Production Control Lead

Be Pro Be Proud unveils new simulator donated by Nucor Steel Arkansas. Be Pro Be Proud recently unveiled a new crane simulator donated by Nucor Steel Arkansas inside the Be Pro Be Proud Mobile Workshop. The new simulator will give students an interactive experience exploring an additional career opportunity central to one of the area's largest employers, according to a press release. "This simulator gives students something they can't get from a textbook - the opportunity to step into an experience to see what it takes to operate a crane," said Andrew Parker, executive director of Be Pro Be Proud. "We're grateful to Nucor for investing in this program to help students see that there are rewarding, high-skill careers available right here in Arkansas." The unveiling took place at Nucor's operations in Mississippi County as part of an event highlighting the company's investment in workforce development and its partnership with Be Pro Be Proud. More than 30 students from Blytheville School District, Delta Schools and Arkansas Northeastern College participated in the event. The Be Pro Be Proud Mobile Workshop, launched in Arkansas and now featured in states across the country, features immersive simulators that let students explore technical professions and experience the skills used in various industries. The crane simulator gives students an engaging introduction to the equipment and decision-making involved in crane operations, while helping them better understand the technical career opportunities available in manufacturing and other industrial fields, the release stated. Other simulators on board represent career pathways such as diesel technology, electrical work, utility linework, robotics and commercial truck driving.

Nucor Corporation announces $105 million expansion in Indiana, creating 100 new jobs. Governor Mike Braun announced that Nucor Corporation will invest $105 million expanding its Crawfordsville facility - creating up to 100 new jobs by late decade. The move builds on several recent investments by Nucor across Indiana. Yesterday, 1:22 p.m. Friday, Oct 9 By Hoosier State Today Indiana Governor Mike Braun announced on Oct. 8 that Nucor Corporation plans to expand its Towers & Structures manufacturing operations in Crawfordsville, which is expected to create up to 100 new jobs by the end of 2029. Braun said, "This is a significant win for Indiana and, most importantly, for Hoosiers as Nucor's continued commitment to the state will create another 100 high-paying career opportunities. Nucor's expansion in Indiana will add to our state's robust advanced manufacturing sector, putting Hoosiers at the center of delivering high-quality, durable and safe products worldwide." Nucor will invest $105 million into expanding its existing facility in Montgomery County by adding an additional 125,000 square feet under roof on its approximately 180-acre site. The project aims to increase production of engineered utility structures supporting electrification initiatives such as grid hardening and renewable energy projects. The company expects to break ground on the expansion in the first quarter of 2027 and begin hiring mid-2027. New positions are anticipated to offer average salaries nearly 150% above the Montgomery County average. Leon Topalian, chair and chief executive officer of Nucor Corporation, said, "The expansion of our Towers & Structures production facility in Indiana will help us meet strong demand for utility poles and other infrastructure resulting from significant investments by our electric utility customers to modernize the grid and expand generation to meet our nation's growing power needs. We appreciate the support we have received from state and local officials in Indiana, including Governor Braun, the Indiana Office of Commerce, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation and the Montgomery County Council and Board of Commissioners, and we are excited to grow our operations in Indiana." The project marks Nucor's fifth major investment in Indiana recently - totaling $597.5 million - and includes expansions such as a $290 million modernization at its sheet mill operations in Crawfordsville; a $28.5 million insulated metal panel facility next to its Waterloo campus; a $59 million investment at Vulcraft division in St. Joe; along with today's announcement accounting for a total of about 400 new jobs. Indiana Secretary of Commerce Chuck Goodrich said, "Nucor's strong presence in Indiana provides more than 2,600 - and growing - Hoosier jobs while powering Indiana manufacturing and community growth. The company's decision to continue investing and growing in Indiana is a testament to the skill of our Hoosier workforce and the strength of our state's business climate." Launched in 1989 with its first sheet steel mill operation - now employing more than 2,600 people across over a dozen locations - Nucor's Crawfordsville expansion remains subject to finalization of local incentives being considered by Montgomery County. Braun contributed through public service roles on school boards as well as serving as state representative before winning election first as U.S. Senator, then becoming governor; he also championed over forty bills that became law during his Senate term, according to the official website. He grew his company into a national entity employing thousands after graduating summa cum laude from Wabash College with an economics degree followed by earning an MBA from Harvard Business School; he has been married for forty-nine years raising four children.

