About Us

Welcome, and thank you for visiting Schwenke Fab!

I started this business in March 2025 with one goal in mind: to get back to my roots and provide high-quality welding and fabrication services that reflect a true passion for the craft. After years spent in the engineering world, I found myself missing the hands-on work — the kind of late nights and hard-earned wins that come with building something real. That’s what Schwenke Fab is all about.

My journey in welding began as a freshman in high school, where I quickly developed a strong foundation and deep interest in the trade. During my junior and senior years, I had the opportunity to compete in the SkillsUSA welding competitions, placing highly both years — and ultimately winning the State Championship and finishing in the top 10 nationally my senior year.

That experience opened the door to a dream job as a welder for an aerospace company in my hometown. Over the next five years, I advanced to Senior Welder and Trainer after earning my Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) credential. From there, I transitioned into the engineering side of the field, working for a welding engineering consulting firm and later earning my Bachelor of Science in Welding and Metallurgical Engineering from Wayne State University.

Today, I work full-time as a Welding and Materials Engineer II at Daimler Truck North America. In this role, I’m responsible for all production welding processes, materials engineering tasks, failure analysis, PPAPs, and routine weld audits.

Schwenke Fab is my personal outlet for building, creating, and fabricating with the same passion that started it all. Whether you need a custom part, precision fabrication, or something completely unique — I’m here to make it happen, and to do it right.

Thanks for stopping by. I look forward to working with you.

— Ian Schwenke

Founder, Schwenke Fab