Metals distributor in Sparks to expand

Metal Masters Inc., the Sparks company that's thriving in the niche of selling steel and ornamental iron to small customers, is growing into an additional 5,760 square feet of space on Deming Way.

And sales growth that spurred the company to lease more space from DP Partners also might bring additional employment to the company, said owner Guy Jessop.

With the new lease, Metal Masters and a sister company, Advanced Powder Coating & Sandblasting LLC, now occupy 20,200 square feet. The expansion allows the company to increase its steel inventory and expand its services.

Jessop said the company might add two or three employees to its current staff of 12 as it continues to grow.

Metal Masters moved into a fast-growing niche this year when big steel suppliers in the region cut back on their sales to small users and focused their efforts on large customers.

Jessop decided to stock small lots of square, round and rectangular tubing along with angle irons, channel material and the like.

The company was launched 15 years ago to design and construct custom metal racks and later moved into large-scale fabrication projects such as security fencing around federal facilities in the region.

Jessop said the growth in small jobs has been driven by the strength of the construction market in northern Nevada, as well as the migration to Metal Masters of small customers who previously looked to larger companies for their needs.