How fiber laser welding, robotics and skilled welders come together on the manufacturing floor at Maysteel.

April is National Welding Month, a time to recognize the skilled tradespeople whose work keeps modern manufacturing moving.

At Maysteel, welding is integral to our work. From enclosures and cabinets to server racks and data center structures, strong, reliable welds are critical to the performance of the products our customers rely on every day. Capabilities like fiber laser welding are a direct reflection of how far that commitment has come.

What started 90 years ago with traditional fabrication methods has grown into a combination of skilled craftsmanship, advanced welding technology and workforce development that continues to move our manufacturing forward.

Welding on the Manufacturing Floor

Strong welds ensure the durability and strength required for products that support critical industries like data centers, power infrastructure and telecommunications. Whether a product supports a generator system, houses electrical components or helps manage airflow inside a data center, the quality of the weld matters.

That’s why welding is one of the most important capabilities on the manufacturing floor when it comes to sheet metal fabrication.

Combining Skilled Welders with Advanced Welding Technology

Welding technology has always evolved alongside fabrication demands, and today that evolution is moving faster than ever.

Today, Maysteel utilizes fiber laser welding and robotic welding systems to support precision fabrication across many of our manufacturing programs. These technologies allow our teams to produce clean, consistent welds while improving repeatability and efficiency on complex assemblies—not to mention improving throughput for industries that require quick turns on large volumes.

Fiber laser welding is particularly well-suited for emerging markets such as data center server racks, where precision and speed are important. Robotic welding systems also help maintain consistency across production runs while giving our teams the capacity to scale manufacturing when customer demand increases.

Even with advanced technology, skilled welders remain the most essential part of the process. Their experience and attention to detail help ensure quality across every program we run. At Maysteel, it’s the combination of people and technology that produces strong manufacturing outcomes.

Developing the Next Generation of Welders

As manufacturing continues to evolve, developing skilled trades is just as important as investing in new technology.

To help support workforce development, Maysteel launched Maysteel University (Maysteel U) in 2022. The internal program focuses on helping employees build new skills and grow their careers within the company.

One of the first programs introduced was a Weld Operator training course, designed in collaboration with welding instructors and Maysteel’s internal engineering and manufacturing teams.

The course includes:

  • Welding fundamentals training
  • Hands-on welding practice
  • Maysteel welding certification testing

The program operates during work hours and follows a train-the-trainer model, with experienced team members guiding and training the next group of weld operators.

Programs like Maysteel U help strengthen our workforce while ensuring the skills needed for modern manufacturing continue to grow within our organization.

Supporting Welding Education in the Community

In addition to developing talent internally, Maysteel is also committed to supporting welding education in the communities where we operate.

In 2025, Maysteel donated a fiber laser welding system and cell to Moraine Park Technical College to help students gain hands-on experience with advanced welding technology. The equipment allows students to train on the same type of modern welding systems being used in manufacturing environments today.

By working with technical colleges and training programs, Maysteel hopes to expand awareness of skilled trades careers and give students exposure to technologies such as fiber laser welding before they enter the workforce.

Investments like this help strengthen the pipeline of skilled welders needed to support the future of manufacturing.

Welding and the Future of Manufacturing

Manufacturing technology will continue to evolve, and welding will evolve with it.

Welding technology like fiber laser welding, robotic welding and automation is helping manufacturers increase precision, improve efficiency and meet growing production demands across industries. Skilled welders will always play a critical role alongside these tools—and it’s that combination that will define the future of manufacturing.

For Maysteel, the future of manufacturing isn’t just about new equipment. It’s about investing in the people, skills and emerging technologies—from fiber laser welding to workforce training—that allow us to keep building high-quality solutions for the industries we serve.

As we celebrate National Welding Month, we’re proud to recognize the welders across our facilities whose work helps bring engineering designs to life every day.