MADE IN AMERICA

Boyd Welding: One of the World’s Top Fuel Cell Producers

Boyd Welding: One of the World’s Top Fuel Cell Producers

AMERICAN-MADE, HIGHquality products have a massive impact on not only the truck industry, but on almost every other industry in today’s modern world. The level of quality and skill that come with handmade American goods is second to none and incomparable to their brand rivals to the East. If you’re cool with an inexpensive, lessthan-perfect part on your custom-built truck, then you have some options out there. But if you’re looking for perfection and craftsmanship that you can be proud to show off, you may want to start looking local.

This month’s American Made feature story highlights one of the C10 community’s top fuel cell producers in the country: Boyd Welding. The company specializes in custom fuel tanks and small to medium quantity production runs. Each and every Boyd tank is manufactured, packaged and shipped from its Florida facility to locations all over the world. To maintain its standards and success, the company focuses on safety, accuracy, quality welding, appearance and production times, says Dave Boyd, owner.

“These core values have provided us the opportunity to continue working with some of the best car builders and biggest OEM companies,” he says.

Dave was kind enough to give us a quick tour around the production area and see firsthand how these cells take shape. Everywhere we turned, oddly shaped fuel cells made for super interesting stories. From helicopter tanks to C10 cells, Boyd Welding has seen it all and has probably built it more than once. Dave explained that paying attention to the details on each tank is the key to staying on top.

“Our tanks are built from prime scratch-free aluminum

DAVE BOYD WAS NICE ENOUGH TO GIVE BOTH SOLOMON AND ME A TOUR OF THE FACILITY DURING WORK HOURS SO WE COULD GET AN ACTUAL GLIMPSE OF AMERICAN MANUFACTURING.

SITTING IN THE SHOWROOM ARE FULLY COMPLETED CHEVY C10 FUEL CELLS SO YOU CAN ADMIRE THE QUALITY AND PERFECTION.

WILD SHAPED ALUMINUM TANKS OF ALL KINDS FILLED THE SHELVES AND EACH ONE OF THEM HAD A UNIQUE STORY TO GO ALONG WITH IT.

FULLY ASSEMBLED TANKS WITH PUMPS AND HOSES LOOKS TOO NICE TO USE, BUT WHEN FUNCTION AND QUALITY MEET, IT’S AS GOOD AS IT GETS.

IT ALL STARTS WITH PRIME, SCRATCHFREE ALUMINUM SHEETS ON A CNC TABLE. A PRE-ENGINEERED DESIGN IS PUMPED INTO THE COMPUTER AND AWAY IT GOES CUTTING PERFECT SHAPES WITH ZERO DAMAGE.

NOW TIME TO MELT SOME METAL. CJ’S STATION IS CLEAN AND PICKED UP TO ENSURE NO DAMAGE OR SCRATCHES TO THE TANKS.

WITH THE PARTS AND PIECES CUT, IT’S ON THE BENDING PROCESS. ALL TABS, BRACKETS AND TANKS ARE BENT TO SHAPE AND ORGANIZED ON THE SHELF WITH A PURCHASE ORDER AND BUILD SLIP.

PRECISION WELDING AND UNIFORM LINES ARE TOP PRIORITY FOR DAVE’S CREW. TREVOR TAKES PRIDE IN HIS WORK AND IT’S OBVIOUS IN HIS WORK STATION.

HERE YOU CAN SEE BRANDON DETERMINING THE BEST LOCATION FOR THE THREADED SLEEVES.

THE FINAL STEP ON THIS TANK IS TO FINISH WILD WITH PORTS. TREVOR WAS IN THE ZONE WHEN WE CAME BY AND THE WELDS LOOKED FANTASTIC.

JOE TAKES CARE OF THE FINAL ASSEMBLY AND TESTING. EACH AND EVERY TANK IS TESTED AND APPROVED BEFORE SHIPPING OUT TO THE CUSTOMER.