Southern Stainless Equipment Company was started in Fishersville, VA in 1955 by two brothers Giles Powell, who was in charge of engineering and manufacturing, and A.M. Powell, who was the president of the company.

Tradgically, on October 6th, 1983 a fire broke out due to a broken air compressor. Everything was destroyed including machines, molds, records and more, causing $1-1.5 million worth of damage. Repairing 28 years worth of work seemed impossible. But due to dedicated and very suprised workers the company started repairing the very next day after the fire. Waynesboro Ornamental Iron Works Company were generous enough to actually let the Powells use some of their equipment to help get their business back on their feet.

In August, 1984, against all odds Southern Stainless Equipment Company/ Powell Co. reopened for business on Race Street in Waynesboro, VA in a building they previously used for storage eventually gaining 90% of their business back.

When the Powell's were ready to sell the company, the Hatter family bought it in 1993. Reginald and two sons Dean and Dan Hatter ran the company until only a few years later when Reginald Hatter passed away. Shortly after, Dean and Dan split the company. Dean stayed with Southern Stainless.

Then in January of 2006, Bob Rouse, a local Waynesboro businessman, bought an 80,000 square foot building to run his business, Powder Coating Solutions. When Dean decided to sell Southern Stainless the opportunity presented itself for Bob to buy the business from him. It was bought in March, 2006 and became a part of Clark Manufacturing.