By ANN ALLEN
Indiana Correspondent

ROCHESTER, Ind. — Craig Welding Manufacturing, a family-owned and -operated business in Fulton County for the past 63 years, will be honored at this year’s Fulton County Historical Power Show.

Located in a sprawling building set in the middle of a Newcastle Township farm, today’s business evolved from a single Sears and
Roebuck welder the late George Craig purchased in 1944.

Working out of a summer kitchen at the back of his home, Craig repaired his farm equipment and experimented with the welding process. As word of his prowess spread, neighbors asked him to repair their farm machinery. Eventually, the summer kitchen became too small.

Craig moved the welder to a chicken coop and, when it became too small, built a Quonset building that forms the nucleus for today’s 71,000 square-foot building, where 44 employees build wagons, elevators, modular office frames and fabricate a variety of steel designs.

“Dad’s old welder still works,” said John Craig. “We’ll have it on display in our tent at the power show.”

By the time Craig died in 1985, his sons Don and John had joined him in the business. As for what Craig would think about the way his small business expanded, Don said, “We answer that question a lot. I like to tell people Dad would probably take his size 11 shoe, plant it on our backsides and kick us hard while asking why we let it grow so big.”

Looking over the busy shop from his vantage point in the firm’s conference room, he added, “Actually, I think he would be happy.”
Don, president, with his brother John as vice president, heads Craig Welding. Don’s son, Jay, is secretary-treasurer.

Since joining the company in 1964, Don has seen technology make major changes in the company’s output. Still a welder, he takes pride in saying, “We remain a job shop as well as a manufacturer.
We can build about anything anyone wants – fire trucks, rescue equipment, grain cooling tanks or chicken cage trailers – but we still repair our neighbors’ equipment.”

Don, John, Jay and other members of the Craig family will greet power show attendees in an exhibit tent located in center field, showing parts coming off their laser that produces different shapes and designs, as well as their father’s old Sears and Roebuck welder.

In addition, they plan a DVD production to acquaint show-goers with their products while allowing them to trace the company’s evolution from summer kitchen-hobby shop to a major employer.