Frequently asked Questions/ For your Information

• What kind of projects/Products can you design and build?

  Really anything that doesn’t require complex electrical involvement (complicated wiring and computer/PLC programming). With our mechanical engineering background we can design, build, and service most machinery. We are able to design, weld, fabricate, machine, sandblast, and paint according to project scope. But there are some practical considerations in which projects we take. We can’t match or beat the price of some parts and assemblies that are mass produced, check and see if you can get the part or machine you need from a widely available vendor or retailer first. This is not always the case so please feel free to request a quote.

  Usually, what you buy off the shelf at a retailer is made by the thousands or millions. There’s dedicated machinery, fixturing, and production tooling that a company invested thousands of dollars into to make just that one product at a rapid rate. We are making one or very few with universal machinery, which is why it takes longer and is much more expensive. Likewise, we cannot compete with overseas labor and materials.

  We also refresh and recoat old parts and equipment. We offer abrasive blasting and have a paint booth large enough to fit a crew-cab eight-foot-bed DRW pickup.

It doesn’t hurt to ask though, so regardless, feel free to give us a call and if we can’t pursue your project the worst that will happen is we politely decline your Request for Quotation.

• Why are services so expensive? Do you really make that much an hour?

  When looking at a quote, it might be hard to see everything that goes into the number just by looking at it. Labor might be quoted at $75 an hour for welding services, but no one here is actually making $75 an hour. Labor has to pay employees and also cover expenses. We have to pay to keep the lights on, the building warm, pay mortgage/rent costs, account for any equipment breaking, pay employees, and somehow turn a profit so that we can afford necessities.

  Materials are also expensive these days. Steel, paint, OEM, and even aftermarket parts aren’t cheap either. When you see the total on an estimate most, if not at least half of it, is usually material and parts costs.

  You might find someone who does it cheaper and that’s okay, but you get what you pay for and we make it worth it. When you purchase products or services from Carlson Diversified Engineering, you’re paying more for quality and attention to detail. You’re also recirculating your money back into the local economy and stimulating local business.