By Ashley Reyes
The SEMA Truck & Off-Road Alliance (TORA) named Wehrli Custom Fabrication as this week’s member spotlight company. Get to know their story in SEMA’s interview with the company’s digital content developer Natalia Bird below.
SEMA: Tell us the story of your company. How did your company start?
Natalia Bird: Wehrli Custom Fabrication began around 2010 in Jason Wehrli’s two-truck garage at his parents’ house. He’d grown up around motorsports and was always fixing things with his three brothers. Jason purchased his first Duramax to haul his race trailer, but it didn’t take long before he developed a passion for diesel power. They eventually started taking on more work and began custom fabricating high-performance diesel parts. Over the last 10 years, we’ve gone through multiple moves and expansions including our move to a 112,000-sq.-ft. facility. Today, we employ over 50, including Jason’s three brothers: Ryan, Mitch and Chad, along with Jason’s wife, Brittany.
SEMA: What was your company’s breakthrough moment?
NB: In the spring of 2018, we moved into a facility where we were able to add CNC mills and lathes. By making components in-house, we can control the quality and make it easier for the end-user to install parts. At the same time, we were able to expand our powder-coating operations, which helped increase the number of orders we can have in progress at once.
SEMA: Tell us about your business now and projects that you are working on.
NB: With our move into our new building in Dekalb, Illinois, we’re expanding nearly every department and eliminating bottlenecks with more space, machinery and people.
SEMA: Tell us about a product that you are proud of.
NB: We’ve recently expanded into the SXS market and have launched several products for the ’19+ Honda Talon. Our ’19+ Honda Talon Billet Lower High Clearance Radius Rod Kit is currently the largest, strongest, and highest clearance on the market with more than 2.5 in. of added ground clearance. This is the most additional clearance allowed while still offering protection to the axle shaft from trail debris.
SEMA: What advice do you have for young professionals contemplating a career in the automotive aftermarket?
NB: Even if you start small in a two-car garage, you never know what might happen if you keep going at it!
Fill out a TORA-member spotlight form to highlight how you or your company are contributing to the truck and off-road specialty-equipment industry. Selected candidates are eligible to be featured on TORA’s social media, SEMA News and future TORA member updates.