Fabrication shop buys Vegas rival

Friday, July 16, 1999 | 11:18 a.m.

BPW Precision Metal Fabrication Inc. of Las Vegas said it purchased local competitor American Laser Cutting for $1 million.

BPW said American Laser's assets include Nevada's first 3000-watt laser cutting machine, brake press, insertion machine and other equipment.

"American Laser has excellent expertise and capabilities in laser cutting various materials from metal to acrylic to wood. This expertise, combined with their skills in engineering, production and customer service, made them an excellent fit with our existing operations and customer base requiring precision fabrication," David Frohnen, BPW's president, said.

After the acquisition, BPW Precision/American Laser will serve manufacturers in gaming, electronics, medical instruments and automotive manufacturing; as well as architectural specialties and decorative businesses.

"Our customers will see the same level of service under the merged company and we will be able to offer expanded services with the reliability and diversity of a larger manufacturer," Clay Giuffria, American Laser's manager, said.

BPW Precision officials said operations at both companies are likely to be consolidated in less than two years into one Las Vegas facility, depending on lease costs and business growth.

BPW, which owns a 14,000-square-foot shop and a 16,000-square-foot shop, currently has 45 employees. American Laser is a five-person outfit.

For now, both BPW's and American Laser's facilities are likely to remain open because there isn't enough room to house American Laser's 6,000 square-foot facility in BPW's facilities, said Ben Gittings, vice-president and general manager.

"In a few years, when we look into consolidating both companies, we may keep one of the facilities open, and that would likely be the BPW Arby Ave. facility," he said.