Business Details
37 Years
experience
Your Trusted Source for Welding Equipment Rentals & Sales in San Diego
Founded in 1989, R J Kates has established itself as Southern California's largest family-owned welding equipment rental and repair facility. With four strategically located branches in San Diego, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Phoenix, we serve a diverse range of industries including construction, ship repair, and fabrication. Our multi-million dollar inventory ensures we can handle projects of any scale, from small custom metalwork to large-scale industrial operations. As a factory-authorized repair station for major welding brands, we combine decades of technical expertise with a commitment to customer service, offering rentals, sales, and repairs of cutting-edge equipment. Our team of factory-trained technicians provides rapid turnaround times, minimizing downtime for clients.We maintain partnerships with industry leaders like Hypertherm and Miller, ensuring access to premium products and replacement parts. Our services extend beyond equipment to include consultation on automated welding solutions and custom gas blends for specialized applications. With over 80 years of combined experience in equipment diagnostics, we deliver reliable solutions tailored to each client's unique needs. Our strategic expansion across the Southwest reflects our dedication to meeting evolving industry demands while maintaining the personalized service of a family-owned business.
Services
Equipment Rentals
Factory Repairs
New Equipment Sales
Used Equipment Sales
CNC Retrofit Projects
Details
- Year established: 1989
Highlights and features
- Family-owned operation with 35+ years of industry experience
- Multi-million dollar inventory ensures equipment availability
- Factory-trained technicians for major welding equipment brands
- Four regional locations serving the Southwest US
- Specialized in CNC automation and robotic welding solutions
Services
Equipment Rentals
We offer comprehensive equipment rental solutions for welding, cutting, and power generation needs. Our fleet includes plasma cutters, TIG/MIG welders, and robotic welding cells. With four regional locations and a multi-million dollar inventory, we ensure equipment availability for projects of all sizes. Our rental program reduces maintenance burdens while providing access to the latest technology.
Factory Repairs
As a factory-authorized repair station, we service major brands like Hypertherm and Miller. Our technicians have 80+ years combined experience in diagnostics and repairs. We maintain warranty station status for all leading equipment manufacturers, ensuring genuine parts and compliance with manufacturer specifications for optimal equipment performance.
New Equipment Sales
We represent top manufacturers for welding, cutting, and fabrication equipment. Our inventory includes CNC cutting tables, plasma torches, and industrial abrasives. As a manufacturer's representative, we offer the latest technology in welding automation and provide expert consultation for equipment selection and integration.
CNC Retrofit Projects
Our CNC retrofit services modernize existing equipment with advanced automation capabilities. We specialize in plasma/ oxy-fuel cutting systems and robotic welding integrations. Backed by partnerships with Burny, Hypertherm, and Koike Aronson, we deliver efficiency improvements for fixed automation and robotic applications across Southern California.
Gas Supply
We supply custom-blended shielding gases for specialized welding applications. Our gas solutions include pure gases and precision blends in various cylinder configurations. Our team provides technical support for optimizing gas composition to enhance weld quality and process efficiency for industrial clients.
Questions
What services does R. J. Kates offer?
We provide welding equipment rentals, factory-authorized repairs, new/used equipment sales, CNC automation solutions, and custom gas blends for industrial applications.
Do you offer emergency repair services?
While we don't provide 24/7 emergency services, our factory-trained technicians prioritize rapid turnaround during regular business hours.
What geographic areas do you serve?
We serve the Southwest US with locations in San Diego, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Phoenix metropolitan areas.
Are your technicians factory-certified?
Yes, all our service technicians are factory-trained and authorized for major welding equipment brands.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept PayPal payments for pre-arranged transactions through our accounting department.
Reviews (6)
Mike J.
Jan 10, 2021
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Jake and his crew were awesome! They fixed my nightmare miller welder that no one else could figure out. Thanks for getting me back to work!!
Stan S.
Sep 14, 2016
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Either they are Unscrupulous, or Grossly Incompetent. They tried to tell me that my gun was Bad, and that it needed replacing, at nearly a 100% Mark-up of Retail AND over $100 to ATTACH it to machine [MIG welder] !! The ACTUAL Problem was a Switch needed to be moved from Remote to Local. TWO SECONDS.
So, were they just trying to RIP ME OFF ... or are they Completely INCOMPETENT ? As a result, my gas supplier has Lost My Business as well.
STAY CLEAR OF THIS BUSINESS
So, were they just trying to RIP ME OFF ... or are they Completely INCOMPETENT ? As a result, my gas supplier has Lost My Business as well.
STAY CLEAR OF THIS BUSINESS
Miguel G.
Jul 05, 2013
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I really can't say enough good things about RJ Kates. I work with a small ship repair company and we rent welding and electrical equipment from these guys. They are top notch. Always helpful, fast service, friendly, professional.
Justin H.
May 13, 2013
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I can't speak highly enough of RJ Kates. I recently purchased a defective Thermal Arc machine that was still under warranty. My machine was sent to RJ Kates for troubleshooting and repair and they have been nothing but top notch and an absolutely pleasure to work with. I stopped by their shop to answer some questions about my machine and one of their employees spent some time talking to me about what could possibly be wrong. I got a fantastic education on inverter machines, how they work and how mine differs from others... and what could possibly be wrong. Long story short - RJ Kates is exactly
Jack D.
Aug 21, 2012
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Long time customer. This is the best place to rent any welding equipment needed, from a small welder to a BIG CAN (Diesel power electric generator with enough to power 50 homes). these guys are the best!!!
Orion R.
Nov 19, 2011
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Anytime I need welding equipment or have questions these are the goto guys. over the years Josh has done me right and pointed me in the right direction. They always have given more than I even paid for. Definately would recommend them to anyone.
