MADE LOCALLY: Fabrication, graphics shop makes unique custom designs

Published 3:45 pm Tuesday, March 28, 2017

In an unassuming building on B Street, in Meridian, magic is happening behind the doors of Innovative Fabrications, LLC-Graphics Guru, LLC.

Innovative Fabrications is a graphic and specialty fabrication shop and so much more, where owner Zane Royal completes jobs that don’t fit easily into business categories. 

Royal said people often ask exactly what Innovative Fabrications does and his answer is, “I don’t know what we do here, but bring me what you’ve got and if we don’t do it, I’ll tell you who can do it.”

Royal, 50, of Suqualena, said he always has been fascinated by all kinds of machines, and with family in both the beverage and carnival business the specialty fabrication and the need to come up with solutions to unusual requests came second nature to him.

He has invented devices for many of the companies that he has worked for that are still in use today. One of his specialty fabrications was a device for the railroad companies that allows them to spray weeds under the railroad bridges from a truck on top of the bridge.

Royal learned from his father that you need to work hard, have a good work ethic, be individual, be unique and be capable of doing whatever someone asks you to do, no matter what it is.

When Royal opened Innovative Fabrications in April of 2012 he became the only company that could refurbish beer truck bodies within 250 miles of Meridian. He said he is also the only Federal Railway Association certified mechanic within 100 miles of Meridian.

His specialty fabrication work can be seen in places such work as the gates for the Rock House Trading Post. Recently the Navy asked him to build their briefing sticks for use in their classrooms. These briefing sticks are an important visual reference for pilots. 

If a pantologist is someone who studies all things, then that is another title that fits Royal well since he also is the “Graphics Guru.” His graphics work includes cutting initials into car rear windows, vinyl for car clubs and fleet graphics. With his newest printer, he will be able to take a photo and turn it into wallpaper or take an action photo of a child and turn it into a wall decal. He can make vehicle wrap and is starting to stretch canvas for wall art.

Royal said he will always have a fabrication shop but the future of his business is moving toward the graphics part of the business.

He employs two people now and plans to add employees.

While more recently he has focused on commercial specialty fabrication, during his first he fabricated items that could be sold to consumers at craft shows. Royal said that consumers were a significant part of his business in the early days and he sees himself going back to that part of the business.

Royal said that the thing that sets his business apart is “we do the stuff that nobody else can do.”

Walking through the sun in the yard of his shop, surrounded by all manner of metal and vinyl, Royal smiled and nodded toward his shop.

“We do the odd stuff and that’s what makes it so much fun,” Royal said.

About the business

Innovative Fabrications-Graphics Guru is located at 1110 B. Street in Meridian. It is open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Phone 601-485-1400 for find it on Facebook at Innovative Fabrications, LLC – Graphics Guru, LLC.

This is part of a series that features unique artisans and businesses that call East Mississippi/West Alabama region home. To recommend an individual or business for the feature, email editor@themeridianstar.com.