DuraLast Team
Left to right: Rick Lappen, Matt Lappen,
Kenny Del Bono
Senior Mechanical Engineer and former tool and die maker, Rick Lappen, 59, represents thousands of Silicon Valley workers laid off from companies just before retirement. But he isn't about to sit in a rocking chair yet. Instead of spending his time sending out resumes that would only end up in File 13 trash bin, he decided to start his own business.
Rick started a new type of fencing company he calls DuraLast Fence. He makes fences with steel frames and mounting for solar panels that can produce 4500 watts of power; enough to operate an average home. "That will pay for itself in seven years with just 150 feet of fence," Lappen said.
After replacing the wooden fence on his ranchette in San Martin for the third time in 24 years, he came to the conclusion that there had to be a better way to build a fence so that it would last longer. "I noticed the gates fail first and I replaced them with steel frames. I wondered why no one made the whole fence out of steel frames. So, I contacted the American Fence Association, looked on the web, and discovered on one makes steel fences for residences. The only option out there is a chain link fence, and they are really ugly."
After building several prototypes, Rick got terrific responses from contractors and builders at tradeshows. And, when they realized the cost was competitive with conventional wood fencing, contractors began placing their orders. Today, Rick is guiding his new company from their industrial workshop in Gilroy, California, setting out to reinforce the fencing landsacpe. Get your project quote!
Wood Deck Before Steel Deck After
