About Us

Nathan Rippe, founder of NFR Metalworks
About NFR Metalworks

Crafting Strength. Building Purpose.

NFR Metalworks LLC was founded by Nathan Rippe in southwest Nebraska after a high school ag project grew into a real fabrication business serving ranchers, farmers, schools, and hands-on learners.

What started with one student wanting to build something useful has grown into custom livestock equipment, mobile welding services, and ready-to-weld education kits designed to help the next generation learn practical skills.

Shop Welding Kits Request Custom Work

Rooted in Agriculture

Nathan grew up around cattle, equipment, and the kind of everyday problem-solving that comes with ranch and farm life. That background shapes the way NFR Metalworks builds: practical first, heavy-duty always, and customized to fit the job.

From freestanding panels and feed bunks to windbreaks, cattle-working facilities, and mobile welding repairs, every project is built with real use in mind. The goal is simple: create metalwork that works hard, holds up, and helps people do their jobs better.

NFR Metalworks is built on hard work, faith, agriculture, and a commitment to quality construction that lasts beyond the first season of use.

Nathan Rippe visiting with customers about a custom welding project

Company History

A high school shop project turned into a business with a bigger purpose: building quality metal products and helping students gain real-world welding experience.

2023–2024

Started as a High School Ag Project

  • Practiced and improved welding skills through hands-on shop projects
  • Built the first freestanding cattle panels for practical ranch use
  • Discovered a demand for durable, custom-built livestock equipment
2025

Formed NFR Metalworks LLC

  • Turned the original shop project into an official business
  • Sourced materials and added equipment to improve production
  • Built jigs and streamlined manufacturing for consistent quality
2026 & Beyond

Expanding Products, Services & Education

  • Added mobile welding services and more custom fabrication options
  • Expanded offerings with bunks, windbreaks, and custom livestock projects
  • Created welding kits for high school ag programs, students, and hands-on learners
Nathan Rippe receiving his FFA State Degree

Why Welding Kits?

The idea for the welding kits came from Nathan’s own experience in high school shop and FFA. He knew what it felt like to want a real project — something more useful than scrap practice pieces, but not so complicated that it was out of reach.

NFR Metalworks welding kits are designed to bridge the gap between classroom instruction and real-world fabrication. Each kit includes precut metal pieces and blueprints so students can practice reading plans, understanding welding symbols, assembling parts, and building something they can be proud of.

The goal is to help students gain hands-on life skills, support ag education programs, and give back to the same FFA and shop-class community that helped start Nathan’s path.
Customer consultation for a custom welding project

Custom Work with a Personal Touch

Every operation is different. That is why NFR Metalworks takes pride in listening first, looking at the layout, and building around the customer’s actual needs. Whether it is a set of panels, a feed bunk, a windbreak, a repair, or a larger custom project, the process starts with understanding how the finished product will be used.

Nathan brings a practical ranch mindset to every build, combining durable materials, thoughtful design, and quality welding to create projects that are made to work — not just look good in a photo.

What We Stand For

NFR Metalworks is built around practical service, strong construction, and a commitment to helping people build, learn, and work better.

Built to Last Heavy-duty materials and quality construction for projects that need to stand up to real use.
Rooted in Ag Products are designed with ranchers, farmers, livestock, and daily operation needs in mind.
Hands-On Learning Welding kits help students move from practice beads to real projects with purpose.
Custom Solutions Each project is quoted and built around the size, use, layout, and goals of the customer.

Ready to build something useful?

Whether you need welding kits for students, custom livestock equipment, mobile welding, or a one-of-a-kind fabrication project, NFR Metalworks can help turn the idea into a practical finished product.

Contact NFR Metalworks