BY JASON JONES AND ROBBY SMITH
For nearly five decades, B&J Welding Supply has proven that in the welding and industrial gases industry, success is built on more than products—it’s built on people. What began in 1977 as a single location in Lamesa, Texas, has grown into one of the largest independent welding supply companies in the region, serving customers across West Texas with an unwavering commitment to service, relationships and community.
Founded by Bob Jones, B&J Welding Supply was built on a simple but enduring principle: take care of people first. That mindset shaped the company’s early success and continues to define its culture today.
Following Bob Jones’ passing in 1998, his son Jason Jones assumed ownership and carried forward the values his father established. Under Jason’s leadership, B&J has experienced steady and intentional growth, expanding its footprint while remaining firmly rooted in its identity as a locally owned and independently operated business.
That growth began with the opening of the Snyder location in 2004, followed by Amarillo in 2008. A major milestone came in 2011 with the opening of the Lubbock location, which included the development of an in-house cylinder fill facility. This capability allows B&J to purchase bulk gases and repackage them internally, improving efficiency while delivering faster, more reliable service to customers throughout the region.
Today, B&J Welding Supply operates nine locations across Texas, including Amarillo, Lubbock, Midland, Odessa, San Angelo, Lamesa, Snyder, Post and Abilene. The company serves a wide range of markets across the Panhandle, Permian Basin, Big Country and Concho Valley, providing medical and industrial gases, propane, welding supplies, safety equipment, and equipment repair and calibration services.
B&J’s growth has been both strategic and significant. As one of only two locally owned welding supply companies in the region, and the only one with multiple locations across its territory, the company has carved out a unique position in the marketplace. It is also the largest independent welding supply company spanning from Dallas, Texas, to Phoenix, Arizona, and the only one in that territory with the ability to purchase bulk gases and repackage them in-house.
Yet for all its operational advantages, B&J believes its true differentiator is something less tangible.
In an industry where many companies offer similar products, B&J has intentionally built its reputation on relationships rather than transactions.
As Vice President Chad Shadden explains:
“We can’t forget where we came from. It’s about people. It’s about relationships—whether that’s with customers or our own relationship with our employees. Our oxygen is no different than our competitors, but it’s service oriented. It’s the people that we have. It’s all of those things that really separate us.”
This people-first philosophy continues to guide B&J as the company looks toward its future.
Drawing on both his industry experience and his later work in estate and succession planning for closely held businesses, Smith worked alongside the B&J leadership team to develop a strategy focused on thoughtful expansion while maintaining the company’s people-first culture. That effort culminated in March 2023, when a capital partnership was secured and B&J Welding Supply became the platform company for the group’s next phase of growth.
“The people within B&J have so much talent that we knew immediately that we could leverage the group into a broader reach,” Smith notes.
While acquisitions are part of the company’s strategy, B&J continues to grow organically as well. Jason Jones and Chad Shadden have developed a reputation for identifying underserved markets and launching new locations with strong regional distribution capabilities.
As the company expands into new regions, its leadership remains focused on the same principles that shaped the business nearly fifty years ago.
For B&J Welding Supply, growth is not simply about adding locations—it’s about building lasting partnerships, strengthening communities and investing in the people who make the company successful.
Nearly five decades after opening its doors in Lamesa, the company continues to demonstrate that in the welding and industrial gases industry, service, relationships and integrity remain the strongest foundation for long-term success.
