North Carolina-based SteelFab announced it will pump $23.6 million into its Randolph County structural steel facility, creating more than 30 jobs.

The Alabama Department of Commerce and the Randolph County Economic Development Authority said SteelFab chose to expand its Roanoke plant over sites in South Carolina and Virginia.

The expansion calls for adding another 40,000 square feet to the plant’s Heavy Fab building, 11,000 square feet to an existing paint bay, expanding the laydown yard by 10 acres and other improvements, including new machinery and equipment. 

The plan, to be completed by next June, will over two years create 32 full-time jobs with an hourly wage of $17.50, along with benefits, company officials said. The plant, open since 1997, employs 175 workers.

Steel from the Randolph County facility has been used in several signature projects, including the Georgia Aquarium, the Blue Origin launch tower at Cape Canaveral and the Daytona International Speed Way Grand Stands, along with high-rise buildings, hospitals, power plants and other buildings, according to the company.

Randolph County EDA Director Bryant Whaley said the SteelFab expansion project has been in the works for more than a year.

SteelFab plant manager Joey Whaley said the expansion will allow the plant to produce more volume and help manufacture a heavier type of work.

“I have no doubt that the hard-working people of this plant were one of the major factors of us being chosen for the expansion,” Whaley said.

Randolph County announced an industrial expansion back in August, when JELD-WEN’s Wedowee plant said it would create up to 40 new jobs.

Source: SteelFab Announces $23.6 Million Expansion in Roanoke, to Hire 32 AL.com (December 11, 2020) William Thornton