BILLINGS – From building simple signs to industrial oil field machinery, one small Billings Business does it all.
Aqua Knife Precision Water Jet is using the latest technology to slice into the competition.
The man behind this venture, Mackay Mathiason, a military veteran who found his niche in creating.
“We’re a precision water jet company and we will cut anything and everything industrial, home, whatever you guys need or want, that’s what we do. If they can imagine it we will build it for them and that’s absolutely what we love to do here,” Mathiason said. “I was in the military for seven years, and then when I got out like a lot of other veterans, you’re kind of trying to figure out what you’re going to do with your life.”
Growing up with a father who welded, and a love for cars led him to eventually open his own custom fabrication company.
“That branched into what you see today, getting some CNC equipment, and branching into the industrial side of things now,” Mathiason said.
His tool to do so? The latest technology, a huge financial investment, an OMAX Waterjet machine. Since they purchased the machine in May, it is taking their business to the next level.
“The end product is very precise, components for a lot of equipment that has very low tolerances as far as low tolerances. So what the water jet does is the c and c cuts material, we can cut up to eight in hardened steel, and we can cut glass with it as well, the only thing we can’t cut is tempered glass,” Mathiason said.
The desired shape is programmed into the computer.
Then, a pressurized stream of water, with abrasives added to it cuts away at the material.
“We’ve done a lot of memorial plaques, signs, stuff like that that you see in different businesses, we’re extremely happy to be a part of those,” he said.
Their creations range from memorial plaques for fellow veterans and law enforcement, to machine parts for huge companies like Halliburton.
“Clear to we’re happy and proud to make rubber flaps for conveyor belts, if that’s what you need we’re all about making them for you,” Mathiason said.
Small or large, his favorite part of the job?
“What isn’t my favorite part about the job? I truly am blessed. I love what I do. To see something going from just a piece of cold, hard material and making something absolutely amazing out of it is really cool,” Mathiason said.
Aqua Knife Precision Water Jet is located at 1707 4th Ave. N. and can be reached at 406-371-5300.
Reporting by Jenny Fick for MTN News
