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Weld Specialty has a history that spans from 1980 to the present. Throughout this time its
goal has remained unchanged. Weld Specialty's goal is to employ the best people in the
industry, to give them the best suppliers in the fabricating area with which to work, and to
bring the best service possible to its respected customer base. In order to accomplish that
goal, Weld Specialty has continued to broaden its vision in the industry.
In 1980, Weld Specialty was founded in Grafton, WI, by two businessmen; Mr. Paul Sullivan
and Mr. Jim Schmeling. They began by focusing on large manufacturers. They soon realized
that they needed a larger facility, so in 1987, they moved the operations to the Milwaukee
location on 107th and Brown Deer Road. This allowed them better access to their customer
base. Their main customers at this time through the '80's and '90's, were automotive related
manufacturers and automated high volume manufacturers. Their success was predicated on
a customer service focus.
By 1996, Paul Sullivan and Jim Schmeling had built the business to be an integral part of the
southeastern Wisconsin welding market, and they felt it was time to sell it. The success of the
business was realized by its employees, and three of them, John Dunfee, Doug Campbell and
Scott St.Peter, bought the business from the original two owners. Having three owners,
allowed for equal allocation of duties and best use of the owners' talents. With finances, sales
and stock carefully being managed by one of the three owners, Weld Specialty continued to
prosper.
By 2000 an expansion of the physical facilities to 16,000 square feet occurred in order to
handle the new sales volume that was experienced during the first four years of the new
owners' management. The three owners kept expanding their vision of what the company
could be, so that by 2003, the decision was made to enter into the industrial gas business and
serve a larger spectrum of customers. In order to do this, two more owners were added, Bob
Lang and Joe Cappozzo, who had many years of experience in the gas and welding
distributor business. The first important step in order to enter the gas business was to select a
bulk gas supplier. Weld Specialty selected Air Liquide America, the world's largest producer
of gases. This business relationship has happily continued to the present time with both sides
more than satisfied with the business agreement. With the gas supplier secured, it was time
once again to expand.
A new branch facility in Kaukauna, Wisconsin opened in April 2003. This location serves all
Weld Specialty customers in northeast Wisconsin and is a complete welding distribution center.
In order to accommodate this new expansion, several innovations were instituted. The
distribution fleet was expanded and modified to handle gases and welding hard goods. Weld
Specialty opened its welding equipment repair center that does warranty work for all major
brands. Also Weld Specialty invested in a state of the art cylinder packaging and tracking
system. Because of these innovations, in 2003 Weld Specialty was able to place its first bulk
tanks at customer sites. As the business continued to expand, in 2004 Weld Specialty started
up its new cylinder filling plant in Milwaukee to provide faster more efficient customer service.
By 2005, Weld Specialty gained several customers through its vendor managed inventory
systems. This allowed customers the security of knowing they will not run out of product and
be supplied with the best possible answers to help them get a competitive edge in their
respective industry. Because of this, in 2006 Weld Specialty added several high profile
welding equipment manufacturers to its portfolio to be an even more complete supplier to its
customers.
Since 2007 business has continued to grow at such a significant rate it lead to the expansions
of facilities and services. In April of 2009 a new location in Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin was
opened. This large branch store is set up to service existing customers and new customers in
East Central Wisconsin. Furthermore, in 2009 Weld Specialty's Milwaukee facility was
expanded significantly, with the addition of a new warehouse, greater cylinder filling
capabilities, and a renovated distribution center. With all the development taking place
Weld Specialty plans on continuing to improve their services to a growing list of valued
customers.
With a history of expansion, innovation, and dedication to customer satisfaction, Weld
Specialty is currently Wisconsin's largest independent welding distributor. It's sales force has
well over 250 years experience in the fabrication industry. Weld Specialty has focused on
growth through customer service, innovative cost saving programs and the best products in
the industry. They have done this by staying true to their goal of employing the best people,
utilizing the best suppliers, and providing the best service. This goal will be a constant in the
future, as they continue to bring valued services to more customers, that will let Weld
Specialty work for them.
goal has remained unchanged. Weld Specialty's goal is to employ the best people in the
industry, to give them the best suppliers in the fabricating area with which to work, and to
bring the best service possible to its respected customer base. In order to accomplish that
goal, Weld Specialty has continued to broaden its vision in the industry.
