out. So, it felt right for us to do business with folks who shared our drive to do quality work and support our customers.

What are the future plans for Gemstone?

For now, we’re concentrating on doing quality work, providing local jobs, and being a good resource for our community. We’re excited to grow and give back and create new opportunities. Growth and expansion are definitely things we want in the future. We may branch into other areas of the finishing world like Cerakote. I want to be known for producing high quality finishes for customers throughout our entire region, which includes eastern Idaho, western Wyoming, and southern Montana.

Thank you again for your business and thanks for taking time to share your story with us. We’re happy to hear that you’re getting good results from your Reliant powder coating equipment and enjoying success with your new business!

Visit Gemstone Powder Coating at https://gemstonepowdercoating.com/ or check out their Facebook page. You can also follow them on Instagram.

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Promax Customer Spotlight

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While following up with one of our customers, we had the opportunity to talk with them about their business and their experience with the equipment they bought from Reliant Finishing Systems. Mr. Brian Pohlhammer, Vice President of Promax Powder Coating & Industrial Coatings, took the time to speak with our customer service manager and explain how they got involved with powder coating. Promax is located in Big Bend, Wisconsin, and offers abrasive blasting, powder coating, architectural coating, industrial coatings, and related services. 

Could you tell us a bit about your company?

We started out in 2001 as a truck body shop. We saw the potential for business growth because there was an untapped market for powder coating services. We decided to branch out and add powder coating capabilities. In 2006, we moved into a 4,000 square foot building and we were powder coating smaller parts. In 2022, we invested in a 30,000 square foot facility because the size of our projects had grown. At the same time, we were looking at a new building, we were looking at a larger powder coating system. That’s when we called Reliant.

What made you decide to purchase a large curing oven and powder coating booth?

The demand from the market drove our decision to purchase larger equipment. We began getting orders for larger parts and saw an opportunity to expand our capabilities. Increasing the size of our equipment allowed us more range in what we could produce and a larger market of customers we could reach.

You purchased a cartridge filtration system for your powder spray booth. What advantages have you gained over less expensive spray-to-waste system with disposable filters?

So far, it’s been great. It’s streamlined our processes for coating. The time we save by not changing out filters has increased our throughput.  It’s also easier to keep our booth clean and prevent excess powder overspray from piling up.

What sets your business apart from your competitors?

We do quality work and the size of the parts we’re able to powder coat drives business to us. Because we purchased larger equipment, we’re able to coat and cure more parts at a time, so we can get projects out the door more quickly, We can also do larger coating projects that other shops can’t. We’ve probably got one of the larger shops in the area, which gives us the chance to attract business that we couldn’t if we had stayed with a smaller booth and oven. 

Thank you for telling us about the history of your business and explaining why your company selected larger, more sophisticated powder coating equipment. Also, thanks again for choosing Reliant! We’re glad we could assist you with Promax’s growth.

If you need high-quality powder coating services in the Big Bend area, you can contact Promax Powder Coating & Industrial Coatings via their website or by calling (262) 662-9550 to discuss your project. You can also visit them on Facebook to learn more about their latest work.

If you’re interested in adding powder coating capabilities or acquiring larger booths, ovens, blasting, or chemical pretreatment equipment, contact a Reliant specialist at (256) 355-9000 or click here to discuss your powder coating equipment needs.

 

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Customer Spotlight: Innovative Fabricators

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We recently had the opportunity to talk with Eric Beutler, the owner of Innovative Fabricators, Inc. about how the company has utilized powder coating to expand their business. Innovative Fabricators is located in Watertown, South Dakota, and has customers across the United States. If you’re a barbecue fan, you’ll recognize the Memphis in May trophies their company produced.

Please give us a brief history of your company and explain how it has grown

The company was founded by my grandfather and my mother. They primarily supplied metal art products to the home decor market. Over the years, they increased their offerings and the business evolved into a handful of different specialty areas. We’re still doing a lot of fabrication and metalwork products.

I got involved after I graduated college in 2007 and I’ve been at the company ever since. We’ve recently built a new shop and expanded into powder coating.

What was the reason for bringing powder coating in-house?

We needed to reduce production lead times and have more control over our business to keep it viable. Initially, we were forced to bounce between various vendors for powder coating. There were constant concerns about being able to get products finished on time. Nearly everything we make is powder coated, so it became evident that we needed to find a way to get control over that aspect of our production process and secure our lead times. Bringing powder coating in-house made the most sense. We were also looking at expanding our business and considering other sources of revenue we could capture. So, adding powder coating helped in two ways: we now powder coat our own items, and we also have the capacity to bring in outside work and take on new contracts.

Would you say bringing powder coating in-house has given you an edge over your competitors?

 I would say it’s brought us up to speed with what they were already doing. Most of our competitors were doing powder coating, so it was a necessary move for us to stay competitive in this market. We do a lot of E-commerce, so keeping products in stock, reducing lead times, it’s all critical to our success. We couldn’t have done those things if we hadn’t started powder coating our own products. Now we’re equipped to improve and expand our business.

