AMECO USA creates presidential backdrop for the Ronald Reagan Memorial
Posted
02/1/2012
AMECO USA, a Cleveland, Ohio based custom metal fabrication
company, produced the crescent-shaped backdrop for the prestigious
Ronald Reagan Memorial Statue installation at Reagan National
Airport in Washington D.C. Adorned with an eagle head motif and the
words Ronald Reagan, the 40-foot long, 10-inch thick stainless
steel arched wall weighs 8,000 pounds (4 tons) and curves inward
towards a 9-foot tall bronze sculpture of President Reagan. The
backdrop took eight weeks and 500 man hours to complete at AMECO's
50,000 square-foot plant. Made of polished stainless steel plate,
this piece has superior corrosion, rust and stain resistance and
will remain looking beautiful and untarnished for many decades.
According to AMECO USA president Michael Perkins, the vision for
this project began when the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation
commissioned Chas Fagan, an acclaimed American sculptor, to
commemorate the 100-year anniversary of President Reagan's birth
with an outdoor piece. AMECO USA was selected by a member of the
project's artistic design team for their ability to take on high
profile projects of this magnitude, in addition to their
engineering and metalworking expertise.
"The entire AMECO family is honored to be a part of this
landmark installation," states Perkins. "In addition to AMECO USA,
there were many other people and suppliers involved with this
successful and meaningful project." AMECO's participation began
with receipt of architectural drawings which they then converted to
solid-model fabrication drawings. The company also determined the
precise location and spacing of the letters, and calculated the
curvature of the heavy stainless plates. "AMECO USA did the
cutting, forming, plate rolling, and welding at its Cleveland
plant. We then shipped the entire backdrop to the National Airport
in Washington D.C. by way of a drop-deck flatbed truck where it was
joined with the sculpture and high-tech lighting to create a
lasting tribute to our 40th American president," adds Perkins.
