Ask Bob Evans, general manager of EVS Metal’s Texas facility, about the poor economy and you might be surprised by his answer. “We’ve had record sales the past three years,” says Evans. In fact, EVS, a leading US sheet metal fabrication company, has done so well they’ve recently increased capacity by adding new equipment and expanding their facilities – within the past year alone they’ve increased manufacturing space by over 45,000 feet.
That’s not to say they’re unaware of the recession – just that it has little effect on them. “We see a lot of shops that are hurting. I get auction letters almost every day, from all over the U.S. – in the past 10 years or so, I know of seven or eight shops that have failed in the Austin area alone.” And yet, EVS is thriving, despite these sobering statistics. What’s their secret?
Continuous Investment
For starters, EVS Metal believes in the importance of investment – they continue to purchase state-of-the-art equipment, despite the apparent decline in U.S. manufacturing. “I’m still optimistic about the industry,” says Evans. “Sure, there are fewer shops than there were in the 90’s, but the ones that are left have no choice but to invest in new technology. You can’t be scared of the economy.”
Read more about EVS Metal on FabShop Magazine Direct, including the company’s commitment to CNC machining excellence and continuous improvement via investment in automation.
