From boiler works to trailer manufacturing—serving South Texas since 1946.
Ace Welding & Trailer Company was founded by E. Paul Fisher in 1946. The company's original name was Ace Welding & Boiler Works. At that time, Mr. Fisher, along with Marvin A. Haas and a handful of welders, worked on various welding jobs throughout South Texas and the San Antonio area.
Boiler maintenance was generally planned for scheduled shutdowns on weekends. The actual work started late Friday afternoon and didn't stop until the job was complete—sometimes taking until Sunday afternoon depending on the extent of the job. Mr. Fisher continued investing in equipment and trucks as the company grew.
In the early 1950s, Mr. Fisher hired Carl Rains, and shortly thereafter Ace started manufacturing cattle trailers. The company built everything from pup-style trailers to double deck and even the famous Ace triple deck hog trailer.
Ace was growing at a fast pace, and Mr. Fisher needed to add employees to accommodate the growing business. It was during this time that Jesus Zavala, Frank Richter, Ruben Richter, Tony Richter, and numerous others were added to Ace's experienced personnel. Carl oversaw running the shop while Marvin took care of sales.
The company continued to increase in size and profitability during the 1960s. Customers were diverse and ranged from meat packing plants such as Swift and Roegelein, to commercial laundry plants such as Sunshine & Model Laundry, to truck fleets and industrial companies.
During this time, custom-built pintle hitch and 5th wheel style trailers became a much-needed commodity. Welding jobs ranged from fabricating water tanks for road construction to repairs on paper presses at recycling plants.
Mr. Fisher worked hard to develop working relationships in the San Antonio area, as well as a large portion of South Texas. He believed that "no job was too big or too small"—and that slogan became Ace's motto. It was during this decade that the second generation of Haas's and Richter's started with the company, along with the Villanueva family.
During the 1970s, Ace continued to serve the community and enjoyed moderate growth. It was during this time that Carl retired, and Marvin—in addition to his sales responsibilities—assumed the management of the two shop supervisors, Jesse Zavala and Frank Richter.
During this decade, Ace honed all segments of the company and added Heil dump bodies, numerous lift gate lines, and other truck equipment items to its product lines.
Starting in the late 1970s, Marvin sold numerous dump bodies, trailers specially designed to haul Church's Fried Chicken building modules, and dove tail pintle hitch trailers used to haul heavy equipment.
In 1979, Marvin hired Frank Jackel as an apprentice welder. Frank received excellent training in everything from welding to trailer work by experienced individuals, including Johnny Haas (Marvin's son), Kenneth Richter (Frank Richter's son), and many others at the company.
This marked the beginning of a new era of leadership development at Ace, as the company continued to invest in training the next generation of skilled craftsmen.
In 1983, the company was purchased by Anthony Koch, Herbert Koch, and Larry Smith from Mr. Fisher.
The new owners changed the name to Ace Welding & Trailer Co., and the company's growth continued at a steady pace under this new leadership.
In early 2000, management decided that Marvin—who was now part owner and Vice President of the company—needed to start grooming his successor. Frank Jackel was identified as the perfect candidate for this position.
In 2002, the operations of the company were handed over to Frank, who today is General Manager and Vice President of the company.
The growth of the company has continued under Frank's management, and the loyalty and family culture still survives under his leadership.
Sadly, Marvin Haas passed away at the age of 87 in January 2013, having worked for over sixty-seven years in all capacities with the company.
His dedication, leadership, and commitment to Ace Welding & Trailer Co. left an indelible mark on the company and everyone who worked alongside him.
Today, the company is experiencing rapid growth and still believes in its motto that "No Job Too Big or Too Small" for the knowledgeable and capable workforce of Ace Welding and Trailer Co.
The loyalty, trust, and friendship that were instrumental in the success of the business from the beginning continue to guide us today. Although Ace had some hard times when work slowed due to a sluggish economy, the company's diverse products and services and the loyal, closely bonded workforce always pulled the company through.
From weekend boiler shutdowns to round-the-clock trailer builds—we put in the hours to get the job done right.
The Haas, Richter, Zavala, and Villanueva families—multiple generations working together with loyalty and trust.
From water tanks to paper presses, from pup trailers to triple-deck hog trailers—we do it all.
Join the generations of customers who trust Ace Welding & Trailer Co. for all their truck and trailer needs.