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It’s not the steel fabrication industry, but the energy industry that QB Fabrication has been aggressively working to keep up with the continued demands of customers: Ivy Quach of QB Fabrication & Welding

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“Due to more frequent and intense weather, access to diverse sources of clean electricity and fulfill electrical demands driven by increased electrification of homes, businesses, and vehicles, the US must improve and expand national transmission capacity to meet these challenges.” 

QB Fabrication & Welding was founded in 1987 by both Ben Quach and Nguyet Luu, who immigrated to the US after the Vietnam War. The couple ended up moving to Vancouver, WA, to find miscellaneous jobs to support the family. Eventually, Ben went to school to get his welding degree and become a welder. With his passion and skills in metal fabrication, the couple decided to start their own business. Determined to work for themselves, Ben and Nguyet started a portable welding business, borrowing from the family home to buy the necessary equipment.

The search for work – and a fascination with transmission towers – took them to the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), which markets the electricity produced by federal dams in the Columbia River Basin. Eventually, the BPA gave Ben a job. The agency called him one day at 3 p.m., he recalls, and asked if he could produce a critical part for a big project on a quick turnaround. He immediately cut and welded the piece himself, then drove it to a nearby shop to have it galvanized. He stayed up all night to finish the $500 project and even lost money doing it. But he delivered the part on time and established a relationship with the BPA as an emergency contract fabricator. This relationship led to a succession of ever-larger projects.

By 1995, QB Fabrication & Welding had outbid several companies for a roughly $300,000 contract to refurbish parts of the Umatilla Fish Hatchery. It was a big job for QB Fabrication, who rented an apartment nearby for five weeks to oversee the work and borrowed to procure material. But it was a success, and the company soon began to bid on transmission towers and transitioned away from emergency contract work.

The Silicon Review contacted Ivy Quach, Chief Financial Officer of QB Fabrication & Welding, for an interview, and here’s what she had to say.

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Interview Highlights

Q. Could you elaborate on QB Fabrication’s strategic location in Clackamas, Oregon, and how it contributes to its dominance as the largest producer of steel lattice towers in the Pacific Northwest?

The Pacific Northwest has always been QB’s home but being close to BPA’s headquarters has its advantage. Many of the projects QB have done have been BPA, whether it is emergency restoration, operations and maintenance, or new constructions of transmissions and substations. In addition, QB Fabrication have steel suppliers and galvanizing within proximity which helps with timeline delivery and cost. As a west coast company, QB Fabrication has also supported major projects from Canada to California.

Q. How does QB Fabrication leverage its expansive manufacturing plant, spanning approximately 5 acres, to meet the high demand for steel lattice towers in the region?

QB Fabrication’s manufacturing plant spans approximately five acres and boasts a monthly steel production capacity exceeding 500,000 - 700,000 pounds. Equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including angle masters, beamlines, plate processors, and automated shipment equipment, the facility ensures expedited delivery to clients. In addition, QB Fabrication has effectively addressed the domino effect impacting suppliers by undergoing a substantial transformation. This includes an 81 percent increase in manpower, the implementation of dual sourcing, the adoption of new equipment and processes in the shipment department, and significant maintenance and upgrades to its facilities. The company’s ability to adapt is attributed to its hardworking team, actively involved in training new personnel, and working overtime to meet project demands. Despite the challenges, QB Fabrication prioritizes the well-being of its people.

Q. With QB Fabrication being the primary procurer of steel for lattice towers in the Northwest, how do the established relationships with raw material suppliers contribute to ensuring supply integrity and timely delivery?

QB Fabrication has had a solid partnership with the local steel suppliers in the Pacific Northwest for a long time, which the relationship has helped QB to forecast costs based on the steel market. In addition, our steel suppliers are familiar with the types of steel that are commonly used in our projects, and they can assist in delivering raw materials quickly for emergency jobs.

Q. What specific measures does QB Fabrication undertake to maintain its position as a leader in steel lattice tower production amidst the competitive landscape of the Pacific Northwest?

Every fabricator will have their own niche and customers based on capability and scope. With that being said, the company has honed down on experience, brand recognition, and always providing excellent customer service to stay competitive as a manufacturer for the utility for many years. Many projects are driven by tight deliveries and QB Fabrication has been keen to communicate during the journey with customers on schedules, cost, and ability to identify issues with manufacturing drawings that need to be corrected. These measures are to manage expectations and to mitigate any foreseeable risks that can occur once the projects have been completed and delivered on site.

Q. How does QB Fabrication envision further growth and expansion in the foreseeable future, considering its current capabilities and market standing in the steel fabrication industry?

It’s not the steel fabrication
industry, but the energy industry that QB Fabrication has been aggressively working to keep up with the continued demands of customers. Due to more frequent and intense weather, access to diverse sources of clean electricity and fulfill electrical demands driven by increased electrification of homes, businesses, and vehicles, the US must improve and expand national transmission capacity to meet these challenges. Currently, QB Fabrication is undergoing significant changes in technology, processes, and people that will have a positive impact on our customer’s delivery and quality. QB Fabrication is seeking new state of the art equipment to replace such as a new angle master, an ERP software system for project management, and hoping to secure potential real estate in Clackamas. This will provide more room for the team and increase our capacity.

Q. Please provide a brief overview biography of the current executives leading the company?

Today, QB Fabrication & Welding is under the leadership of siblings James and me, representing the second generation of its founder, Ben. James has over 25 years of experience in the steel fabrication industry and started out as a welder himself, bringing his wealth of knowledge from previously working with large companies in the Pacific Northwest. Meanwhile, I have grown my background in finance, having worked for the Department of Defense for over a decade, with my recent experience at the Army Medical Command Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii. As a certified minority and family-owned business, James and I are bringing innovative ideas to expand the company’s growth within the utility industry. 

“The company’s ability to adapt is attributed to its hardworking team, actively involved in training new personnel, and working overtime to meet project demands. Despite the challenges, QB Fabrication prioritizes the well-being of its people.”

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