While many Michigan companies are either struggling to make ends meet or folding altogether, an Oxford-based manufacturer has been expanding its work force and facilities.
‘We reached a point where it was necessary to make a decision whether or not to move to the next level,? said John Daversa, manager of the Rochester Welding Co. located at 725 S. Glaspie St.
Just a few weeks ago the sheet metal fabrication company expanded its operations into a 13,100-square-foot building at 925 S. Glaspie St. for which it signed a three-year lease.
‘It got to the point where we needed more space for welding and that was available so we moved in,? Daversa said. ‘Welding has expanded tremendously in the last few months.?
Rochester Welding expects to add 15 to 20 new employees to its staff by late January or mid-February next year.
Despite the increase in welding business, the majority of Rochester Welding’s businesses still comes from making parts from blueprints for various industries using CNC (computer numerical control) equipment such as lasers, press brakes and the rotation punch.
‘We’ve got virtually hundreds of different customers that we make parts for periodically,? Daversa said. ‘We make all sizes and shapes for all different types of industry.?
From the plastic and food industries to the U.S. military, Rochester Welding can make parts that range from ‘the size of a postage stamp? to fireplace doors to a 20-foot tall, six-foot diameter drying hopper for a plastics company, according to Daversa.
Rochester Welding’s success is amazing considering back in 2002 the company was down to six employees.
‘Everybody was down,? Daversa explained. ‘Manufacturing was at its lowest (in 2002). There were companies that we dealt with that were going out of business daily.?
Five years later, ‘things just picked back up,? according to Daversa. ‘Everybody else is getting pretty busy.?
Just a year ago, Rochester Welding had about 30 employees. ‘I think now we just passed the 80 mark,? Daversa said.
The increase in employees required the company to split its work force into two shifts. ‘We had a sporadic second shift with just a few people on it,? Daversa said. ‘Now, it’s a full shift with probably 30-35 people on it.?
Most of Rochester Welding’s employees are local people.
‘We try to keep it that way,? Daversa said. ‘It’s actually to our advantage to have people that live closer. And it brings jobs to the area. I think that’s a good thing.?
Owned by Brad McLean and Tom Sears, Rochester Welding Co. has been in business for 32 years. The company started in Rochester, moved to Lake Orion and finally settled in Oxford at its present location in the late 1980s.
For more information visit www.rochesterwelding.com.