How Did the Concept of Fab Supply Catch On? Read Where it All Started

Author Archives: Dan McCloskey

  1. How Did the Concept of Fab Supply Catch On? Read Where it All Started

    Comments Off on How Did the Concept of Fab Supply Catch On? Read Where it All Started

    In business since 1993, Fab Supply reflects on how it all began while remaining focused on core values essential to its success.

    There’s an ever popular anecdote about a bar napkin business plan, but Fab Supply’s beginnings were a bit more hook, line and sinker.

    On a fishing trip in Canada with a good friend in the manufacturing industry, John Wold was airing frustrations about his current line of work when his friend, Dan Provenzano, presented him with an opportunity.

    Dan had another friend who was making press brake tooling and was looking for someone to start representing the product in the United States; the two inevitably teamed up to kickstart what is now Fab Supply.

    Fairly new to the industry, John knew he needed a bit more knowledge as he launched into this business.

    “The next thing I did was spend a year working on a press brake,” he said, splitting his waking hours between his pre-existing work and this new business dream.

    The company’s first FabTech show was exciting: more than 30 companies approached their table and committed to more than $400,000 in purchases. Unfortunately, due to concern about the dimensional differences with the tooling commonly used in the US at the time, distributors were hesitant to fulfill their end of the commitment.

    “I worked independently state by state with phone calls and direct mail and started to sell the product. That is when the dealers were able to see that we had a viable product line,” John said. “That’s when we were able to engage the dealer network.”

    Fab Supply went into business focused on core values that still hold today, such as superior customer service and quick response times. There’s proof of these values in the many long-term relationships that started from day one and still exist today.

    “We get customers that will call in an absolute panic because they have parts due, and they realize they don’t have the tool to make the part. I personally have gone over to the UPS hub at 7:30 pm at night to drop off tools, if we can help customers, we’ll do it.”

    Dan and John partnered in business for 10 years, launching out of his facility and building on these core values. The company also has many foundational employees who have been key to its growth, working for the company for 15 to 30 years.

    “I think one of the most satisfying parts of this business is when we can come in and develop a solution that increases productivity and decreases production costs. Sometimes it is as simple as coming up with a clever design on an interchangeable set of tools,” John said. “At this point our product lines have expanded to where we can offer the appropriate tooling at a competitive price without overselling customers – it gives us the unique ability to sell to the application as opposed to selling a choice to a customer.”

  2. Tooling Only When you Need it: Customized Sales Process for Cost Effective Solutions

    Comments Off on Tooling Only When you Need it: Customized Sales Process for Cost Effective Solutions

    You’ve probably had a good haircut and a bad haircut in your lifetime. The best haircuts come from someone who gets your style and has the industry experience to do it right.

    A bad haircut? Well, that barber took it upon themselves to give you something you didn’t need.

    At FAB Supply, you’ll never walk away with a bad haircut. Our team is dedicated to listening to the ins and outs of your “style” before designing the tooling system that’s right for your specific application. No unnecessary tooling, no additional frills – just the straightforward products you need to get the job done right.

    How Does it Work?

    When you’re looking to add tooling to your fab shop, we start with an exploration process to understand the project and the desired end results. Feel free to send us a drawing of an upcoming project, we’ll review and determine your needs to come up with a tooling solution – all without you committing a penny.

    Only by listening carefully to the needs of our customers can we enter into the two-way dialogues that result in us recommending the most cost-effective and productive solution for each specific forming application. At FAB Supply, we always consider the entire picture. Whether it’s operator skill level, machine quality and capacity, production volume or delivery requirements, every factor must be considered.

    We sincerely care more about your project than the profit. We will never sell you precision ground tooling if standard conventional tooling will get the job done right. Our unique ability to provide our customers with virtually any fitting style or quality grade of tooling enables us to recommend and furnish our customers with the best possible solution.

    Our experience working with hundreds of customers on various projects gives us a diverse background and ongoing experience with innovative design needs. Here are just a couple examples of how we actually helped our customers save money while still creating the quality end product desired.

    • By simply incorporating a rotary bender into the manufacturing process of a well-known car wash equipment manufacturer, we enabled the customer to flange all sides of 4’ x 8’ and 4’ x 10’ light gauge panels with only one operator. This resulted in an annual labor savings of over $45K and significantly improved the ergonomics for the remaining operator.
    • We also helped a well-known truck manufacturer save hundreds of thousands by eliminating the need for post-form machine work on their frame rails.

    If you need tooling and you don’t understand the equipment on a level that you need in order to purchase the right products, FAB Supply is the place to go. We offer a plethora of knowledge and a commitment to customer service you can trust to get just what you need.

  3. Cost Effective Tooling for Every Application: Get Yours with 0% Financing Today

    Comments Off on Cost Effective Tooling for Every Application: Get Yours with 0% Financing Today

    It’s no small investment to maintain top-of-the-line equipment to support the quality machining you promise. As part of our commitment to total customer service and satisfaction, we want to make it easier for you to afford the tooling you need while keeping your ship sailing.

    Now through May 31, 2021, when you purchase tooling equipment for a total value more than $5,000, Fab Supply is providing 0% interest on a 12-month payment plan. (No money down; subject to credit approval.)

    Fab Supply offers complete lines of precision ground European/Amada style, precision ground American style and Wila/Trumpf Style press brake tooling, as well as standard conventional and precision planed tooling. Special configuration profiles are available in a variety of fitting styles and quality grades to suit virtually any forming need.

    Browse our catalog below, and reach out to sales@fabsupplyinc.com or 866-322-8665 with questions.

    ● Precision Ground Press Brake Tooling
    ● Rolla-V Press Brake Dies
    ● Conventional & Precision Planed Press Brake Tooling
    ● Adjustable Press Brake Dies