There are artworks all around us, and many of us don’t even notice when we pass by: the sign outside our favorite store, the handrail we grabbed upstairs, and even the fence around our favorite outdoor space. Many times it is practical, but it is still a work of art. Two of these niche artisans can be found in Waseca, Minnesota.
When it comes to decorative iron and high-quality handmade metal products, Matson Design Specialties, LLC is attracting the attention of people and companies across the state. Located at 40185 State Highway 13 in Waseca, you can find the father and son team of Bruce Matson and Zack Matson. Together they manufacture residential and commercial decorative iron as their main specialty. Sparks fly in their well-equipped Waseca store, where the smell of inert gas and the sight of molten metal meet. They make everything from functional handrails, signs and fences to decorative lamps and more. Together, they found a niche market by combining their families. If you can think of it, they can do it.
Bruce Matson, 63, started welding after graduating from high school in 1974. Over the years, Bruce worked in several manufacturing plants and then ventured on his own. “I started this business in 1991 as a sole proprietor outside the garage. In 2013, my son Zack and I worked full-time and rented a small shop in Waseca.
Zach grew up in Jordan, Minnesota, and chose to follow his father's professional footsteps. "I just got divorced and I need a shop to rent. I met Devin and Cathy Hoy from Waseca at a previous job. They took me to the shop rented by the old Waseca Dairy Queen. Devon and Cathy were in Water Weir owns the Bullheads Bar. I strongly recommend stopping there for lunch. We moved into that store and that's when Matson Design entered Waseca," Zach recalled.
As the company grew, space became an issue for the Matsons. The larger the customer's order, the greater the demand for space. They are always looking for something to grow. "We quickly surpassed the size of that store and moved to our current location in the north of town," Bruce said. Their new facility has 9,000 square feet of space where the two can conceive and realize their design. The space is large enough to accommodate all the equipment Matsons needs for creativity and product production. Zack said: "Our building consists of two connected buildings. Most of them have a 5-ton bridge crane, three huge doors, which generate three-phase electricity and heat. Under this roof, we have two very A powerful machine. One is a 1/4 inch x 10 foot Cincinnati Shear, which is used to cut large metal plates. The other machine is a Pacific 165-ton bending machine, which is used to bend metal plates. We have an ironworker, Responsible for one million processes such as small shears, punching, cutting rods, etc. Other machines include welders, band saws, pipe benders, hand tools, workbenches, skid steers, forklifts and material racks." This store includes all A tool that will make fledgling manufacturers envy.
In the beginning, Matsons experienced a struggle like any start-up company. "I think struggling is a constant thing in the startup world," Zack said. "You may encounter difficulties in the early days, but over time these will become different. Our early difficulties were cash flow. Now it is trying to find time to get materials," he said. "In business, you will encounter sudden problems. If you accept the phrase "a lot can be changed in a day", you will succeed. Combine this idea with hard work and you will do well for success Prepare. Failure is not an option."
In order to help their business grow, Matsons set their sights on more audiences. "As early as 2014, we wanted to participate in the Minneapolis Family and Garden Show. The cost was $5,500. We knew we needed to do that show because it had a lot of exposure there," Zack said. "We went bankrupt and tried to plan a viable plan to make it happen. We contacted the South Minnesota Initiative Foundation in Owatona. They provided us with many great things, including our participation in the Minneapolis family And the money needed for the garden exhibition. During the five days of the exhibition, we talked, shook hands, and exchanged ideas."
With the help of the exhibition, Matson Design Specialties, LLC soared overnight, owing most of their success to the South Minnesota Initiative Foundation. SMIF invests in the economic growth of 20 counties in southern Minnesota. Since 1986, it has invested 114 million US dollars in our region. "Our biggest and best customer is Advanced Masonry Restoration in Little Canada, Minnesota. We met them through the Home and Garden Show, as well as many small companies looking for our services," Zack said.
It is important to stand out in any business. Welding and manufacturing are no different. "Because of my diverse background as a manufacturer, we are unique. I use several welding processes: MIG welding, TIG welding, MIG aluminum and rod welding. We are also willing to work with customers in Minneapolis/St. Louis. Paul area," Bruce said. This flexibility in coverage allows the two to bring more business in difficult times.
Being an expert in one type of welding is impressive, but Matsons is a master of various welding disciplines. Zack took a moment to explain the differences between some of the machines they used. "TIG welding is short for tungsten inert gas. On the one hand it is a heating element, and on the other it is a filler rod. The heating element or torch melts the steel into a pool. Once you get the steel pool, you can add the filler rod.
"TIG welding is a very precise and clean welding process. It is usually used for high-end or high-end projects," he said. Any competent welder will tell you that TIG welding can be a very challenging type of welding for many reasons.
