Starting in a garage in 1985 a Bend family owned business with 25 employees will add employees in 2014 with new long term contracts in the defense industry.
CLS Fabrication was founded by Eric and Barbara Fleming originally in Costa Mesa, California creating their first products that were coin operated laundry machine security devices. Now after 25 years building their business they have earned a reputation as industry leaders fabricating precision sheet metal products for original equipment manufacturers and have recently been awarded two five year contracts for the U.S. Army and a third party defense contractor.
Ben Mitchell, chief operating officer, of CLS says, “As a small business operating in Central Oregon, we are very proud to have won these contracts for the support of our personnel and their families. The long term nature of each means we have the ability to plan for the future, to grow and diversify our company further and bring strength to the U.S. economy including Bend and surrounding areas.”
CLS expects to add ten or more full time jobs in 2014 as they ramp up to produce the new products. Mitchell explains, “In a partnership with local company Cv International, also a Bend company, we have been contracted to supply a Modernized Maintenance Platform to the U.S. Army for a period of five years. The product is currently undergoing environmental and performance testing at the Army’s Aberdeen Maryland Proving ground.
It was designed to be a comprehensive replacement for multiple current products the Army uses. Its construction is very light and mobile to enable rapid field deployment and primary construction is aluminum and stainless steel for corrosion resistance and durability. The stand has a 20 year lifetime estimate.”
This is good news for the Central Oregon economy. Mitchell says, “ Also in partnership with Cv International, we have been contracted for a five year period to supply specialized ground support equipment. The project involves a long term design and test phase along with following production and supply of two separate custom systems for nitrogen delivery.”
CLS built its fabrication history on many other useful sheet metal and precision products as a third party and building source for (OEM) Original Equipment Manufacturing. Starting with security devices and Coin operated laundry products over the years they have added commercial/general security products, additional third party products and the Baldhead Metal Cabinet product lines. Mitchell says, “ CLS designs, end to end manufactures and distributes a commercial grade metal cabinet system under the name Baldhead Cabinets.
We also are an ongoing supplier to other local companies in Bend as an OEM manufacturing partner. These include Ballard Power Systems, Advanced Energy and Fuel Safe/Aircraft Rubber. We are also providing structural work for Boneyard Brewery’s current expansion in both structural steel/stainless as well as fabricated items.”
Looking forward to the possibility of more manufacturing contracts in 2014 Mitchell continues, “We currently have outstanding bids not only with Cv International, but also for other OEM manufacturers.”
With recent Central Oregon economic activity on the upswing in 2013 and looking positive for 2014 Mitchell concludes, “The term “on-shoring” has become more and more commonplace in my conversations. There are pointed and deliberate efforts to manufacture products in a way that analyzes the complete cost of doing business. Diversification has been our key to maintaining a constant flow of work and ingenuity in our own product designs has put them at the top of the market. While the economy, particularly that of Central Oregon and likewise, manufacturing, is still not showing immense growth, there are bright spots and capitalizing on those has proved key for us.”
CLS Fabrication Inc.
20522 Builders Street • Bend
541-749-4257 • Fax: 541-749-4263
CEO/Owner: CEO Mark Fleming, Owners Mark & Barbara Fleming.
COO: Ben Mitchell
No. Employees: 25
Year Established: 1985
Product/Service: manufacturing services to original equipment manufacturers that demand high-precision metal fabrication and powder coating on a production scale. Services offered are CAD/Solidworks and Product Engineering • Stainless Steel and Aluminum Processing • Material Bending • MIG,TIG and Resistance WeldingRiveting • Material Line Grain Finishing • In-House Powder Coating • Full Assembly and Packaging Services
Hot News: 2014 two new five year contracts with U.S. Army and a third party defense contractor adding 10 or more full time jobs.
Outlook for Growth: active supplier of sheet metal, structural fabrication and powder coating services to companies throughout North America and currently has outstanding bids not only with Cv International, but also for other OEM manufacturers.
