Metaltech Products Inc. Celebrates 20th Anniversary

Metaltech is celebrating its 20th year in business in June at its facilities in Eldridge, MO. The company is owned by Darrel and Dana Bishop, its first two employees when Metaltech opened its doors on June 1, 1998.

"Without the dedicated hard work performed over the years from some of the best people around, in addition to the experience and education I obtained, I don’t believe Metaltech could have lasted as long as it has," says Darrel Bishop.  "Some of these years have been difficult, but I continue to learn and greatly enjoy what I do. I have been truly blessed to be able to make a good living working at what I enjoy doing."

Darrel Bishop gained much of his manufacturing and management know-how by working his way up at Marathon Electric in nearby Lebanon, MO, and later at Electrovert, which is now ITW EAE of Camdenton, MO.

At Electrovert in late 1997, the company was having trouble finding a reliable and cost-effective vendor for large machine frames. "I think this was when the light bulb went off in my head, and I had a reason to move forward with my dreams of owning my own company," Darrel Bishop says.  "At this point, I had a potential customer right out of the gate, and I could fulfill their need by giving them something they could not get."

The Bishops built a 4,000-square-foot facility on Route E in Eldridge and began to fill it with the tools of the trade -- mig and tig welders, a hydraulic ironworker, a band saw, a drill press and various hand tools. Their first hire was Tony Evans, who was known as the best metal fabricator in the area.

Other employees soon joined the team, bringing their own skills and a willingness to learn. Metaltech purchased Ozark Sheetmetal in 2001, absorbing its equipment and workforce, and opened Powder Paint Inc. in 2003.

"At Metaltech, we believe that in order to stay competitive in manufacturing and give customers the quality of product they expect, it is necessary to have the latest technology, the best processes and the best people," Darrel Bishop says.

The company has expanded its services considerably since the early days. Now with more than 80 employees and 68,000 square feet of space, Metaltech offers everything from complete custom fabrication components, weldments and assemblies and CNC machining to laser cutting, robotic welding, and powder-coating. Metaltech is ISO 9001:2015 Certified.

"Our goal is to meet and/or exceed the expectations of our customers," Bishop says. "Whether the job is manufacturing a simple component on a large scale, or a complex undertaking, we can do it. Best of all, we are known by our customers as the company that 'makes it happen!'"

For more information, visit www.metaltechproductsinc.com.