When Allie Sutherland moved to Fort Wayne with her family, she faced a challenge that would reshape her future—and the region’s approach to early childcare.
Mar 14 2025
WickFab Heavy Metal: It’s not just a business story; it’s our Life story.
Legacy of Trust
More than thirty years ago, Joe Cochran was a young welder at B&J Specialty, Inc. In 1993, John Wicker, the “J” in B&J, spun off the welding side of the business as WickFab and entrusted Joe and his wife, Cheryl, with its management, launching their journey in transforming the small operation into a premier metal fabrication company.
“It’s not just a business story; it’s our life story,” Joe reflects. In the early years, Joe took on projects and clients, bringing Cheryl in to manage the books and office operations. Their partnership proved powerful, helping WickFab thrive by developing specialized expertise in metal processing services, including metal forming, laser cutting, water jet cutting, and welding.
In April 2016, a pivotal moment arrived when the opportunity to purchase WickFab presented itself. John, who had become Joe’s mentor, saw something special in him. As Joe recalls, John said, “Look, I’m a tool and die guy. You can provide more forward-thinking and better vision for growth. You need to take WickFab and run with it.”
The transition embodied the trust they had built. “On August 1 , our journey as owners began,” said Joe. “It was a handshake deal. John and I sat down and wrote up the agreement before bringing in lawyers, to whom John told: ‘Don’t overcomplicate this.’” Under their ownership, WickFab has expanded its client base across Northeast Indiana, the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, building a reputation for quality craftsmanship.
In 2024, after three decades and almost ten years of ownership, Joe and Cheryl began seriously discussing WickFab’s future, “What’s next and where do we go from here? We felt it was our responsibility to come up with a long-term plan for this company, this name, and all these employees.”
“You dedicate your whole life—32 years, your working career—to building this; you don’t want it to just disappear. This is our legacy.”
– Cheryl and Joe Cochran, Operations Manager and President
The answer came through Mark Webb, with whom they had built a relationship over the past three years while helping Mark’s previous company. His experience, having sold QuikCut to SOLV, was invaluable. “When we spoke with Mark, who now leads SOLV Metals, he said: ‘I was just in your shoes…You’ll be surprised at how you’ll be able to continue running the business the way you want and leave your imprint on this. We want you to stay as long as you possibly can.’”
Throughout negotiations, Joe and Cheryl grappled with the transition’s impact on their employees, whom they regarded as family. Mark assured them that with SOLV Metals’ backing, the team would remain intact and even receive additional benefits, including improved insurance and 401(k) plans.
The closing brought profound satisfaction. “We closed the deal. It felt great. We’ve passed the test of our life, our life’s work; we felt we did something right,” Joe reflects. “You had that gut feeling, and you knew you did the right thing—for our employees, our family, and for us.”
For Joe and Cheryl, who remain as President and Operations Manager, what began as an acquisition has evolved into something more meaningful. “We called it an ‘acquisition,’ but in reality, it’s truly a partnership with new ownership.”
Learn more about WickFab Heavy Metals.
Known as a leading industrial process equipment and custom steel fabricator, WickFab specializes in designing, fabricating, laser cutting, forming, robot welding, and assembling equipment for U.S. and global customers.
