Expanding sheet metal fabrication capabilities requires more than new equipment purchases or added floor space. It demands the right partner to ensure every machine delivers measurable performance and long-term value. For Metro Air, a full-service mechanical contractor serving the Kansas City market since 1970, that partner has been 1987 Machinery.
Under the direction of Jared Bechard, director of virtual design and construction (VDC) and manufacturing, Metro Air has grown from a small sheet metal operation into a high-performance, technology-driven fabrication center. The company’s recent move from a 15,000-square-foot shop to a 60,000-square-foot facility marked a turning point — one powered by new equipment, upgraded systems, and a partnership rooted in expertise, trust, and responsiveness.
Scaling fabrication without disruption
When Bechard joined Metro Air two years ago, the company’s sheet metal capabilities were limited. To support growing project demands from warehouses and hospitals to higher education and laboratory facilities, Metro Air needed to invest heavily in its fabrication infrastructure.
The goal was clear: build a full-service manufacturing operation capable of supporting design-build projects in-house. Achieving this goal required not only reliable, high-performing machinery but also an equipment partner who understood the realities of day-to-day duct fabrication, production deadlines, and the cost of downtime.
“In the sheet metal fabrication world, there’s not a whole lot of vendors,” Bechard explains. “These are fairly niche products. I don’t know how many sheet metal contractors there are across America, but it’s not a common thing. Based on my previous experience, I had a really bad taste in my mouth from some of them.”
From trust to execution
Bechard’s relationship with Andrew Hess and Mike Hardesty, founders of 1987 Machinery, began years earlier when both were with a previous company. Their hands-on technical expertise, transparency, and service-first approach earned his confidence early. So when Metro Air was ready to expand, Bechard didn’t hesitate to follow them to their new venture.
In 2025, Metro Air purchased a full Iowa Precision coil line from 1987 Machinery — a million-dollar-class system that forms the backbone of any duct fabrication operation. 1987 Machinery not only sourced the line but also managed every aspect of setup and commissioning.
This process included 1987 Machinery’s team spending a week onsite setting the coil line, landing hundreds of control panel connections, calibrating each section, and getting the line operational. Within days, the system was producing high-quality, lined ductwork — a milestone that typically takes weeks to achieve.
Just as important, two weeks later, 1987 Machinery returned to perform fine-tuning, conduct additional training, and review preventive maintenance steps. That follow-up — helping Metro Air’s staff to understand what parts, fuses, and belts to keep on hand — reflected 1987 Machinery’s long-term mindset: equipment success is about what happens after installation.
A partnership based on responsiveness
Metro Air’s investment wasn’t limited to the coil line. In the past year, 1987 Machinery has rebuilt and delivered multiple machines, including a Whisper-Loc, a Cornermatic, a Pittsburgh machine, and a powered slip roller. Each arrived refurbished, recalibrated, and ready for production.
The partnership extended beyond delivery. As Metro Air relocated into its new facility, 1987 Machinery ensured that every piece of relocated equipment — from the decoiler to the spiral machine — was properly leveled, squared, and verified for accuracy.
When questions arose, the responsiveness was immediate. A simple text or photo exchange with Hess or Hardesty was often enough to troubleshoot a configuration issue or confirm electrical specs. In an industry where waiting a few weeks for service can bring production to a halt, Metro Air has come to depend on 1987 Machinery’s real-time availability and deep technical fluency.
“These machines are the lifeblood of our cash flow,” Bechard emphasizes. “If we can’t produce ductwork, we’ve got to go get it somewhere else. We can’t bill for those hours. There’s so much hinging on what’s going on across that manufacturing floor. These are critical components.”
A fabrication shop built for the future
With 1987 Machinery’s support, Metro Air now operates a fully modernized sheet metal manufacturing facility capable of high-volume production and long-term sustainability. The combination of new and remanufactured equipment has provided the performance of a new shop at a fraction of the replacement cost while maintaining the flexibility and service support critical to daily operations.
Each rebuild has been cost-effective and carefully engineered for longevity. As Bechard notes, a coil line has a 30- to 50-year life expectancy; replacing rather than maintaining it simply doesn’t make financial sense. The real investment lies in keeping it performing — and that’s where 1987 Machinery delivers lasting value.
The company’s ability to remanufacture legacy equipment, particularly from brands like Iowa Precision and Lockformer, extends the life of assets that many contractors still depend on. Combined with the team’s willingness to offer honest guidance — whether that means suggesting a different capacity or offering alternate solutions — Metro Air sees 1987 Machinery as a long-term partner, not a vendor.
Expertise, integrity, and shared values
Bechard describes 1987 Machinery as “sheet metal people who get it.” Both companies operate under the same principles: take care of clients, act quickly, and deliver quality work that stands the test of time.
What began as a single equipment purchase evolved into a collaborative relationship that now supports Metro Air’s entire manufacturing operation. As Bechard put it, “We’re a service-based industry just like they are. Everything that we do is to take care of the client as best as we can, as quickly as we can. They operate in the same manner. They want to take care of their client because they understand that these machines are critical for our success. It’s a two-way street.”
With plans for additional equipment purchases and long-term preventative maintenance programs, Metro Air’s growth is ongoing. Through it all, 1987 Machinery remains a trusted partner — responsive, knowledgeable, and committed to making sure every machine on the shop floor performs exactly as it should.
Transparent, reliable, and technically driven
For contractors who value quality equipment that enhances fabrication capabilities and responsive service that keeps production on schedule, 1987 Machinery represents what true partnership in the sheet metal manufacturing industry should look like — transparent, reliable, and deeply technical. They don’t just deliver machinery; they deliver confidence that every system will perform to its full potential, sustaining productivity and profitability for years to come.
To upgrade your shop’s performance with machines engineered for precision, longevity, and productivity, explore 1987 Machinery’s solutions at 1987machinery.com.