Dairyland Peach Sections Business Profile 2019 | Página 27

Dairyland Peach Business Profile 2019, Page 27
Welding jobs of any kind handled
easily at BP Welding in Sauk Centre
Brandon Petermeier started welding while he was
still in high school. He picked it up pretty well and
was mentored by other welders. He liked it so much
that in 2013, he started his own welding business, set-
ting up BP Welding in a rented shop north of Sauk
Centre.
He was working in the finishing area at Felling
Trailers when someone asked if he wanted to try
welding. That proved to be one of those moments
when a small choice makes a big difference in a per-
son’s life. He took to welding easily.
“I worked with a couple people who pretty much
taught me about welding,” Petermeier said. “I like
having my own shop; there is more freedom, being
on my own.”
He employs three welders now: Trent Tschida,
Andy Henry and Seth Deters. His mother-in-law,
Kathy Marthaler, is part owner. She does the paper-
work.
BP Welding and Fabrication is a busy shop all year.
The types of jobs vary, depending on the season. At
the beginning of winter, there is usually a lot of work
with fish houses. During spring, summer and fall, it’s
farm equipment which keeps all the guys busy.
“Every season has its own thing that we work on
the most but we get a lot of semi-trailers all year,”
said Petermeier.
People often bring in their smaller jobs, wanting a
small crack fixed on things like a lawn mower deck or
a chair. The largest jobs the shop ever handled were
building a sawdust dryer and building a composter
for a farmer.
Seth Deters of BP Welding is putting the finishing
touches on a field drainage filter for a local farmer.
BP Welding, owned by Brandon Petermeier, has grown in six years to employ three people. Taking a
short break from welding are (from left): Seth Deters, Petermeier and Andy Henry. Not shown: Trent Tschida.
The most common items needing work are trailers
– from aluminum stock trailers to skid loader trailers
to semi-trailers. The shop does Tig welding, working
on aluminum and stainless steel.
“There’s hardly a day without some sort of trailer
parked here,” Petermeier said. “There are not a lot of
trailer repair shops in the area.”
The welders also work on a lot of farm equipment.
The shop offers fabrication services. When want-
ing new things built, most often people bring in a
drawing or describe what it is they are looking for.
“Most people give me a rough idea and I just go
from there,” he said.
A big project being completed in the shop now
is a field drainage filter. Partway through the job, it
turned out to not be proportioned well and the guys
gladly fixed the problem.
The shop offers free estimates on all repairs and
fabrications.
The welders at BP Welding not only work on jobs
at the shop, but they also go out on jobs with a por-
table welder. They’ve been from Kerkhoven to Eagle
Bend and many places in between.
In addition to the equipment acquired to set up
the shop six years ago, many other pieces have been
added since then. Last year, the shop got a shear.
“We’re still working to get the electrician out to
set up the three-phased power needed to operate the
shear,” Petermeier said.
He will add other tools and equipment as the op-
portunities happen.
One of the shop’s main goals is to get the back of
the building cleared out for more space to work in the
winter.
“We put in a concrete floor last winter, but it still
needs insulation and tin,” Petermeier said.
It’s not just the welding that fuels the business,
though. He really enjoys working with the customers
and meeting new people.
Petermeier would like to remind customers to
“Call any time there is a problem. We work on any-
thing.”
For more information, call or text [phone]
Brandon Petermeier, Owner
320-223-2852
10098 COUNTY 11, SaUk CeNTre