Steel . . . It’s our middle name.

Nelson Steel Products. It's a name that gives people a good idea of what you're about-what you know and what you do well. It's also a name that raises people's expectations.

In the 1940s most of the work was welding repairs for local farmers. They came with broken parts, but they left with solutions and high hopes. As business grew, so did a reputation for honesty, integrity and fairness. So while our company was making old parts like new, it was also building trust and forging connections that are still strong.

What began as welding repair shop has become one of the Midwest's premier steel fabrication facilities. Today, Nelson Steel Products offers a complete range of steel fabrication capabilities, including robotic welding and laser cutting. After decades of proving the value of doing the right thing, Nelson has earned a reputation for integrity, and it's as strong and uncompromising as the steel we fashion.

History

Nelson Ryzenga probably never looked at his little garage in the 1940s and said to himself, "This could be the start of something big." He probably never imagined that his business would evolve into a center for complete steel fabrication and robotic welding. But from 1945 on, it was hard for Ryzenga Welding and Steel Works not to grow. Folks liked the fact that Nelson was willing to help them solve their problems. They especially liked that he was honest, worked hard and was fair.

By 1946, the business had outgrown the garage. Before long, the shop was doing fewer miscellaneous repairs and more larger-scale welding jobs, mostly for the agricultural implement market. The young company began to do overflow work from Welding Products, a supplier to the agricultural products manufacturer, Big Dutchman. Armed with an old-fashioned work ethic and two aggressive sons, Wally and Roger, Nelson continued to grow the business.

The big break came in 1968 when the company landed a government contract to supply trailer frames for the U.S. Army. The contract was a catalyst and led to new equipment, a new plant and additional employees. The opportunity was also the turning point-the chance the company needed to move from a small-time welding works to a large-scale production welding facility.

In 1959, the company officially became Nelson Steel Products, Inc. By the time the government work ended in the late 1960s, Nelson Steel was well positioned to continue large-scale production welding work. Today, the company is widely known as a single source for complete steel fabrication, robotic welding and laser cutting. And that reputation for integrity? It's still the most powerful force driving the business today.

Learn from Nelson’s experience

If you're searching for experience in steel fabrication, robotic welding and laser cutting, look no further than Nelson Steel Products. Our management team has more than a century of combined experience in the business. What's more, our employees average approximately 12 years on the job, and all of our supervisors have long tenures with the company as well.

There is simply no substitute for experience. In fact, it's the key to helping customers solve problems, improve designs and reduce costs. It's impossible to troubleshoot in a business without knowing the business. Deep experience in steel fabrication, finishing, robotic welding and laser cutting is why Nelson Steel can be a problem-solving partner-not just a vendor who takes orders.

Innovation

Since the beginning in 1945, customers have always depended on Nelson Steel for solutions, not merely service. A willingness to help customers solve problems with innovations like robotic welding and laser cutting technologies helps explain why the company has enjoyed growth and expansion into more and more markets.

Whether it is recognizing that a square tube is a better choice for a product than a round one, refining a design to tighten tolerances or reconfiguring a product to eliminate vibration, fresh thinking and leading-edge capabilities are why Nelson is a name everyone remembers. For innovation not imitation, the name's the same: Nelson Steel Products.

Technology—the price of admission

It is certainly no secret that technology is the price leaders pay for staying in front. Nelson Steel Products has always invested heavily in new and emerging technologies-robotic welding and laser cutting technologies, for example. Investing in equipment, facilities and people is why Nelson Steel keeps leading when so many others are barely keeping up.