Sparks Fly at New Springdale Welding Shop

Owner: Jorge Soto

Address: 1803 Lowell Road, Springdale 72765

Phone/fax: (501) 872-0330/872-0392

Hours: 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday

Start-up date: Sept. 1

For 20 years, Jorge Soto welded steel to make money for other people. In September, Soto fired up his welding torch for the first time to make money for his own business, Quality Steel and Fabrication.

A father of five, Soto said the company is a dream come true. Quality Steel produces and installs structures such as fences, safety railings, stairwells and building frames.

Including Soto, Quality Steel employs three people, and two more will join the roster soon, Soto said. He added that by the end of its first year in operation, the business could staff up to 15 workers.

Currently Quality Steel is in a 20,000-SF warehouse in Springdale, but Soto plans to move the business into a 30,000-SF building in Rogers next spring.

Soto has applied to Boyd Metals and Afco Metals for approval to purchase his supplies at wholesale prices. Start-up costs were about $10,000, Soto said, which included outfitting the office and purchasing new welding equipment and a forklift.