Southern Metalcraft Inc.

Southern Metalcraft Inc.
2675 Lithonia Industrial Blvd.
Lithonia, GA 30058
770-482-2923
www.southernmetalcraft.com
info@southernmetalcraft.com

By: Greg Williams, Vice President of Operations

12/10/2011

OPENED:  February 1974

WHY: In 1973 Ken Williams (my father) felt the "call" to be an independent businessman and create a company based on his Christian principles. Soon an opportunity presented itself, and Southern Metalcraft is the result. Beginning with one customer and 10 employees, the company now has several hundred customers and a competent staff of managers, engineering, production, and support personnel. The growth and success of the company have not altered the principles on which we were founded.

CAPABILITIES: We are a full-service custom sheet metal fabrication shop that works with steel, stainless, aluminum, specialty alloys, and nonmetals. Meeting our customers’ needs requires modern shop equipment that can handle prototype, medium, and large production projects. Our current equipment list includes:

Amada LC3015 4-kW laser with pallet shuttle and X, Y and Z linear-drive axes
HanKwang FL3015 4-kW laser with pallet shuttle and rotary axis option
Amada HDS 1303 140-ton hydraulic press brake with 10-ft. bed
Cincinnati 230-ton hydraulic press brake with 12-ft. bed
HEM saw, 30-ton duplicator punch, PEMSERTER® and drill and tap capabilities
4 MIG, TIG and STICK welding stations
Finishing and wet paint equipment

Our qualified and dedicated machine operators and shop craftsmen complement the efficiency and accuracy of our modern shop equipment and enable us to deliver a quality product to our customer on time and according to specifications. We regard quality assurance as a team effort that begins with the first shop operation and ends with a thorough inspection. With an average individual employment time exceeding 20 years, our sales, engineering, and shop personnel are our most valuable asset.

SHOP WORKHORSES Although each piece of equipment plays a vital role in our fabrication process, the lasers are the workhorses of our operations. Ninety-five percent of customer orders begin their journey through the shop at the laser machines. Most of the laser-cut parts are formed; some then are sent to our TIG and MIG welders and finishing and polishing departments to complete the cycle of fabrication.

MOST UNUSUAL OR MEMORABLE PROJECT: Our first contract, which was both unusual and memorable, was from the Southern Railway Company and involved modifying 24 diesel locomotives acquired from another railroad operation. With the contract in hand, a building with rail service available, several skilled craftsmen friends willing to take a chance at the opportunity to grow with a new company, and much prayer, we began the work, and the journey has been rewarding.

GREATEST CHALLENGE: During the past 37 years, we have witnessed dramatic changes in the metal fabrication industry. It has always been our goal to offer customers a quality product and timely delivery. To accomplish this and offer competitive estimates requires constant upgrading of administrative, engineering, and shop equipment—a challenge both logistically and financially.

The declining level of work ethic among the applicants for employment also poses a significant challenge to future growth. However, the emerging serious challenges for all small businesses are the local tax burden and the increasing costs to provide employees with adequate benefits, particularly affordable health care coverage.

LOOKING AHEAD: Our success plan for the future is to improve existing methods with regard to efficiency, accuracy, and quality. At the same time we must be flexible enough to consider other fabricating techniques and the possibility of adding new equipment.

ADVICE FOR WOULD-BE SHOP OWNERS: The owner must be the hardest worker, put in the longest hours, and reward good employees to prevent turnover.

CONTACT:
Greg Williams
Southern Metalcraft Inc.