When we started…
Our goal was simple: build a shop focused on metal fabrication and interactive/automation design. That’s the origin of our name—Rock Island Metalworks.
Interactives and automation have always been the parts of a project that many scenic fabricators struggle with—high-risk, high-visibility, and often the first to draw attention when something goes wrong. We wanted to flip that. By focusing on what we do best and partnering with scenic shops who excel at what they do, we could all succeed.
Over time, as we built more relationships, our needs—and our role—began to evolve. We found that approaching projects as partners rather than vendors helped everyone win. Turns out, working together saves the client money, earns us more, and delivers better results—because everyone gets to focus on what they do best.
That spirit of collaboration became our edge. We started offering design and consulting services to help our fabrication partners work more efficiently, especially when projects involve multiple vendors. As we grew, so did our responsibilities—staffing, management, coordination. We realized we weren’t the only ones facing these challenges, and when you’ve got good people, you find ways to keep them busy.
Today, we’re a lot more than just a metal shop. But our mission is still the same: partner with the best people in the business—and build something amazing.
Who we are
At Rock Island Metalworks, we lean into the weird—because we kind of have to. We're an eclectic mix of professionals: artists, designers, engineers, welders, machinists, stagehands, carpenters, painters, electricians—you name it. We've worked in museums, shipyards, construction sites, concert venues, and corporate boardrooms.
Our team is rugged enough for long hours, late nights, and outdoor weather, yet polished enough to work inside world-class museums—or the C-suite of a Fortune 500. As one client put it: “Your labor is different than our labor.” They expected “muscle.” What they got was a crew of intelligent, curious professionals interested in solving problems, not just lifting things.
That story says a lot about who we are. We strive to be professional, creative, and transparent. More than that, we aim to be partners—not just vendors—who help you beat expectations.
You've probably heard “Good, fast, cheap—pick two.” We fundamentally disagree. Every day, we work to be better, faster, more cost-effective, and easier to work with than anyone else in the field. We’re committed to transparency in pricing and process, so you can make informed decisions and avoid surprises.
But our approach isn't for everyone. It works best when our clients are engaged collaborators, not passive bystanders. Some prefer a fire-and-forget vendor—and that’s okay. There are great companies for that, and we’d be happy to recommend one of them. Helping you find the right fit, even if it’s not us, is part of our commitment to doing what’s best for your project.
Our goal isn’t to sell you something this time—it’s to be the team you think of next time, and the time after that. That means earning your trust through honesty, accountability, and execution.
We believe that the best partners are judged not just by their performance, but by how they handle it when things don’t go smoothly. Our promise to you is that we are in this together.
Contact us
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