Customer service is key to success for Ross Sheet Metal

    HOULTON, Maine — From winter to summer and in-between, almost everyone has a need for sheet metals service — some just do not know it.
Jon Ross has been in the sheet metal trade business for more than two decades. His business, Ross Sheet Metal, offers services from air conditioning, heating, ventilation, ductwork and related products to installation, custom fabrication, light welding and repairs.
Since 1992, Ross has brought those services to the front steps of Houlton residents. Now located on 104 Bangor St., his secret to success in business is simple.
“You have to be willing to travel,” Ross said. “Work is not always local. While I am not always in the shop, I encourage customers to leave a message, email or stop by.”
Assisting Ross in the shop is his son Michael, making Ross Sheet Metal a true family business. Ross added out-of-town work continues to keep him very busy.
Sheet metal, in simple terms, is metal that has been formed by an industrial process into thin, flat pieces. It is one of the fundamental forms used in metalworking because it can be bent into a variety of shapes. The thickness of sheet metal is called gauge, which ranges from 30 gauge to eight gauge. The higher the gauge, the thinner the metal.
Countless everyday objects are constructed with sheet metal. Thicknesses can vary significantly; extremely thin thicknesses are considered foil or leaf, and pieces thicker than 6 mm (0.25 in) are considered plate. Sheet metal is available in flat pieces or coiled strips. The coils are formed by running a continuous sheet of metal through a roll slitter.
Ross recently added a new piece of equipment to his business with the addition of a 10-foot hydraulic press brake. This device makes bending heavy gauge sheet metal easier and faster.
His hours of operation vary, so making a phone call before stopping by is probably the safest bet. Ross can be reached 532-3119 or via e-mail at rosssheet@pwless.net.