Helping Connect-A-Dock hit a critical launch when their go-to supplier couldn’t
Connect-A-Dock had a deadline problem.
They were gearing up to launch a new modular dock system at a national marine and boat show. It was a big opportunity for their sales team because it was a high-visibility industry event where product launches can land new customers.
But the hinge plate systems that their docks depended on weren’t ready. And their go-to supplier was backed up.
“They were close to our facility, but even then, they couldn’t get it done in under eight weeks,” says Anthony R. Nikolai, the director of procurement. “And we needed it in six.”
Missing the show would’ve meant pushing back the launch of their new product. No parts. No demo. No sales pipeline. And nobody wanted to be the face that held the company back.
That’s when Metrix stepped in.
Delivering welded, galvanized marine components in 6 weeks or less
The ask was simple: A couple hundred parts, including 5x5 hinge plate kits, joiners, sleeves and h-connectors — all welded and hot-dip galvanized for marine-grade durability.
At a glance, the order didn’t seem overly complicated. But the requirements were tight. The mounting holes had to be exactly right. And its welds had to be flush because raised beads result in bracket movement, leading to long-term failure.
“Our warranty is 10 years. We expect these parts to last even longer than the plastic does,” says Nikolai.
That meant he couldn’t gamble on a supplier that might take shortcuts. He needed clean welds, tight tolerances and materials that could handle the elements. After just one meeting, Metrix understood exactly what was at stake and got right to work.
“The questions Metrix asked gave us confidence they understood the application. It wasn’t a complicated part, but they made sure it was right.”
— Anthony Nikolai, director of procurement
We also asked the right questions for a fast-turn, marine-grade metal fabrication job:
• How should the plates angle?
• Where do the welds terminate?
• Flush or beaded?
• What kind of load will these see on the water?
Our engineering team reviewed drawings live with the customer and plant manager. Within a week, prototypes were ready for review. We also vetted and handled the galvanizer, overseeing everything from weld prep to QA to the final shipment. This kept the finish aligned with Connect-A-Dock’s marine durability standards and without risking their delivery window.
The result: 200+ metal parts build to last 10+ years
Connect-A-Dock’s full order shipped in six weeks. But the real win wasn’t speed. It was control.
The team at Connect-A-Dock never had to shake us down for updates or worry about overlooked details. From the first call, we owned the project. In the end, every single part — the hinge plates, brackets, connectors — was properly welded, hot-dip galvanized and delivered to spec. And we beat the incumbent supplier’s price to manufacture everything on time.
But how?
At Metrix, we’re proud of our domestic supplier partnerships. We sourced commodity steel in the right gauge from our trusted network and evaluated a local galvanizer in person. No scrambling. No delays. Just a tight, expertly handled process from start to finish.
And when it came time to ship? The parts looked right, fit right and worked exactly as designed.
And Connect-A-Dock debuted its new dock model at the trade show as planned.
“From the initial onboarding conversations through validation and production, they partnered with our team to go quickly from specifications and expectations to a finished product that met our quality, timeline and cost targets. I was highly impressed with their wide array of capabilities to not only meet our unusual requirements quickly, but to do so with high quality and precision. Metrix has earned our trust, and we look forward to engaging them on future product launches.”
— Anthony Nikolai, director of procurement
Do you need fast-turn metal fabrication support? We’re built for it!
If your current metal supplier can’t keep up, we can. From prototyping to full production, we’re built to source and manufacture tight-tolerance metal parts without any handholding.