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What made you decide to choose Reliant Finishing Systems?

I had been doing research on different powder coating equipment suppliers and I was looking on forums. I talked to some coaters who had Reliant equipment and had good experiences, so I got in touch. The pricing was competitive versus other systems I received quotes on, so I decided to go with your company.

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If you were to offer advice for someone getting into powder coating, what would it be?

There are so many things that have come up and we’re still new to operating a powder coating shop. I would say if you’re going to have to perform building modifications or deal with utilities upgrades for gas or electrical services, make sure you have those handled prior to the purchase of the equipment. Making an assumption about how quickly you can get those things done doesn’t always work out. In our case, we ended up waiting six additional months for electrical components that were delayed due to supply chain issues. Looking back, I would have gotten the electrical work done first, so the equipment could be installed and ready to run right away. Once you know the utilities requirements for the equipment you plan to purchase, make sure your facility is ready to be operational before you move forward. Don’t assume you can get everything accomplished before the equipment arrives.

What are the future plans for Innovative Fabricators?

We plan on expanding our existing product lines. We’ll also be promoting our powder coating services to the local region. We hope to bring in the right kinds of projects to expand our business. 

Our coating operation is relatively new, so it may take time to fine tune the way we sell powder coating services. Fortunately, we’re already getting some interest. We’re looking forward to serving other businesses in the area with professional quality powder coating. Since we produce and powder coat our own line of products, we understand the concerns they may have when contracting for coating services.

Eric, thank you for choosing to get your new powder coating system from Reliant and for taking time to chat with us about your business. Although you’ve had delays, we’re happy to hear that your powder coating operation is up and running. We wish you great success with your business!

Visit Innovative Fabricators at https://www.innovativefab.com/ or give them a call at (805) 886-7717 to contact them about their unique products and powder coating services.

Interested in adding powder coating capabilities or bringing them in-house? Contact a Reliant specialist at (256) 355-9000 or click here to discuss your powder coating equipment needs.

 

Powder Coated Vehicle

Customer Spotlight: Hicks Offroad

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We recently got a chance to talk with Cody Hicks, the founder of Hicks Offroad Designs in Wichita Falls, Texas.

Hicks Offroad Designs has the ability to customize any on or off-road vehicle and make it truly one of a kind. Whether their customers are focused on performance, aesthetics, or a combination of both, the Hicks team is determined to exceed expectations. They provide complete suspension lift kit packages, leveling kits, tires/wheels/shocks, aftermarket lighting, air-ride conversions, bumpers, steps, winches, and a variety of accessories. They also perform custom powder coating and cosmetic upgrades. Hicks is committed to providing honest service and fair pricing. As a result, they enjoy a good deal of repeat business.

Start by telling us about the history of your company.

I pretty much started out doing metal fabrication as kind of a side deal by myself. For years, I built my own projects–trucks, jeeps, and side by sides. Eventually, I started doing fab work, like cages and bumpers, for guys. I also did a little chassis work, especially for race cars. Over time, that led into the accessory side of the business. By 2015, I had built a legit company. By 2019, we started our second shop. That’s when we added all the blasting and powder coating capabilities in-house.

Powder Coated Vehicle
Powder Coated Wheels
Powder Coated Vehicle

What made you decide to start doing your own powder coating?

Well, we were doing a great deal of it, but we were spending a huge amount of time and money sending the work out. 

Were you struggling with your coating supplier? Is that what drove your decision?

We were struggling with the situation and we were handling the parts more than we should have. There was a long turnaround time to get work back from the guy close to us. Other than him, another powder coating company was two hours away. Back in those days, I was providing a really quick turn around, even on fabrication work. I was doing complete builds pretty fast. I was working late hours and pretty much doing it all myself. As the business grew and I hired a few guys, things got even busier. I was making a trip to a powder coater once a week to drop off and once a week to pick things back up. Over time, I started taking 2-3 trips to the powder coater a week. After thinking it through, I planned to buy an oven big enough to do everything we were working with at the time. I ended up buying a 20-foot oven from Reliant and a booth. I’ve also got a smaller 5’x5’ oven that I purchased elsewhere.

Do you solely use the coating equipment to powder coat your products or do you pick up local contracts?

So, initially it was totally for us. But by the end of the first year owning it, the powder coating equipment led to outside business and a lot of word-of-mouth stuff. We’d do a job for a buddy and they’d tell someone and it just kind of snowballed from there. We decided to expand and add a couple more guys to take care of the extra work. We also started doing a larger variety of parts. It evolved quickly and created a number of new opportunities for us.

Coated Wheels
Powder Coated
Powder Coated Vehicle

Why did you choose to get equipment from Reliant?

I did some research to learn more about the powder coating industry. I try to do my homework before making important business decisions. I already knew the steps and processes of how coating was done, and I had powder coated a few times with a friend of mine. When I was looking into equipment, I felt comfortable with the discussion I had with the Reliant salesperson I spoke with. I had a better feeling from my interaction with Reliant than I did with other companies.

That’s great to hear. Also, thanks for referring others to us!

