HERMISTON, Ore.-The Hermiston community turned out to celebrate as N.W. Metal Fabricators, Inc celebrated 40 years of business and community involvement on September 23.
Current and former employees, customers, and community members were invited to the free event that featured food from Tacos Xavi, ice cream, giveaways and raffles, and a bounce house for kids.
40 years of family and community
Kerry and Vendla Karlson started N.W. Metal Fabricators in October of 1986, after moving to Hermiston from Burley, Idaho.
“They owned a fabrication shop and were looking to branch out,” said Aaron Karlson, Kerry and Vendla’s son and General Manager of N.W. Fabricators. “They were impressed with the Hermiston community. It was a place where they could put down roots, raise a family and run a business.”
As with many businesses, the first couple years were tough as N.W. Metal Fabricators got going, but the family business stuck to its principles of quality work and community involvement.
“Our motto is, ‘where quality always comes first,’ and that’s always been the case,” said Karlson. “We treat our customers well and we’re thrilled to be part of such a supportive community.”
Giving back to the community that has embraced them is also important to the Karlsons, and N.W. Fabricators has been a longtime supporter of local community events, as well as those that keep youth involved in healthy activities.
“Sports were a big part of my life growing up,” said Karlson, a 1996 graduate of Hermiston High School and N.W. Fabricators has always supported local sports booster clubs, contributing to auctions and fundraisers, as well as local little league teams and the Umatilla and Morrow County Future Farmers of America (FFA).
In addition to supporting causes, such as Relay for Life and the March for Dimes, N.W. Fabricators is also one of the sponsors of the Good Shepherd Community Health Foundation’s Scramble for Scholarships Golf Tournament, and the business also sponsors an award for the annual Distinguished Service Awards in Hermiston.
N.W. Metal Fabricators
Located at 80496 Highway 395 N., N.W. Metal Fabricators provides metal fabrication, custom welding, machining, and sandblasting services throughout Umatilla County and the surrounding area.
“Our work has always supported food processing, and our customer base can rely on us,” said Karlson. “Our company was built on relationships and trust. We’re a little old school, but your word and a handshake are good enough for us.”
N.W. Metal Fabricators can create custom metal storage bins, conveyors, catwalks, handrails, storage tanks, piping, and more, primarily for the farming and food processing industry.
The company also offers a variety of machining and welding services, including mobile welding, in addition to finishing services, such as painting, sandblasting, and powder coating.
Employees are family, too
Kerry may have been the original N.W. Fabricators employee, however, both father and son are quick to acknowledge the essential contributions of Vendla to getting the company off the ground, then maintaining and growing the business over the past four decades.
“We’ve always been a small company, but now we’re a medium-sized company and the question is, how big do we want to get?” said Karlson.
N.W. Fabricators has just about doubled over the past ten years and now has 52 employees, a good size that allows the business to relate to its customers, while continuing to offer support on a personal level, according to Karlson.
“Our employees are our most valuable asset, and we try to offer benefits and programs that make them want to stay with us,” said Karlson.
The anniversary celebration drew both current and former employees and N.W. Fabricators also holds appreciation events, such as renting out the pool, going to baseball games, and an annual Christmas party for its employees.
As for the next 40 years at N.W. Fabricators? Karlson wouldn’t mind replicating the first four decades of business.
“We’d like to continue to be good members of the community, help our employees, and be of service to our customers,” said Karlson.
