Vulcraft to Invest $59 Million to Expand Steel Grating Production at St. Joe, Indiana Plant

Nucor's joist and decking subsidiary will build a new 127,000-square-foot facility in DeKalb County, adding up to 20 high-wage jobs and expanding its steel grating capacity as part of Nucor's broader Indiana growth strategy.

Why Vulcraft Is Expanding in St. Joe

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): A steel manufacturing operation will expand its DeKalb County operation with an investment exceeding $59 million, Indiana Gov. Mike Braun announced Thursday.

Vulcraft, a division of Nucor Corp., will also add up to 20 high-wage jobs by the end of 2027, according to a news release. Founded in 1946, the company launched operations in St. Joe in 1972.

Vulcraft currently employs more than 300 workers in northeast Indiana and will break ground on the new facility in the fourth quarter.

John Hollatz, a Vulcraft executive vice president, said Vulcraft is where Nucor got its start in the steel industry and that the sector remains an important part of its growth. He said the company is pleased to grow the Vulcraft business in Indiana with an investment that will allow it to better serve customers and strengthen its downstream production capabilities. Hollatz, who oversees fabricated construction products for the company, cited a mission to "Grow the Core and Expand Beyond."

Collin Bice of the DeKalb County Economic Development Partnership said the investment "grew out of a business retention and expansion visit" last year.

"Since then, we've stayed closely engaged and were able to work alongside Vulcraft to help them secure both state and local incentives to support the project," said Bice, president and CEO of the Economic Development Partnership. "Seeing that relationship turn into a $59 million investment and new high paying jobs is a great example of why consistently staying connected with our existing employers is such an important part of what we do."

Bice called the investment a "major win" for the county, adding that "it really shows Vulcraft believes in this community, our workforce, and DeKalb County as a place they want to continue investing and growing."

What the New Facility Will Produce

The investment will expand existing manufacturing operations in St. Joe, with the company constructing and equipping a new 127,000-square-foot facility on its 250-acre site. The added space will allow Vulcraft to manufacture steel grating products, making it one of four Vulcraft locations — two in Canada and one additional in the U.S. — to offer grating used for industrial flooring and stair treads.

Vulcraft already manufactures steel joists, joist girders and steel decking in Indiana, making its northeast Indiana location a one-stop shop for steel solutions.

How This Fits Nucor's Indiana Growth

The new investment in DeKalb County marks Nucor's fourth major investment in Indiana in recent years, according to the news release. In 2022, the company announced a $290 million modernization investment at its sheet mill operations in Crawfordsville, and the following year announced plans for a $115 million Towers & Structures facility nearby.

Nucor also invested $28.5 million to build an insulated metal panel production facility, which began operations in 2021, in Waterloo next to its existing Nucor Building Systems Indiana campus. Combined, those expansions along with Vulcraft's newly announced growth account for 300 new Hoosier jobs. Nucor employs more than 2,600 people at more than a dozen locations across Indiana, the release said.

Indiana Gov. Mike Braun said the state's advanced manufacturing sector and skilled workforce make it "the perfect destination" for Vulcraft's expansion, adding that the project will contribute to a growing regional economy and create high-wage career opportunities.

Indiana Secretary of Commerce Chuck Goodrich said companies like Vulcraft and Nucor are helping the state's manufacturing economy grow, noting that the investment "will continue to propel innovation and excellence in Indiana manufacturing, putting Hoosiers at the forefront of producing critical products used around the country and across the world."

Incentives and Wage Impact

At the local level, the DeKalb County Council approved a 10-year real property tax abatement and a nine-year personal property tax abatement for the project, Bice said. The council approved the incentives by a 7-0 vote.

At the state level, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation awarded Vulcraft incentives through the Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) tax credit and the Hoosier Business Investment (HBI) tax credit. Both are designed to support new job creation and capital investment associated with the project.

Once complete, the 20 new jobs Vulcraft is adding are expected to carry average wages more than 150% of the county's average. As of the first quarter this year, Bice said the average annual wage across all industries in DeKalb County is $63,025, compared with $86,269 for manufacturing jobs.

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Courtesy: www.journalgazette.net