Metro Test & Balance has been making, selling, and installing ductwork in the Washington, D.C. market since 1992, supporting projects across the region while also operating dedicated testing and balancing divisions. As vice president of operations, James Noto oversees every system that turns raw sheet metal into installed ductwork — and every hour those systems are down translates to lost revenue.
Metro Test & Balance’s sheet metal operations rely on a wide range of machinery: roll formers, laser tables, coil lines, and specialty equipment that must operate in sequence. When one machine goes offline, production stalls. Outsourcing becomes necessary. Field labor goes idle. Billing stops. This operational reality has shaped how Metro Test & Balance evaluates equipment vendors and service partners.
Keeping production moving without in-house mechanical coverage
For years, Metro Test & Balance depended on an in-house shop mechanic with decades of experience. When that individual retired, the company needed a new approach to machine maintenance, troubleshooting, and upgrades.
Without that internal expertise, Metro Test & Balance tested several third-party service providers. The results were inconsistent. Response times stretched into weeks. Emergency calls were met with delays that production schedules could not absorb.
“There were some other companies that we tried using, but they just weren’t available,” Noto recalls. “They just were like, ‘We’ll see you in two weeks.’ That doesn’t work for me.”
Metro Test & Balance needed a partner capable of stepping into a high-level mechanical role — not just for repairs, but for diagnostics, optimization, and long-term equipment planning.
Technical fluency backed by availability
Noto already knew Andrew Hess and Mike Hardesty before 1987 Machinery was formed. The two had previously worked for another equipment company and had supported Metro Test & Balance’s shop firsthand. When they launched 1987 Machinery, Metro Test & Balance followed.
“Mike and Andrew’s knowledge and expertise in mechanical equipment, like we use for fabrication, is second to none,” Noto says.
That expertise extended across the full range of Metro Test & Balance’s equipment mix.
“There are roll formers, laser tables, coil lines, all kinds of different types of mechanical equipment that make ductwork,” Noto explains.
But technical knowledge alone wasn’t enough. Availability mattered just as much.
“They’re always readily available,” Noto says about 1987 Machinery. “They pick up the phone. They answer emails. If we have an emergency, they drop everything and come and take care of our needs.”
1987 Machinery effectively became Metro Test & Balance’s external shop mechanic, capable of stepping in when internal staff could not resolve an issue.
“If a machine breaks down and your guys in your shop can’t fix it, then you need a higher-level guy like Mike or Andrew to come, diagnose it, and get us back up and running,” Noto adds.
Equipment investments supported end-to-end
Metro Test & Balance’s relationship with 1987 Machinery covers much more than service calls. The company relies on 1987 Machinery for machine sourcing, brokerage, installation, and long-term support. That includes everything from sensors and shafts to major systems like laser cutting tables and coil lines.
Metro Test & Balance recently purchased a 20-foot laser table through 1987 Machinery, replacing older cutting processes with faster, cleaner, and more efficient laser cutting. The laser table has become a foundational asset in Metro Test & Balance’s shop.
“It’s a game-changer in our shop for fabricating sheet metal,” Noto emphasizes.
The company also upgraded its full coil line, using 1987 Machinery as the broker.
“We bought a full coil line from them,” Noto says. “It’s an Iowa Precision line, but we used 1987 Machinery as the broker. They helped us sell our old line, then we bought the new line, and they’ve helped install that.”
The brokerage role proved critical.
“If I went to someone else, they would have just sold me the coil line, and I would have had to deal with my old coil line myself,” he notes.
Instead, 1987 Machinery handled the transition, installation, and commissioning, reducing disruption and preserving production continuity.
Training that reduces dependence
One of the most distinctive aspects of 1987 Machinery’s approach is how they transfer knowledge back to Metro Test & Balance’s team.
“They don’t just say, ‘Hey, call me every time something needs maintenance.’” Noto explains. “They’ll show the guys.”
This approach empowers Metro Test & Balance’s shop foreman and quality control leads to resolve many issues internally while knowing expert help remains close at hand.
“My shop foreman and lead QC guys have a great relationship with 1987,” Noto says.
A long-term partner
Despite being a relatively new company, 1987 Machinery entered the industry with credibility built over years of prior collaboration. For Metro Test & Balance, the partnership has proven invaluable for its sheet metal operations.
“If someone’s readily available to come and service a machine that goes down within 24 to 48 hours or faster, it definitely helps with productivity and efficiency,” Noto adds. “When I do need them, they’re a phone call away, an email away, or they’re here that day or the next day.”
Equally important is the confidence that comes with having a technically fluent partner on call.
“That level of partnership is priceless,” Noto concludes. “1987 Machinery is second to none. I definitely would recommend 1987 for all your machinery needs and service. I’m glad they’re a partner of mine.”
Need fabrication equipment backed by real technical expertise? Reach out to 1987 Machinery today at 1987Machinery.com.