Tariff Squeeze: Look for Catalysts as You Navigate the Shifting Outlook

Looking for reasons to smile regarding the manufacturing industry? There are a few — not to downplay the disruptions to supply chains and other challenges that lie ahead —including expansion investment announcements by metal industry companies, as well as a fabricator that is the embodiment of leading by example, inspiring others to consider metalworking careers.

Regarding industrial expansion activity, in the first quarter of 2025, announcements were made that are expected to counter supply chain disruptions. In March, Lexicon, Inc., which provides a range of services, including steel fabrication, announced a $37.6 million expansion of its corporate headquarters and steel fabrication operations in Little Rock, Ark. The company will create 60 new jobs, hiring fitters, welders, machine operators and others.

And in February, ArcelorMittal, one of the world’s leading steel producers, announced it would invest $1.2 billion to build an advanced manufacturing facility in Mobile County, Ala. The company will begin construction later this year and is expected to create more than 200 jobs. The mill’s output will support the automotive/mobility industry, renewable electricity production and other uses of non-grain-oriented electric steel (NOES), including electric motors and generators, according to the Alabama Department of Commerce. Said Peter Leblanc, chief marketing officer, ArcelorMittal North America: “The new plant will greatly enhance our capacity to support manufacturers by providing a steady domestic supply of high-quality NOES, enabling them to produce superior products and avoid material shortages, extended lead times and cost volatility associated with overseas supply chains.”

In another project, a manufacturer of materials used for EVs announced it would expand operations in the St. Louis, Mo., region, investing $500 million for a new facility. Wieland, a leading global supplier of copper and copper alloy solutions, said the expansion solidifies its ability to supply the advanced energy sectors. These investments, among others, will go a long way toward creating a resilient domestic metalworking supply chain.

Becker Lights the Way

Another bright spot in today’s metalworking industry is the people within the sector. “I get to wake up every day and go play in essentially, you know, a giant toy box filled with toys and build whatever I want,” said Jason Becker, a welder, educator and host of the popular podcast Arc Junkies. “I share that passion with other folks that have never been exposed to welding. Or tell people about all the cool projects that I’ve worked on.”

Becker, based in Orlando, Fla., is the embodiment of leading by example. In addition to his many AWS certifications, he stood up a Central Florida American Welding Society chapter; opened the WeldWorks Training Center and UnderGround Metal Works in July 2023 in Orlando, which offers AWS accredited training and certifications; and produces a weekly episode of the Arc Junkies podcast, dedicated to educating the next generation of welders.

Read this issue’s Workforce Matters column to learn why Becker doesn’t consider himself an influencer but rather he is an inspirer. “I prefer the term inspirer,” Becker said. He believes welding is for everybody, and there isn’t a specific demographic for people to get started in welding. “If you’re willing to do the work, the welding industry needs you.”

Proactive initiatives by industry members such as Jason Becker, as well as significant supplier expansion investments, offer reasons for optimism as manufacturers brace for the unexpected.