Brett Lenz started fabricating metal 20 years ago out of a small shop in the Monkey Junction area of Wilmington.
He was working under the company name Contemporary Metalworks. Then, in 2008, the firm added powder coating to its service lineup and began working under the moniker Area 51 Powder Coating, as well as Area 51 Metal Fabrication. Powder coating is generally defined as a dry finishing process that applies a protective and decorative finish to surfaces made of metal, plastic and wood.
He describes Area 51, 2721 Old Wrightsboro Road, as “a turnkey metal fabrication shop, specializing in architectural metals including railings, gates, staircases, awnings and shade structures. Our services include design, fabrication work, powder coating finish and installation.”
The business grew from a creative spark within Lenz, he said.
“I started the business out of my love for creating and designing through metalwork,” Lenz said.
He recently answered questions about his background, his company and the manufacturing climate in the Wilmington area.
What kind of training did you need to be able to start your company?
Lenz: “After two-and-a-half years at N.C. State University, I answered the call to work with my hands. I dropped out of university, moved back to Wilmington and took a few welding classes at CFCC. I learned how to weld and immediately started buying equipment to start my company.”
How many employees do you have?
Lenz: “Currently, our team is made up of 12 employees, including designers, fabricators, powder coaters and installers.”
Why did you want to get into the industry?
Lenz: “I came from a very DIY family. We were always doing repairs and construction at home, and I always enjoyed creating things or improving upon them. Welding was a fascinating process that I was never exposed to when I was younger, but it was always intriguing to me.”
How much has your company grown since you started it?
Lenz: “Since its inception in 2006, we have grown steadily each year. We started with one employee in a 1,500-square-foot shop and have grown to 12 employees working in a 9,000-square-foot facility. We are continually adding to our equipment and skill set to be able to offer more services, including powder coating, press brake work, waterjet cutting, tube bending and plate rolling. Our annual sales have grown steadily every year as well.”
What kind of challenges have you faced as a manufacturer?
Lenz: “One of the biggest challenges I faced as a small industrial business was finding affordable space to work out of that met the zoning standards set forth by the county and navigating the process of adding equipment as it pertained to local code.”
How have recent issues affected your business, such as labor shortages and tariffs?
Lenz: “We struggled with finding qualified people during COVID but have since recovered. We currently have the most talented, skilled and reliable team we have ever had. I have noticed that there has been an uptick in people seeking work right now, as we have more and more people inquiring about positions. Tariffs have definitely impacted our material costs, and there was a brief period where materials were scarce when some companies bought out inventory once the tariffs were announced.”
What is the Wilmington area lacking when it comes to attracting more manufacturing/being a manufacturer here now?
Lenz: “One of the biggest challenges in attracting more manufacturing businesses in the area is the lack of industrial-zoned shop spaces.”
Over the years, how have you interacted with other manufacturers in the area? Have you been able to find mentors to help you as your business has grown?
Lenz: “I have worked with many other manufacturers in the area over the years, usually offering our services to other shops that don’t have the same capabilities in-house. I have had no problem finding mentors throughout the years. The Wilmington area is filled with successful businesses, and many entrepreneurs are eager to share their knowledge and advice to support one another.”
What are your hopes for the future of your company? For the future of the Wilmington region as a whole, when it comes to industry in general?
Lenz: “I just hope to continue to grow as our community expands. Our business depends heavily on new construction in the area, and we have had no shortage of that so far. I hope that the planners of our community have the foresight to expand our infrastructure to continue to make the area a desirable place to relocate.”
Read more stories on Manufacturing:
Growing Firm’s Owner Shares His Take
Manufacturing Group Looks to Future
Connected Companies Find Room to Grow
