Richard W. Rodriguez
Tyson Collins’ introduction to manufacturing began early.
“I was immersed in machining from a young age — working alongside my dad at just 5 years old,” he recalls.
The story of Collins Custom Manufacturing traces back to 1993, when his father opened a small Fort Worth machine shop serving one oilfield client. Collins later earned a finance degree from UT Arlington and built a successful career as a stockbroker, but he never lost his passion for making things that last.
Encouraged by his wife, he returned to join his father and help grow the business. What began as a modest operation evolved into a certified aerospace manufacturing company serving major clients like Lockheed Martin and Bell, supporting both defense and commercial programs. Collins even developed a solution for Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth facility that outperformed major engineering firms and saved the company an estimated $100 million.
“These successes, along with many smaller wins, have propelled us forward without outside investment,” he says. His vision centers on full, fast, turnkey aerospace manufacturing through vertical integration — producing machined parts, sheet metal, wiring harnesses, and complete assemblies in-house.
“We draw inspiration from large, investor-backed companies,” Collins says, “but operate with the agility and creativity of a small business.”