Charlotte-based SteelFab is adding a structural steel operation in the Midlands. The fabricator plans to invest $30 million in a new facility at 1030 Metso Way in Columbia and hire 100 people, with operations expected to start by the end of 2026, according to Gov. Henry McMaster's office (via the S.C. Governor's Office).
SteelFab engineers, fabricates and supplies structural steel and steel products for construction. It runs 18 facilities around the country, and Columbia will be its fifth in South Carolina, joining operations in Charleston, Florence, Rock Hill and York, South Carolina Public Radio reported.
The company isn't building from scratch. It's moving into an existing industrial building that Richland County officials described as underused. A listing for the property on the Central SC Alliance's site describes a roughly 245,000-square-foot plant built in 1969 on about 41 acres, with more than 200,000 square feet of manufacturing space, a separate paint building, 40-foot ceilings at center and 11 overhead cranes rated from 5 to 35 tons. The site is zoned heavy industrial and sits about 3 miles from I-20 and 4.5 miles from I-77.
"This investment represents another significant milestone in SteelFab's continued growth and commitment to South Carolina," said Rob Rutherford, the company's chief operating officer. WACH reported that Rutherford tied the expansion to rising construction demand.
Richland County Council Chairwoman Jesica Mackey, who also co-chairs the Columbia Area Development Partnership, said the deal shows how the county's existing industrial properties can bring in new work. The state's Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved job development credits for the project. The value of those credits wasn't disclosed.
SteelFab is already hiring through the careers page on its website.
Why it matters for Contractors
For general contractors and steel erectors in the Midlands, another fabricator close by is good news. More regional fabrication capacity can mean more bidders on structural packages and shorter hauls for commercial, industrial and multifamily jobs around Columbia, though it'll take time to see whether that shows up in pricing or lead times.
There's also near-term work in the building itself. Reopening a 1960s plant for a new tenant can mean electrical upgrades, crane inspections and repairs, roofing, paint booth work and office renovations. That work will be handled through SteelFab and whoever it hires, so if you do industrial upfits in Richland County, it's worth finding out who's running the job and watching for permits on Metso Way.
The flip side is labor. A hundred new fabrication jobs will draw on the same pool of welders, fitters and equipment operators that Midlands contractors hire from. If your crew includes skilled welders, expect them to hear about these openings, and it may be a good time to make sure your pay and schedule stay competitive.