Nucor proposes $105m expansion of Indiana pole manufacturing. October 9, 2026 Nucor plans new capacity for steel utility structures in Indiana. The proposed $105 million Crawfordsville expansion adds more than 120,000 square feet of manufacturing space and is expected to create 100 jobs, subject to approvals. Steel producer Nucor plans to invest another $105 million in its Towers & Structures facility at Crawfordsville, Indiana, adding manufacturing capacity for utility poles and associated transmission and distribution infrastructure. The expansion would provide more than 120,000 square feet of production space, with new equipment and automation, but remains subject to regulatory and other approvals. The expansion is expected to support 100 additional jobs at an average annual wage of $87,500, building on a utility structures workforce of 328 at the existing Indiana operation. Nucor links its plans to demand for transmission and distribution upgrades as electricity networks accommodate changing loads. The project would extend an established factory rather than establish a separate manufacturing site, subject to the approvals required before work proceeds. Transmission and distribution poles must carry conductors, insulators and other equipment while withstanding forces imposed by wind, cable tension and the span between supports. Their geometry and foundations are therefore designed around the loads on each route, the specified height and local installation conditions. These engineering variations carry through into the dimensions, materials and fabrication operations required at the factory. Production typically begins with preparing and forming steel into sections that can be joined, inspected and finished to the required specification. Tubular or tapered designs may be selected to balance structural strength and installation constraints, while changes in length, wall thickness and joint geometry affect cutting, forming and welding operations. A production line serving several utility programmes needs sufficient flexibility to handle that variation without compromising dimensional accuracy or weld quality. The length and weight of pole sections determine the lifting clearances and transport routes required between forming, welding, inspection and finishing. Different orders may also follow different processing sequences, creating competition for handling equipment and storage space. The useful capacity of the extension will consequently depend on material flow and the organisation of work in progress as well as machine speed. Nucor intends to introduce automation and updated machinery within the expansion, although the specific models and configuration have not been disclosed. Automated handling or positioning could help move large steel components through repeatable operations and reduce some manual transfers. Its contribution will depend on the product mix and how the new equipment interacts with established manufacturing stages rather than an assumed increase in output from machinery alone. When a machine increases the rate at which steel is formed or cut, the welding, inspection and finishing stages must be able to accept the additional work. Otherwise material can accumulate between operations, leaving factory capacity below the combined rating of the installed equipment. Commissioning also requires control of moving loads and suitable safeguards wherever automated systems and personnel operate in adjoining areas. Finished poles must meet structural and dimensional requirements before they enter a utility network, making weld inspection and records of material quality part of the production process. Joint integrity, pole geometry and mounting feature positions determine whether components can be assembled and carry their specified loads. Testing and acceptance arrangements are set by the applicable designs and standards, so changes in fabrication speed must be supported by consistent quality controls. Long outdoor service exposes steel structures to corrosion, requiring a finishing system suitable for the intended environment. Hot-dip galvanising is one established option, applying a zinc coating following preparation of the steel surface. Its performance depends on the coating, joint geometry and conditions at the installation site; the finishing method planned for the Crawfordsville extension has not been identified in the project information released so far. The Crawfordsville operation sits within Nucor's wider Indiana steel manufacturing presence, potentially reducing some transport distances between steel supply and fabrication. Actual supply arrangements must still meet the grades, dimensions and schedules specified for utility structures. Nucor has not stated that every component made in the extended facility will be supplied by the neighbouring steelworks, so the factory's incoming material logistics remain a separate planning requirement. Nucor entered the specialised utility structures business through its 2022 acquisition of Summit Utility Structures and has subsequently developed a network of fabrication operations in several US regions, including a new facility in Utah. The proposed Indiana expansion would increase capacity within that network, while maintaining the local capability already established at Crawfordsville. Production scheduling will still need to accommodate the different designs and delivery requirements of utility customers. Orders for steel poles depend on utility engineering programmes in which the route, voltage, terrain and equipment loads determine individual designs. Such projects can take years to plan, approve and construct, and their delivery schedules influence how steadily factory capacity is used. The proposed investment would therefore operate within a market where the volume and mix of orders can change as network projects move from engineering into construction. The planned additional 120,000 square feet will provide space for production and component movement, but floor area is not a direct measure of finished pole output. Effective throughput will depend on which machinery is installed, the share of large or complex designs, staffing and the work required for inspection or reprocessing. The company has not published a quantified annual production target against which the added capacity could yet be assessed. With regulatory and other approvals outstanding, the expansion still has to pass through construction, machinery installation and process commissioning before additional output becomes available. Nucor's $105 million commitment and forecast 100 jobs describe the intended scale of the project, while the actual production increase will depend on qualifying the new equipment and integrating it with established operations at Crawfordsville. Stories for you. * ECITB launches PPE fit training for engineering construction ECITB has launched training addressing risks from unsuitable protective equipment. Developed with input from the Women's Engineering Society, the two short courses examine PPE fit, worker responsibilities and the organisational processes needed to provide effective protection in high-hazard engineering environments. * LIS Technologies receives uranium feedstock for laser trials LIS Technologies has received uranium feedstock for laser enrichment trials. The material will support commissioning and process optimisation at its Oak Ridge demonstration facility, where the company is developing evidence of technical performance before progressing towards commercial production.