Ska Fabricating has been presented with the 2023 Governor’s Award for Excellence in Exporting.
Ska Fab has about 75 employees and has long supported the packaging industry through the manufacturing of bulk palletizers and depalletizers, which are used on a global scale.
The Governor’s Award for Excellence in Exporting goes to companies that export products or services outside Colorado, domestically and/or internationally, for two years or more.
Twenty percent of the company’s business is international, CEO Steve Sherman said.
“It can be as high as 20 to 30% on a month-to-month basis,” Sherman said. “So it’s significant for us and a big part of our business here.”
Ska Fab has provided more than 1,000 businesses with depalletizers and specialized packing line equipment in all 50 states, seven Canadian provinces and in 23 countries.
In early 2022, the acquisition of GR-X Manufacturing in Grand Rapids, Michigan, allowed the company to expand its reach into glass, plastic, fiberboard and steel containers for virtually every possible application.
Sherman said the aluminum can market is growing in not only the craft brewing industry but in other beverage industries as well.
“More and more countries at a national level are promoting aluminum canned beverages and recycling,” he said.
He said kombucha, coffee and cannabis-infused drinks are all beginning to move toward the aluminum can. Many companies are making the decision based on environmental friendliness.
Cans have on average of 68% recycled content compared to just 3% for plastic in the United States, Environmental Protection Agency data show.
For Sherman and Ska Fab, to be chosen out of thousands of companies was an honor.
He said the award was gratifying for all the employees at Ska Fab who have made the company what it has become.
Sherman credits Ska Fabricating’s size and adaptability, which he says is largely responsible for the company’s growth trajectory.
“Our culture has incredible agility and speed. ... We are always open to integrating a blend of Ska Fab equipment and other high-quality third-party equipment with Ska Fab’s engineering and service ability, so our customers get the best end-to-end integrated solution that serves their needs,” he said.
Sherman said he only sees the company growing after winning the award.
He said the company is unique because Ska Fab was originally a company developed to design canning and manufacturing equipment for Ska Brewing Co.
This has allowed company employees to be well-versed in the technology being used.
“We know the science and engineering of how to move containers in and out of a production line in a rapid way,” he said.
tbrown@durangoherald.com
