A Brief History
Steel Plate Fabricators was founded in 1921 as A.J. Russell & Son in an outbuilding of A.J. and Lucinda Russell’s home in the Lonsdale community. Durning the 1940s, their son, Calvin, and his wife, Helen, continued the business and incorporated as Knoxville Sheet Metal Works, Inc. In 1964, their son, David, and his wife, Merle, took over and steered the business from light gauge sheet metal to heavier fabrication. The company started doing business as Steel Plate Fabricators.
In 2007, 4th generation and son, Mike, and his wife, Anna, purchased the company and have continued to honor the core values that were established over 100 years ago. Steel Plate Fabricators is a quality-driven metal fabrication company with experience in certified welding and heavy plate fabrication. Using advanced equipment and proven fabrication methods, SPF delivers dependable solutions for demanding industrial applications.
Quality is the highest priority. SPF’s team is committed to minimizing—or eliminating—your company’s downtime by delivering precise, reliable fabrication services when you need them most.
Steel Plate Fabricators welcomes the opportunity to support your operations in plant expansions, new system installations, maintenance, and repairs to existing facilities. SPF can provide fabricated components for your in-plant installation or deliver complete turnkey projects in coordination with professional erection contractors.
The facility is strategically located for efficient transportation. Situated at the crossroads of Interstates 40 and 75, and just five minutes from downtown Knoxville, SPF has convenient access to major freight routes and are serviced by leading trucking companies and specialized hauling contractors.
A recently expanded, 140,000-square-foot facility on 10 acres is equipped with twelve overhead cranes with capacities up to 30 tons, enabling SPF to safely and efficiently handle projects of virtually any scale.
With a long-standing reputation built on experience, performance, and a strong work ethic, Steel Plate Fabricators is committed to delivering results you can trust.
At SPF, we build quality products and are fully committed to delivering above and beyond client expectations.
Years of Continuous Manufacturing Experience
Innovative Ideas
Put our metalworking expertise to work for you with our 300+ years of combined experience. We offer advanced 3D imaging and CAD solutions to ensure your products are built to exacting standards.
Absolute Precision
Our production teams are dedicated to their craft and strives to deliver best-in-class workmanship, while our business team excels at customer service and clear communication.
On-time Delivery
Our central location at the junction of I-40 and I-75 puts us within a 1-2 day transport time to most locations in the contiguous United States. We also offer turnkey shipping solutions for standard as well as oversized loads.
Full Time Employees
Years Combined Experience
Square Foot facility
Completed Projects
Large Scale Production Capabilities
Delivered on-time and on-budget
Quality Control
Our internal controls ensure your products are delivered as expected.
Relationships Built on Trust
We strive to become a trusted and integral part of your business. Our consistency and dependability are why we’ve been in business for over 100 years.
