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Senator Capito presented with Nucor Woman of Steel award. Posted: Aug 17, 2026 / 07:53 PM EDT Updated: Aug 17, 2026 / 08:07 PM EDT MASON COUNTY, W.Va. (WOWK) - Senator Shelley Moore Capito got a surprise Monday at Nucor's steel mill in Mason County. Nucor honored Capito with its first Woman of Steel award under current CEO Leon Topalian's leadership. Capito visited the plant to see its progress and had no idea about the award. "It was a total surprise to me," Capito said. "I'll be forever grateful to Nucor." Nucor broke ground on its steel mill in 2023, but Topalian said the $4 billion project was on its last leg because of permit issues. It wasn't until Capito stepped in that things got moving again. "We give it out to those individuals that truly rose above, with some extraordinary acts or service," Topalian said. "So as the years went on and [we] got into some issues around permitting, we just watched her stand up and watched her fight for what was right." Topalian said the award is only presented in special cases and is not something they give out each year. Capito said that when she was approached by Topalian for help on Nucor's permit issue, her and Senator Joseph Manchin engaged in "some of the strongest meetings" she's been a part of in order to make the project happen. "It was a real threat," Capito said. "So, that's when we put our nose to the grindstone, and that's why I'm the Woman of Steel." Capito said the project was a "life changing opportunity" that she could not let slip through the cracks. "When it got really down to crunch time, that's where I know my influence was the strongest," Capito said. "I want to make sure that we're producing steel here as quickly, as efficiently as we can. Bringing people home, doing it right here in West Virginia." The Nucor steel mill is expected to produce nearly 1,000 jobs in West Virginia. Topalian said the steel facility has already ran its first coil through one of the facilities. He said the goal is to start up new parts of the mill each month for commission. Nucor representatives said that the steel mill is being built on schedule and is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

Nucor invests $59 million to expand Vulcraft Indiana facility with steel grating production. 14 Aug 2026 16:25 reported by Joy Liu Nucor Corporation committed US$59 million to expand its Vulcraft Indiana manufacturing plant in St. Joe, creating 20 full-time jobs and adding steel grating production capabilities to its existing operations. John Hollatz, Executive Vice President of Fabricated Construction Products, said that the project strengthens downstream manufacturing capabilities. This initiative represents Nucor's fourth major Indiana investment in recent years, complementing previous projects in Crawfordsville and Waterloo. Acquired in 1962, Vulcraft operates nine North American plants and serves as the leading US producer of open-web steel joists, joist girders, and steel decking for nonresidential construction.

Nucor invests in downstream building products plant. The recycled-content steelmaker will spend nearly $60 million to add capabilities at a Vulcraft facility in Indiana. Published August 14, 2026 Nucor Corp., Charlotte, North Carolina, has announced it will invest $59 million to expand its Vulcraft Indiana manufacturing facility in St. Joe, Indiana. The company's Vulcraft subsidiary makes steel joists, girders and decking used in the construction sector. According to Nucor, the investment will allow the facility to add capabilities to produce steel grating products. "We are pleased to be growing our Vulcraft business in Indiana with this investment to better serve our customers and strengthen our downstream production capabilities, advancing our mission to 'Grow the Core and Expand Beyond,'" says John Hollatz, an executive vice president at Nucor. "Vulcraft is where Nucor got its start in the steel industry, and it remains an important part of our growth today," adds Hollatz. "We appreciate [Indiana] Governor Braun and state and local DeKalb County [Indiana] leaders for their support as we continue to expand our manufacturing footprint in Indiana." The announcement comes as steel mills in the United States have been operating at or near 80 percent capacity throughout the year, a level considered healthy by observers and one that has led to profitability for Nucor and other recycled-content steelmakers. In the first full week in August, the U.S. mill capacity rate dipped below 80 percent, and in July, steel buyers increased their requests for imported steel as measured by permit applications. An analysis released earlier this month by commodities and business information firm Argus finds the import requests may stem from longer lead times and bottlenecks within the American steel supply chain. "Average mill lead times remained extended across all products as hot-rolled coil (HRC) deliveries remained between 7-to-8 weeks since the beginning of June," writes the firm in an August 11 e-mail, adding delivery times for some other grades are stretching out to 10 weeks. Continues Argus, "Market participants expressed increased interest in the import market to supplement limited inventories, following months of constrained domestic supply availability." Nucor, whose largest business unit produces steel at a network of electric arc furnace (EAF) mills, likely can supply steel in a more time-efficient manner to its own downstream business units such as Vulcraft. The company says it acquired Vulcraft in 1962, marking its entrance into the steel industry. From a single facility in South Carolina, Nucor expanded the Vulcraft business and ultimately made the decision to begin producing its own steel, converting ferrous scrap into steel at EAF mills. Sponsored Content Optimal productivity, heavy construction, safety features and operator comfort come together in the SENNEBOGEN 360 G-series telescopic wheel loader, designed for work across the waste and recycling industry. Telescopic wheel loaders manufactured by SENNEBOGEN have a growing presence at transfer stations, material recovery facilities (MRFs), construction and demolition (C&D) recycling plants and metal recycling facilities across North America. Vulcraft Indiana opened in 1972 as Nucor's fifth Vulcraft facility and today is one of nine Vulcraft locations operating in North America, according to Nucor. Nucor says this week's announcement marks its fourth major investment in Indiana in recent years. In 2022, the company announced a $290 million investment to modernize its sheet mill operations in Crawfordsville. The following year, it announced plans to build a $115 million utility infrastructure production facility nearby and invested $28.5 million to build an insulated metal panel production facility in Waterloo, Indiana. In addition to making steel and steel products, Nucor owns the Cincinnati-based David J. Joseph Co., through which it processes and trades ferrous and nonferrous scrap. Get curated news on YOUR industry. Enter your email to receive its newsletters.