In early 2014, Ron Norris began to explore an opportunity to start a welding and fabrication business. He contacted Carl Snodgrass, Director of the Wise County IDA. They discussed the venture and Ron was referred to Tim Blankenbecler, Director of the area SBDC program, for assistance with his business plan.

The Norris family met with Tim and it was decided to pursue start-up capital through People’s Inc. They created a business plan and the loan secured. A 4000 square foot building was leased in Norton and business began. After the business was up and running, Blankenbecler connected Norris with a local angel investor that provided necessary funding to get specialized equipment, personnel, and material.

The next step was to expand their capabilities. They purchased MDJ, a local machine shop, and moved it to the leased building which they purchased and then renovated. This required a new business plan and securing of additional financing.

In less than nine months, NorrisBuilt had secured new capital and hired twelve new employees. The decline in coal industry caused NorrisBuilt to open its doors to the general public. This kept cash flow going and allowed them to move forward.

They quickly outgrew their present location and in October, 2015, they secured more funding and moved to a 40,000 square foot building. The number of employees rose to 24.

NorrisBuilt diversified even further, in late 2016, they added a Line-X franchise. In 2017, they acquired a hydraulic hose shop and mobile sand blasting equipment. The number of employees needed to handle the business rose to 33.

NorrisBuilt Fabrication and Mobile Welding, LLC and MDJ Machine Shop, Inc. has the capabilities to weld and fabricate all types of metals, machine most any part, Line-X vehicles and do other specialty sprays, replace or make any hydraulic hose, various air, water, and hydraulic fittings in stock, sand blast with environmentally safe material, repair or modify any heavy equipment.

NorrisBuilt Fabrication and Mobile Welding, LLC and MDJ Machine Shop have been good corporate citizens by providing good quality jobs and producing excellent quality work to the surrounding businesses and residents in Southwestern Virginia.

Contact us for more information or how we can be of service. We look forward to hearing from and working with you today.