America's top 19 structural steel fabrication companies

Structural steel fabrication is a growing sector of U.S. manufacturing. According to data gathered by IndustryNet, jobs have increased by 2.85 percent and sales by 2.96 percent over the past year.

During the same period, sales in some other segments of the metal fabrication industry have held steady or experienced slight decreases.

Prefabricated components offer builders and contractors significant advantages in both quality and convenience.

Operations involved in fabrication include cleaning, machining, welding and transportation. Some companies offer additional finishing services such as painting to protect structural steel components from corrosion.

While traditional building design has been dependent on the use of two-dimensional drawings, developments in computer technology have enabled advances in off-site fabrication of structural steel. Building information modeling allows 3-D specifications to be produced for structural components, allowing them to be assembled on-site more easily.

The products offered by structural steel fabricators differ by both location and the industries served. Services also vary to meet the requirements of customers occupying varying niches of the building and manufacturing trades. The successful companies highlighted here illustrate how the specific needs of clients are met.

Are you in need of structural steel fabrication services? Read IndustryNet's Complete Guide to Sourcing a Metal Fabrication Company.

Top 10 companies by number of employees

Since building its first aircraft in 1940, Northrop Grumman Corp. has been a leader in flight. At its Unmanned Systems facility in San Diego, California it provides 2,200 jobs. Through continuous research, it produces high-quality airframe components.

In the oil and gas territory of Ingleside, Texas, Kiewit Offshore Service Ltd. is known for delivering massive offshore constructions on time and on budget. This company is highly concerned with the safety of its 1,700 workers and has been designated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration as a Voluntary Protection Plan Star Worksite. Kiewit's quality program is AISC certified and complies with ISO 9001:2008.

Southeast Texas Industries Inc. provides customers with a single point of contact for general contracting of turnkey systems. Its 1,500 craftspeople in Buna, Texas, provide an array of services, including engineering, design, cutting, welding and installation. It specializes in drilling rigs and their components.

Gerdau has over 110 years of innovation history. The company provides 900 jobs in Midlothian, Texas. Gerdau believes strongly in social responsibility and has created an institute to standardize its practices.

Steel Dynamics Structural and Rail Division employs 600 workers in Columbia City, Indiana. Steel Dynamics is a major producer of carbon steel in the U.S. This company serves markets, including automotive, construction, energy and manufacturing, and is a leader in metal recycling.

From a base in Houma, Louisiana, the 560 employees of Gulf Island LLC build offshore oil and gas platforms. The company continually invests in the training of its engineers and craftspeople to maintain the highest standards for safety and quality. Gulf Island is ISO 9001:2008 certified.

Nucor Steel, Norfolk Division supports safety above all else for each of its 500 workers in Norfolk, Nebraska. Industries Nucor serves include automotive, energy, transportation and construction. The company's steel products range from joists and girders to rebar and metal building systems.

CB&I Inc. has been in business for over 125 years. With 400 employees in Plainfield, Illinois, it is an expert in modularization. CB&I offers solutions to industries ranging from oil, gas and chemicals to wastewater.

The 350 employees at Lexicon Inc. in Little Rock, Arkansas, offer a unique set of capabilities. The company plays a role in the construction of everything from roadways to golf courses. Its Prospect Steel division specializes in structural steel fabrication and erection.

W&W-AFCO Steel provides services to accommodate projects of any size or complexity. The company welcomes veterans and those with disabilities. A staff of 350 is employed at its plant in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Top 10 companies by square footage

The Dynamics Industries Inc. facility in New Iberia, Louisiana, covers 4,183,200 square feet. The company, founded in 1985, specializes in offshore services. It fabricates and installs interconnecting pipes.

The Ozark Steel Fabricators Inc. plant encompasses 2,000,000 square feet and sits on 40 acres in Farmington, Missouri. The company fabricates structural steel for buildings, including hospitals, warehouses and distribution centers. Its products allow contractors to construct buildings on time and on budget.

Nucor Steel's plant in Norfolk, Nebraska, mentioned above, occupies 1,200,000 square feet.

The facilities of Elite Fabricators LLC in Pryor, Oklahoma, occupy 871,200 square feet. The company fabricates to AWS D1.1. Its capabilities include blasting and painting.

Qualico Steel Company Inc. is an AISC-certified company that is housed in a climate-controlled fabricating and coating facility encompassing 555,000 square feet in Webb, Alabama. It is family owned and was founded in 1976. Qualico owns more than 200 trailers to deliver its products on time to customer's sites.

In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Doral Corp. has the capability to design and fabricate products for industrial use, in their 550,000 square foot plant. Their offerings are as varied as catwalks, hoods, conveyors and containment systems. Doral's experts collaborate with plant engineers and maintenance personnel.

AGRA Industries Inc. operates a 510,000-square-foot plant in Merrill, Wisconsin. It offers fabrication, equipment and construction services. It serves sectors of the agricultural industry, including feed, seed and biofuels such as wood pellets and ethanol.

A 500,000-square-foot plant in Schofield, Wisconsin, is only one way in which Merrill Steel Inc. has aimed to go big. The company specializes in producing structural steel backbones and plate fabrications for large structures such as sports stadiums, power plants and high-rise buildings. It was founded in 1964 in a 5,000-square-foot foundry and has expanded over the years to its current size.

Boes Iron Works Inc. occupies 500,000 square feet of space in New Orleans, Louisiana. It erects stairs and provides welding services. For the convenience of its customers, Boes also leases cranes to lower fabricated structures into place.

In its 500,000-square-foot facility in Kankakee, Illinois, J&A Mitchell Fabricators Inc. will tackle any size project. The company has a fully equipped fabrication shop. It also offers mobile and 24-hour emergency services.

Discover more on IndustryNet

IndustryNet continuously collects data on over 400,000 manufacturers and suppliers of more than 10,000 industrial products and services. Utilizing this resource, a customer can assemble a list of structural steel fabricators in their area that can provide the necessary products and services. Businesses can also readily obtain quotes and contact suppliers either directly or through social media.