As I told the guy I recently referred to you, the oven’s efficiency is even better than I expected. Even through all my research, I didn’t know just how dependable and efficient the Reliant oven would end up being. I’ve had the equipment for four years now. We’ve had heat tests run on the oven with Datapaq equipment and the uniform heat distribution inside the oven is unbeatable. Even my small oven can’t compare to how effectively the Reliant oven operates. 

The powder booth has also been a great investment and turns out top-notch work. I think one thing that helps us get excellent results is that we’ve done a good job keeping the equipment serviced and maintained. Any issues we’ve had have been minor and we’re continuing to grow and improve. The Reliant powder coating equipment has been great and has really helped us expand our business. 

Cody, thanks again for choosing Reliant and for taking time to chat with us. We’re happy to hear that you’re getting excellent results from your Reliant equipment and having success with your business!

Visit Hicks Offroad Designs to contact them about their coating and customization services and check out their Facebook page for the latest news and photos of their past and current projects.

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Customer Spotlight: Allegiant Powder Coating

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We recently had the opportunity to chat with Dairld Wurtz, the owner of Allegiant Powder Coating in Nampa, ID.

Dairld, tell us a little bit about how you got into powder coating

First of all, I used to build–and I still do–hot rods. I’ve been doing that since I was 15 years old. I got into powder coating because I was looking for a better way to finish the parts that I was using. That’s how I got interested in powder coating years ago when I was young. It got the to the point where I was looking to get coating work done but the quality wasn’t there. Around 2010 I decided I was going to build my own powder coating shop. I thought I was going to build something kind of small, but I decided if I’m going to get into coating , I was going to do it right. I built an eight thousand square foot shop and bought an oven from Reliant. I never really imagined that we’d be powder coating like we are now. It’s incredible how the business has grown and the way I meet people on a daily basis from all over. It has been an awesome thing.

Are you the only powder coating shop in your area? 

I’ve heard there are around 15-20 smaller shops in my area. Almost every little shop refers their bigger stuff to us because we have a 12’ x 12’ oven. We’re also getting business daily that’s been referred from another fairly large shop because they can’t handle the size of some of their customer’s parts.

What sets you apart from your competition?

There are a few different factors that have helped us be more successful. I’m a perfectionist. For the first 3 years, I was powder coating every day. I had to stop myself from going out and powder coating every job and focus more on sales. 

I learned that many of the jobs for industrial customers need to be perfect. There must be very little variance from one part to the next. The quality of our work has helped us stand out. To get top-quality results, we don’t skip any steps. We take care of our customers, no matter what they need to have done.

The Reliant oven is awesome because it brings everything up to temperature quickly and evenly so we don’t have any hot spots. It’s really nice equipment. We’ve got the best equipment in the area and its large enough for big jobs. 

Another thing sets us apart from a lot of shops is that we’re very professional about our business. Everyone wears clothing with company logos and puts forward a positive image. We keep a clean shop and the work area is about as perfect as we can maintain it considering it’s a busy powder coating facility.

So, you’ve got about a decade of experience with Powder Coating?

Yeah, I opened the doors on my first shop in 2013. I had been powder coating all my own parts and stuff at a local powder coating shop for 4-5 years prior to that. They weren’t spraying the parts the way I wanted, so I talked them into letting me use their equipment on the weekends. I was teaching their team how to powder coat in their own shop. But I’ve been hands-on in my own shop right at ten years now.

If you could give advice to someone looking to get into powder coating, what would it be?

Make sure that every part you send out the door is perfect. That’s the way we operate. If there is a problem with the part, it gets fixed in our shop before it’s allowed to leave. You never want the phone to ring with someone mad about the work you did. 

The other important thing is to make sure that you are honest about your lead times and get jobs done on time. If you tell someone a part will be ready in 3 days, it needs to be ready in 3 days. You have to go over the top when it comes to small details and you never send something out that isn’t right. 

Those are key factors to keep the customers happy and build your business. Word of mouth in any town is the best marketing you could ever get.  Make sure the job is done right, even if it takes extra time. 

You also purchased a blast room from us. How has that changed your business?

When it comes down to the end results, the blasting is probably the most important part of the process. Cleaning the part perfectly and giving it that rough surface to where its not super coarse but it’s textured enough to grab the powder is critical. It allows for a better and longer lasting cure on the parts. If it has been properly cleaned, blasted, coated, and cured, the finish can last a lifetime.

What are your future plans for Allegiant?

So, with our most recent purchase from Reliant we moved into a larger shop. That’s opened my eyes to another level of business I couldn’t imagine reaching. I’m thinking about building another complete powder coating shop in a second location. We’re so busy at this shop that if I did the same thing in another location I could more than double our throughput. Just on a 10-12 hour work day, every day, 7 days a week, the level of business we are doing could easily accommodate another line. 

Dairld, thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to talk with us and good luck with the growth of your business. We’re glad Reliant could help you with your company’s success.

If you need high-quality powder coating services in the Nampa  area, please visit Allegiant Powder Coating on their website to learn what they can do for you. You can also find them on Facebook to see even more of their latest work.

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