About the Corporation Yard

The R&ED Corporation Yard provides a wide variety of services to support New Mexico Tech researchers. Its primary goals are:

to help researchers meet project requirements by providing quality craftsmanship for projects at minimum cost, and
to store, maintain, locate, and deliver surplus materials and equipment to the researcher at the least possible cost. Although the Yard's primary focus is to support research efforts, the staff is available and equipped to support the needs of any Tech department.

The R&ED Corporation Yard offers quality craftsmanship on a variety of standard and specialized projects. Its employees are experienced mechanics and heavy equipment operators who are capable of supporting all types of construction or transportation and maintenance needs. The Corporation Yard also maintains a large inventory of small and large, and light and heavy surplus equipment, providing a good resource for projects that require both equipment and an experienced operator.

Services available through the R&ED Corporation Yard

Transport of Surplus Materials

The Corporation Yard has a 10-ton semi truck and various other trucks and trailers for transporting surplus equipment to and from any location within the Continental United States. Surplus equipment acquisition in some cases is as easy as providing the means for its pickup and transportation to Socorro. Corporation Yard personnel are CDL-licensed to transport this equipment, will obtain all necessary permits, and will provide this service to all departments, upon request, for the fees indicated below under Costs for Services.

Equipment Repair and Modification

The Corporation Yard workshop -- complete with welding, cutting, metal fabrication equipment and materials, and a number of carpentry tools - is available to construct, repair and/or modify various types of components to meet the researcher's equipment specifications. Yard personnel have a good working knowledge of the general applications and potential uses for different components. We urge you to contact the Corporation Yard to find out what is available to fit your particular needs.

Carpentry and Light Construction Projects

The Corporation Yard is equipped to handle all types of requests for carpentry, cabinetmaking, and metal fabrication services in support of research projects. The shop is equipped with various types of saws (jig saw, band saw, cutoff saw, skill saw, saw-saw, hacksaw), a drill press, router, tin cutter, gas-operated post hole auger, electric metal body grinder, bench grinder, belt sander, horizontal sander, and other small hand tools.

The Yard's staff can perform skilled carpentry according to customer specifications. Other types of services available include minor electrical work, painting, and furniture moving.

Heavy Construction Projects

The Corporation Yard is equipped with a variety of light and heavy equipment, including a small crane, a backhoe, a wrecker, forklifts (1,000 to 15,000 lbs.), a blader, a dump truck, and a front-end loader. Yard personnel are experienced heavy equipment operators and are available to support all types of on-campus construction needs related to research. The dome structure located adjacent to the Etscorn Observatory is one example of the type of specialized construction performed by R&ED's Yard staff.

Vehicle Repair

The Corporation Yard maintains a separate garage for the repair and maintenance of light and heavy equipment as well as cars and trucks. Yard personnel have over 20 years experience in vehicle maintenance and repair.

General Craftsmanship

Two full-time, highly skilled and versatile craftsmen oversee the Corporation Yard, maintain and service equipment, and provide craftsman-type support to departments on campus. Their experience includes:

carpentry, painting, and minor electrical work
component repair and modification
construction involving the operation of both light and heavy equipment
welding and various types of metal fabrication
project setup and disassembly
light and heavy equipment repair and maintenance
small appliance repair and modification
auto mechanics
surplus acquisition and long distance transport of surplus equipment (both Yard employees are CDL-licensed to transport surplus equipment to and from any location within the Continental United States)

Temporary Storage Facilities

The Yard also provides temporary storage for on-campus departments who wish to store research-related items that may include items such as cars, trailers, house trailers, and portable buildings. While we cannot fully guarantee their safe storage, we are willing to provide departments with temporary storage space in this enclosed area upon request and if urgently needed.

Cost for Services

Because R&ED's Corporation Yard operates as a service organization, it seeks only to recover its costs incurred for the completion of projects (i.e., wages, fringe benefits, and materials). For example, charges for transportation and delivery (from a location outside of Socorro) of surplus materials will include the employees' base salary plus benefits, travel and per diem, and transportation supplies and expenses.

Parts purchased from the Corporation Yard in most cases will cost approximately fifty percent of retail. Charges for equipment modification will include the cost for materials plus labor and benefits.

Obtaining Corporation Yard Services

Contact Steve Wallace, Corporation Yard Supervisor, at 835-5855 to discuss your needs.
R&ED will provide you with a cost quote (estimate). You should specify whether your department will provide the materials necessary to complete the job or whether R&ED should purchase the materials and bill your department when the job is complete. [NOTE: R&ED adds no overhead to the cost of materials. Approved changes to the original job request that result in the purchase of additional materials and added labor will be reflected on the final bill.]
Requests for large jobs (i.e., jobs requiring a minimum of three days labor) require at least five days' advance notice.
When the job is complete, you will be asked to sign the job request form immediately below the account number, authorizing payment from the designated account.
Your department will be billed by R&ED via Journal Voucher using the account number you provided on the job request form.