425 Fabrication Division and Mobile Welding

About 425 Fabrication Division and Mobile Welding

425 Fabrication Division operates from a 45,000-square-foot facility in Rockford, Illinois. The division was formed in 2012 as part of 425 Manufacturing, which Mike and Michelle Thomason founded to provide general machining services and aftermarket parts for drilling equipment in the greater Rockford area. As community building projects brought steady fabrication work, the Thomasons established the Fabrication Division as a dedicated unit. The company remains family-owned and employee-driven, with the Thomason family active in local charitable giving. The shop combines metal fabrication, welding, and precision machining under one roof. In-house welding includes MIG, TIG, stick, and arc gouging on stainless steel and aluminum, supported by a mobile welding rig for on-site repairs. Machining capacity comprises four CNC turning centers, four CNC machining centers, multiple knee and bed mills, manual lathes, and three surface grinders. A 3-ton overhead crane and two heated paint booths (one 12'×14'×30', another 14'×24'×14') handle large weldments. The division also runs a 3D printing lab for rapid prototyping and production parts, a CMM-equipped inspection room, and augmented-reality tools for design verification. Customers span industrial heat-treat equipment builders, custom machine builders, drilling and mining, wind power, air and water filtration, food processing, paper machinery, power generation, aerospace maintenance, marine maintenance, semi-truck upfitters, retail fixture makers, and automotive suppliers. The division has developed a nationwide niche in aircraft static display mounting, delivering custom-machined components and precision-fit assemblies for museums and military bases. Emergency mobile welding has served fire departments and other fleets needing rapid, on-site repairs. The Thomasons started the business to fill a local machining gap, and the fabrication division grew from demand for engineered structural solutions. The company emphasizes AWS-certified welding personnel, in-house engineering and 3D design, and a culture of community involvement—evidenced by donations such as 2,300 pounds of pet food to a local shelter.

Equipment

• CNC Turning Centers (4)
• CNC Machining Centers (4)
• CNC Knee Mills (2)
• CNC Bed Mill (1)
• Manual Knee Mill (1)
• Manual Lathes (2)
• Surface Grinders (3)
• Honing Machine
• Sandblasting Equipment
• 3-ton Overhead Crane
• Heated Paint Booth (12'×14'×30')
• Heated Paint Booth (14'×24'×14')
• CMM
• 3D Printers
• Augmented Reality System

Company details

Location

Rockford, Illinois

Founded

2012

Certifications

ISO 9001:2015

Listed under

• Welding in Illinois
• Metal Fabrication & Machining in Illinois

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