Co-owner Mike Jones attributes company growth to people wanting to buy American. Bob Crisp
Co-owners Mike Jones, Dawson Pruett and Randall Hall began operations in Childersburg in a 2000 square foot facility. They quickly outgrew the Childersburg facility and relocated to a plant on East Fort Williams in Sylacauga. Unable to expand at that location, AmeriBolt relocated again, this time to the facility in Sycamore with ample opportunity to expand.
“People wonder how you make money making nuts and bolts,” Jones said.
AmeriBolt manufactures and distributes threaded products that include special alloys and coatings. Using special alloys and carbon steels, AmeriBolt produces threaded studs, bolts, nuts and flat washers.
Special orders are made by hand, but large orders are produced on programmable stations. Threaded products include quarter inch to four inch rods.
Engineers order products based on strength, heat and corrosiveness. Many of Ameribolt’s products can be found in power generating plants, refineries, and paper and pulp plants.
Starting with one employee in 2005, AmeriBolt, with a smaller operation in Moss Point, Miss., now employs 80 people. Jones said that 98 percent of employees at the Sycamore facility drive less than 10 minutes to work. Shifts begin at 6:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
To cut costs and increase profits, four forging machines have been installed so nuts and bolts can be manufactured locally.
Amerifab, formerly Sylacauga Machines, will relocate to the Sycamore site so other materials can be produced locally as another cost saving measure.
Jones and Pruett said they never imagined while attending high school together that one day they would join forces and own a successful business.
AmeriBolt has had a 20-30 percent increase most years since opening, and even had a 16-18 percent increase during their worst year.
Jones said they were fortunate they were able to hire good, hard working people who had good working relations.
Jones attributes growth to expanding services to existing customers and new customers. “People want to buy American,” he said.
