With encouragement from a friend, Benny decided to start his own business. Choosing not to name the business after himself but wanting to build on the ‘Solid Rock’ Jesus Christ (whom he wholly trusted to take care of him, his family and the business), Solid Rock Steel Fabricating was established.
Benny left Columbia Steel in the spring of 1965. He then worked two jobs (day & night shifts) for the next three months while he saved enough money to buy an old flat deck truck, a second hand welding machine and a torch set-up. The equipment enabled Benny to begin fabricating a variety of small jobs in the basement of his home on
East 46th Ave.
in
Vancouver
.
In the fall of 1965, unable to get a permit for a shop in
Richmond
, Benny set up his first shop in the 1100 block of
Union Street
in
Vancouver
. In 1969 he relocated to
West Kent Avenue
and formally incorporated Solid Rock Steel Fabricating Co. Ltd. on November 24, 1969.
By June 1971, Benny would be on the move again, this time purchasing Byrne Steel Fabrication Ltd. in order to take over their existing lease/rent agreement. He would spend the next six years working out of the shop situated in a former ‘peat factory’ at
9051 Royal Oak Ave.
, in
Burnaby
.
In 1972, fulfilling his dream of living close to work and spending more time with his wife Grace and their nine sons, Benny purchased a dually zoned industrial and residential parcel of land in North Surrey, B.C. The Steunenberg residence was completed in the summer of 1974 and in November 1977, Solid Rock Steel relocated to its new home at
17780 Daly Road
.
Solid Rock Steel continued to grow, and in 1988, looking to increase his shop and yard capacity, Benny acquired an adjacent east parcel of land. Upon this acquisition, Benny continued to build and expand.
Today, the shop floor space has grown to approximately 34,000 sq. ft., the outdoor yard capacity increased to three acres and the shop, field and office consist of more than 40 dedicated, full-time employees.
We would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the following employees whom were instrumental in the development of Solid Rock Steel in our early years: John Hulstein (Accountant), Leo Dykhuizen (Ironworker), Joquim Kaulig (Fabricator), Peter Van Roon (Office Manager) and Cor Groeneveld (Fabricator). Their guidance and expertise was invaluable.
