Welcome to Success Stories, where we sit down with duct fabricators and sheet metal shops of all sizes for genuine conversations about how partnering with Mestek Machinery has impacted their operations. Watch the interview or read the transcript to learn how we help contractors find the right machinery and equipment solutions to boost their productivity and improve their business.
In this episode, we sat down with Brian Erhardt, Owner of Erhardt Mechanical, Inc. in Lansdale, PA to discuss his journey with Mestek Machinery starting with his Engel ValuePLUS2 Front End Starter Coil Line and then his recent upgrade to the Engel ValuePLUS2 Space Saver Full Coil Line and how these investments have helped him grow his business..
As you evaluate your operation’s equipment needs, please remember that we’re always here to help. We’d love an opportunity to help you achieve your objectives so please don’t hesitate to reach out for a consultation. There’s absolutely no obligation — we’ll simply get some information about your operation and what you’re looking to do and see how we can help.
What got me started in this, 27 years ago, for $3,000 I bought a break, a Pittsburgh, and a slitter for our makeshift shop. And at that time, I didn’t even know how to use a Pittsburgh. I was working for somebody.
So over the years, you know, you start finding things out. We expanded our machinery line and we’d buy something better and expand that. And we went from hand cutting to a plasma — from a 10 ft. to a 20 ft. We’ve gotten into a spiral and it’s been a learning lesson over 27 years. I’m a guy that never worked in a large shop so I had to learn as I went. Mestek Machinery has always been there for me with good advice.
Some things get expensive and my wife would go, “Are are you kidding me?” And then I would refer back to my hero (Henry Ford) and my wife framed this because I had to use it for every purchase. And you can see here from Henry Ford, “If you need a machine and don’t buy it, then you ultimately find that you have paid for it and don’t have it.” And I think my friend, Mike Bailey, likes that quote too. So that always got our machines to keep our customers happy and quality.
Well, the reason we first bought the front end of the Value Plus coil line was, one, it was affordable. Our plasma was getting clogged up from burning straight dock and trying to get the fittings done. So we ultimately got the front end and it worked out great. We’ve up obviously, upped our production tenfold.
And then years later, we’ve been so busy where the front end’s great, but you had to manually put it through the Pittsburgh, manually put it through the TDF. You had to hand glue it, pin it, and then, you know, these guys with pins, it looks like they’re making pizza sometimes. It just didn’t look like a quality product. And and it took three or four guys to get I mean, they were doing good.
I looked at Z-lines. I looked at wraparound lines. And I just couldn’t understand why I’d want to take up that much floor space in my shop. And then, again, my friend Mike Bailey said, “Hey, we have this new technology — a straight line.” So I watched the videos, mulled it over, pulled the trigger. Laid it out in my shop, and I’ll tell you, it’s a no brainer. I mean, we have a 20,000 SF shop — even if you have an 80,000 SF shop, you tuck this thing against the sidewall and you free up all that space in your shop.
We couldn’t be any more happy. I mean, we have the whole liner system with the angle liner cutter. We do use the door dive pin spotter on it. And, it’s a fascinating machine. I’ve had it running for 5-6 months. And every time I go out in the shop, I have to stop for ten minutes and watch this thing run.
Engel ValuePLUS2 Front End Starter Coil Line
I’d like to talk about the delivery setup, the techs when we got the machine. Now, unfortunately, when we got the machine, we were very busy — we’re always busy. So here they come in tractor trailers — we had it set up in a half a day. Two techs — Brian and Frank — which are excellent flew in. They had a hotel room.
We were running back in a day and a half after taking down our the end line of, you know, our manual Pittsburgh or manual TDF and glue. With some tweaks, obviously, but Frank and Brian stuck in there with me. And in three days, my operator had this mastered and Frank and Brian were just hanging out, having fun.
There was wasn’t much more. But I’ve had tweaks that I’ve called, whether I call Mestek Machinery office or I call Frank, then, within ten minutes, the problem is solved. So, because we’ve never had it before and they are total expert tech. So I really was very, very happy with them guys.
Well, the production and the flow of my shop, I’ve worked on that for over years. And even our the Mestek Machinery techs that came out, they admitted that I’ve done a pretty good job and they did give me some pointers because I always ask. They’ve been at a hundred shops. I’ve never been at one large shop.
So, we did tweak some things and a lot of things make sense. Anything I need from them, I’ve always had and their machinery is top notch. I mean, I don’t wanna mention any other brands, but I’ve looked at other brands. I could have afforded it and their frames are heavy duty on these coil lines. You know, I’ve I personally helped set up this coil line, and and I could tell this was a quality piece of equipment.
Engel ValuePlus2 Space Saver Full Coil Line
Well, since I had the Engel ValuePLUS2 Space Saver Full Coil Line, I’ve always had great customers, but I think they were a little leery of me. The other shops have these full coil lines.
I showed them the Mestek Machinery promotional video. They came down and saw it. And since then, I’ve gotten three very, very large POs.
My guys, they were a little nervous. Here goes my overtime. But with getting these extra POs, these guys are running this line out, and they’re keeping their overtime. So I haven’t had to lay anybody off. All we did was we tripled production, and I think I find my guys running the coil line and the Cornermatic, the Whisper Lock. I think they’re having… they have too much fun, it looks like, actually, now instead of the old way.
Well, anybody else out there that’s curious about why they would pick Mestek Machinery, first of all, they own Engel. They own Lockformer, Roto-Die, Iowa Precision. These are names that have been around forever in this industry.
Anybody else you buy is just gonna be a knockoff of these guys. So, you know, I always said you fly with turkeys or soar with eagles.
It’s a no brainer. I don’t know what the other costs were, but when you’re in this industry, it’s about being on top and being ahead of the curve. And if you’re looking to save money, you’re wasting money.
Mestek Machinery is comprised of a family of metal forming manufacturing brands with deep roots in the HVAC duct fabrication industry: Lockformer, Iowa Precision, Engel, and Roto-Die. Together, our brands design and manufacture the most complete, productive, and innovative metal forming solutions for the fabrication of HVAC sheet metal ductwork and fittings. With over 100 years of combined experience addressing every facet of the HVAC duct industry, our knowledge and experience allows us to develop cutting edge, precision technologies, and automated manufacturing equipment that saves sheet metal contractors and fabricators time and labor while ensuring a finished duct product of unmatched quality.
Looking to improve the productivity and profitability of your HVAC duct and fittings fabrication operation? Looking for a solution to address a particular application? Schedule a no obligation, 1-on-1 consultation with a Mestek Machinery Technical Advisor today.
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