Monday, June 15, 2009 —DENVER, COLORADO— The Los Angeles hood sales business continues to grow since American Professional Services (APS-Hoods) expanded the services it provides in California, and the increased work brings the demand for the same specialty services it provides at its Denver headquarters.

One service that is in particular demand among Los Angeles hood installation clients is custom fabrication, said Massoud Farazandeh, general manager of Nationwide Fire Protection Corp., an affiliate of APS-Hoods.

APS-Hoods custom fabricates a variety of parts for commercial kitchen hood systems to make sure that each client’s individual needs are met, Farazandeh said.

These parts include condensation hoods, make-up air systems, pizza oven hoods, dishwasher exhaust ductwork, stainless steel countertops, commercial stainless sinks, dish tables, stainless steel work tables, stainless wall shelves and cabinets,  custom trim pieces, stainless wall cabinets, equipment stands, sneeze guards and aluminum walk-in cooler floors and flashing, to name a few examples.

Offering custom fabrication services to Los Angeles and Anaheim eating establishments and commercial kitchens meant obtaining an office and workshop in the area, Farazandeh said. APS-Hoods has provided Los Angeles hood cleaning and installation services for years without the need for a shop there, but custom fabrication must be done in the area where it is needed.

“Custom fabrication is not possible when you have to make everything in another city and bring it to the location where it is needed,” Farazandeh said. “Now we can offer the complete array of services.”

Custom fabrication has been a part of APS-Hoods’ service offering for about 16 years. It began as a result of customer demand.

“There are a million things to do when constructing a restaurant,” he said. “A restaurant owner doesn’t want to go to 50 businesses to get them all done, so the minute they find out that one guy can provide all of their kitchen needs, that’s a relief to them.”

Fabrication in Action
Farazandeh once worked with a chef who wanted all stainless steel counters and shelves because he found it difficult to keep his kitchen “shining and beautiful,” he said. “We made the walls, counters, everything stainless, and every piece had to be fabricated to cover every counter and space.”

By going with stainless steel, it was easier for him to keep a clean-looking kitchen.

“That was his preference and after 10 years, it still looks like it’s new,” Farazandeh said.

Custom fabrication becomes a necessity when customers make requests such as the one made by that chef or for equipment of specific heights and dimensions. It often is cheaper and saves time to make hard-to-find pieces, he said.

“Making something on site means there is no need to have items shipped, and there’s no need to invest valuable time in searching for items that are difficult to come by,” Farazandeh said. “The middle man also is eliminated, which can save some money.”

It became evident early on that APS-Hoods would have to find a way to provide custom fabrication in California, simply because of the size of Orange County and the concentration of restaurants in the area.

“There aren’t enough people doing this,” Farazandeh said. “Individually, these services are out there, but they weren’t offered under one roof. Now, restaurant owners and managers can make one phone call and get many things done.”

Offering these services in California means staying up to date on regulations and building codes, he said.

“Codes are updated fairly frequently, so we routinely update the way we fabricate parts for our hood systems and other equipment to ensure they continue to meet all code changes,” Farazandeh said. “California is a very highly regulated and green state, and we have made extra efforts to make sure every one of those requirements are met or surpassed.”

Although APS-Hoods is headquartered in Denver, CO, Farazandeh said he believes that in time, he will have as much work in California.

“Finding the right manpower was the hardest part, but that is coming together,” he said. “We are investing a lot of money into equipment for this area because of customer demand.”

Learn More
If you would like more information about custom fabrication, or you would like to learn more about APS-Hoods, please call: (800) 750-7313, or visit the company’s Web site: www.aps-hoods.com.

About APS-Hoods
American Professional Services (APS-Hoods) is a full-service restaurant fire protection business that installs, services, repairs and performs routine inspections and sales for hood and fire suppression systems. Founded by Chief Executive Officer Massoud Farazandeh in 1989, APS-Hoods has grown into a national leader in hood sales and fire protection for restaurants and facilities.

APS-Hoods provides superior service, a quality guarantee and maintains a highly qualified and dependable staff. All crew members are professionally trained to comply with the National Fire Prevention Association Standards and state and local codes. APS-Hoods is fully insured and bonded. They are licensed in the mechanical and electrical fields, as well as fire protection contracting.

APS-Hoods is affiliated with the National Fire Protection Agency and the Colorado Division of Fire Safety Fire Suppression Program.

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