"MIG welding is also called wire feed welding. It can be said that a roll of filler rod is loaded into the welding machine. The dog is driven to pull the wire out of the spool in the machine, and then the hose is pushed out from the front of the machine. The tip of the cutting torch at the end of the hose comes out. The welding gun has an electronic trigger that can power the welding wire and start the high current required to complete the welding process. It is as simple as pulling the trigger. Before getting a perfect weld, you need to understand some basic knowledge .Technology, speed, machine current settings, line speed and wind speed. These are the key factors that require perfection before our welding is perfect." This attention to detail and accuracy of work makes Matsons a master of their craft. Although many of their projects are completed from spring to autumn, their diversity in metal products has kept them busy throughout the past three years-a gospel of their gratitude.
Small family businesses can sometimes mean spending long nights and weekends in the store. The Matsons are no strangers to hard work, but they are able to balance work and family purposefully. "My typical day starts at 6 am, my alarm goes off, and I go to the store for a cup of coffee at 7 am. Go home around 5 pm. Our biggest challenge is to deliver the product in perfect condition on time. Some days A little longer than other days, weekends are usually time to prepare for the next week," Bruce said. "Blood, sweat and tears are the three things you need to start a company," Zack said. All three people at Matsons worked hard to keep their business running.
The young Matson talked about how they balance work and family life. "In our field, we are fortunate not to work too many weekends. Can we work on weekends? Yes, but family is very important. So many families struggle with not enough family members at home, which has an impact on relationships. We Do we work on weekends? Absolutely, we do, but not anywhere near every weekend. We arrange projects to make sure we have a little break," he said. "Also, within a week, we will be home for dinner at a decent time."
When not in the store or out, Matsons spends time enjoying outdoor activities. Bruce said: "My son Zach, his wife Cassie, and I like to ride our ATVs in the Black Mountains of South Dakota. They have the best trail system in the country. My 40-year-old wife Laurie and I like to play with Our four dogs are camping together, just relax."
Technologies such as the Internet and e-mail have helped their business succeed. "With your fingers, unlimited information." Matsons uses updated technology to advertise on social media and direct markets to attract new customers. This allows them to reach a larger customer base with less effort than before.
Before you know it, you may have seen Matsons' work in our area and other areas. You may have seen decorative fences, using handrails they made at local venues, or accidentally driving past large metal signs they made. But few people can surprise onlookers like Bruce's favorite project. Bruce explained: "I am proud to say that I have done some high-profile projects, such as the Frank Lloyd Wright House on Lake Minneapolis. They needed some lamps that somehow lost, so I did The new ones match the others." Several other Bruce’s favorite projects can be seen in the Minnesota Landscape Botanical Garden in Chanhassen and the church on Pinnacle Avenue in St. Paul. He is also proud of two articles in Midwestern Family and Garden magazine.
Not all work is as good as work for Frank Lloyd Wright's architectural masterpiece. However, they are equally beneficial. Bruce used his creativity, craftsmanship and decades of experience to complete each project. Old Matson said: "The key to our success is that we are willing to meet with customers on site or in their offices to help solve design and manufacturing problems. I often tell customers that your problems are my opportunities." This personal style is in The creative process and the relationship with the client have had a huge impact.
Zach remembers a different project as his favorite. "My favorite project is the Loring Green West project", which is a large apartment complex in downtown Minneapolis. He said: “It consists of 350 aluminum guardrails, which are suspended from the first floor to the 13th floor. Our production pursues speed, turning eight to ten railings every day. One person is cutting the picket, and the other is cutting the tubing. Another person is welding and the other person is milling holes. Then, the guardrails are trucked from our store to D&K Powder Coating in Mankato by our 40-foot gooseneck trailer. After painting, they are trucked to Ming Niapolis, unloaded at the construction site there."
Zack himself is responsible for the transportation of most of the materials, making the entire process efficient and cost-effective.
Whether customers need small decorative lamps or hundreds of guardrails, Matson Design Specialties, LLC can manufacture most things that can be made of metal. Zack's vision for its business is simple. "Work hard, provide quality products and build a retirement life."
"I admire Zac's professional ethics. He is always willing to work hard and make sure that all aspects of the project are just right," Bruce said.
Zac said of his father: "I admire his creativity at work and the excitement of his hobbies on weekends. His mind never stops thinking. He has always been the kind of person who can tinker with projects. . Currently, he is building a truck box camper from the ground up. This is fantastic. From manufacturing to wiring to air conditioning, he carefully considered every step of the project. This guy is a walking hobby/chemical experiment, totally Proceed as planned to develop a man into a funny, talented, creative and caring family man. This makes him different. The biggest feature I really like is his family-oriented attitude. Without him, just I don’t have where I am today. I admire someone like him, and I’m very lucky to have a father like him."
Matson Design Specialties, LLC 40185 State Highway 13 Waseca, MN 56093 Tel: 507-310-2000 Facebook: Matson Design Specialties LLC
Post time: Jul-16-2021