Business name: Advance Welding Inc.
Owners: Dan and Robin Timblin.
Address: 1509 N.E. 106th St.
What the business does: Advance Welding fabricates structural steel and miscellaneous steel packages for construction of new commercial buildings and remodeling projects. Owner Dan Timblin said his company is small enough to do a homeowner’s simple fabrication project yet large enough to provide multiple medium-size construction projects at the same time.
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Steps to build the business: Timblin said he downsized earlier this year by melding two similar companies into Advance Welding. His goal is to develop more manufacturing and grow that part of the business.
Greatest challenge to running the business: The increased costs of taxes, insurance and fees has forced Timblin to tighten his budget. Because of the downturn in the economy, companies hiring the welding company have less money to spend.
What’s ahead in the next six to eight months: Advance Welding is in the process of working through specifications on a new rubber track off-road construction truck. Before the economy slowed, the welding company built similar trucks for a Japanese company. Timblin wants to get back in the manufacturing business, but this time it will be a local design that will be built and shipped from Vancouver. Fabrication of the off-road trucks used to be a large part of his business.
A favorite part of the job: Timblin said a favorite part of the job is helping people design and build things they can’t buy or get somewhere else. His company recently built a custom stainless steel pulpit for a local church.
Business background: Timblin worked with Sundial Marine, a subsidiary of Tidewater Barge Lines, for 19 years. That job gave him a rounded background in the fabrication of steel and pipe, and allowed him to learn construction processes. He has owned a business for about 16 years.
Year established in Clark County: 1962; Timblin bought the business in 2009.
Employees: Eight.
Telephone: 360-573-1311.
Fax: 360-573-1312.
Email: dan@ttgifab.com.
Hours: 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
