STAC Manufacturing Inc. is a production CNC machine shop that offers turnkey solutions for manufacturing projects along with a variety of in-house services. Those services include welding fabrication and repair, cladding, flame spray hard facing, soldering and grinding for PDC cutters and tungsten carbide overlays for parts, along with helping clients with innovations and R&D.
The company was co-founded in 2013 by Tyler Ames, Sandy Blakney and Cal Blakney.
“Each of us owned metal working companies and were farming out a lot of machining work,” says Ames, president. “We had a client for whom we did a lot of welding but outsourced their machining. We saw this as an opportunity to grow our businesses, so we joined forces and STAC Manufacturing was born. STAC launched with one main client and we found out very quickly how dangerous that position can be! In the first year of our operations, the customer we built our company around changed hands and moved its manufacturing out of our jurisdiction.”
It was a huge blow, especially for the young business owner who, at 27 years old, had signed on for close to a million dollars of debt alongside the other co-founders to get STAC up and running. However, being young and ambitious came with advantages – and one of those advantages was the combination of talent, tenacity and a no-fail attitude.”
“We had to find new customers quickly,” Ames recalls. “Working tirelessly door knocking and cold calling, we managed to fill the capacity in our shop.”
Since the break in workflow those many years ago, the client list has expanded, the inventory of machines is much larger and the list of services offered has grown. The team of three is now a team of 10, including a full-time operations manager. The dream of the business owners came true. Now they focus on the dreams of their clients.
“We are a place where ideas become reality,” smiles Ames. “Yes, we are a CNC machine shop with machines that create complex parts that are integral to tools and other components but what we really love to do is help develop concepts by working with engineers, entrepreneurs and inventors to bring their dreams to life. Almost everything we work on is secret because our clients are innovators and at the forefront of technology in their fields. We make things other people dream up.”
To this end, STAC offers a turnkey process, handling everything from conception to production.
“What would I say to new clients? That they can trust STAC to provide high quality items on budget and to their timeline,” says Ames. “With the high level of R&D we do, STAC is a closed facility. Nobody comes in that is not authorized. This tight level of security allows us to work on proprietary projects in a way some other companies cannot. It’s imperative that our clients can trust us with their innovative ideas and products.”
There are challenges but the agile company always finds a way to succeed.
“In the years since we opened and lost our main client, we have gone through two recessions and COVID. Additionally, the very nature of the oil and gas industry in Alberta is both fast paced and fluid. Through all the challenges, our team has managed to grow year over year adding new customers and new equipment. Now, more often it is more of a challenge to keep up with the demands and requests than it is to find new customers. We have to pivot quickly to keep providing solutions. However, perseverance in the face of adversity is what we are known for and this drives our commitment to providing outstanding service.”
In fact, for Ames, those challenges are also what he finds the most rewarding about the business.
“I really do love being able to help our customers succeed. A lot of times they have an idea but are unsure of how to bring it forward or the steps involved in having it made. We use our expertise and experience to take their idea and turn it into a tangible item that works in a cost-effective way. Our equipment may be generic but we are creative. We are able to make things beyond the normal machine’s capacity thanks to knowledge, experience and some out-of-the-box thinking.”
The energy and ingenuity of every team member helps ensure the company’s success, as does the philosophy of the owners.
Ames explains, “We take the notion of ‘family-run’ to heart. That means, we take care of the people in our business. Everyone here is a name and not a number. We take the time to truly get to know the staff so we can have a close, collaborative, beneficial corporate culture.”
Being a born and raised Edmontonian, Ames has a great appreciation of the city.
“Edmonton boasts an amazing business community that is both vibrant and welcoming,” he says. “I’ve had the pleasure of meeting countless business owners and managers, many of whom have invited me in as a stranger to learn about their ventures. This open and accepting culture is what makes Edmonton’s business environment so incredible.”
Giving back to Edmonton and the non-profit communities within it is a major driver for STAC.
“We actively support the local food bank and run a Movember campaign each year where every dollar we raise is matched by the company. Additionally, last year, we took significant steps towards sustainability by planting 250 trees to offset our company’s carbon footprint.”
Being a younger company that does not seek out recognition, and as a lot of the work they do is kept from the public eye to protect the inventions of their clients, STAC has yet to collect service or innovation awards. However, the owners, on behalf of the entire team, are thrilled about a recent Business in Edmonton Leaders nomination.
“Our success wouldn’t be possible without the contributions of several key individuals and groups,” Ames adds. “A very special shout out goes to our talented operations manager, Wes Minogue, who has taken over much of the shop’s operations. Without him, our lives would be much more difficult. We also owe a great deal to our clients. Without them, we would have nothing to manufacture.”
Ames concludes, “As we have just passed our 10-year milestone, our focus remains on meeting our clients’ needs with unwavering dedication. We aim for continued controlled growth year over year and are exploring opportunities to add new equipment and expand our capabilities. The future looks bright and we are excited about the possibilities that lie ahead.”
5724-96 Street, Edmonton, Alberta T6E 3G1
780-436-6003
Visit www.stacmfg.ca for more information.
The company is also active on Facebook and LinkedIn.