In 1980, Weld Specialty was founded in Grafton, WI, by two businessmen; Mr. Paul Sullivan
and Mr. Jim Schmeling. They began by focusing on large manufacturers. They soon realized
that they needed a larger facility, so in 1987, they moved the operations to the Milwaukee
location on 107th and Brown Deer Road. This allowed them better access to their customer
base. Their main customers at this time through the '80's and '90's, were automotive related
manufacturers and automated high volume manufacturers. Their success was predicated on
a customer service focus.
By 1996, Paul Sullivan and Jim Schmeling had built the business to be an integral part of the
southeastern Wisconsin welding market, and they felt it was time to sell it. The success of the
business was realized by its employees, and three of them, John Dunfee, Doug Campbell and
Scott St.Peter, bought the business from the original two owners. Having three owners,
allowed for equal allocation of duties and best use of the owners' talents. With finances, sales
and stock carefully being managed by one of the three owners, Weld Specialty continued to
prosper.
By 2000 an expansion of the physical facilities to 16,000 square feet occurred in order to
handle the new sales volume that was experienced during the first four years of the new
owners' management. The three owners kept expanding their vision of what the company
could be, so that by 2003, the decision was made to enter into the industrial gas business and
serve a larger spectrum of customers. In order to do this, two more owners were added, Bob
Lang and Joe Cappozzo, who had many years of experience in the gas and welding
distributor business. The first important step in order to enter the gas business was to select a
bulk gas supplier. Weld Specialty selected Air Liquide America, the world's largest producer
of gases. This business relationship has happily continued to the present time with both sides
more than satisfied with the business agreement. With the gas supplier secured, it was time
once again to expand.
A new branch facility in Kaukauna, Wisconsin opened in April 2003. This location serves all
Weld Specialty customers in northeast Wisconsin and is a complete welding distribution center.
In order to accommodate this new expansion, several innovations were instituted. The
distribution fleet was expanded and modified to handle gases and welding hard goods. Weld
Specialty opened its welding equipment repair center that does warranty work for all major
brands. Also Weld Specialty invested in a state of the art cylinder packaging and tracking
system. Because of these innovations, in 2003 Weld Specialty was able to place its first bulk
tanks at customer sites. As the business continued to expand, in 2004 Weld Specialty started
up its new cylinder filling plant in Milwaukee to provide faster more efficient customer service.
By 2005, Weld Specialty gained several customers through its vendor managed inventory
systems. This allowed customers the security of knowing they will not run out of product and
be supplied with the best possible answers to help them get a competitive edge in their
respective industry. Because of this, in 2006 Weld Specialty added several high profile
welding equipment manufacturers to its portfolio to be an even more complete supplier to its
customers.
Since 2007 business has continued to grow at such a significant rate it lead to the expansions
of facilities and services. In April of 2009 a new location in Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin was
opened. This large branch store is set up to service existing customers and new customers in
East Central Wisconsin. Furthermore, in 2009 Weld Specialty's Milwaukee facility was
expanded significantly, with the addition of a new warehouse, greater cylinder filling
capabilities, and a renovated distribution center. With all the development taking place
Weld Specialty plans on continuing to improve their services to a growing list of valued
customers.
With a history of expansion, innovation, and dedication to customer satisfaction, Weld
Specialty is currently Wisconsin's largest independent welding distributor. It's sales force has
well over 250 years experience in the fabrication industry. Weld Specialty has focused on
growth through customer service, innovative cost saving programs and the best products in
the industry. They have done this by staying true to their goal of employing the best people,
utilizing the best suppliers, and providing the best service. This goal will be a constant in the
future, as they continue to bring valued services to more customers, that will let Weld
Specialty work for them.
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