Haskell Steel Ensures Certainty with Expertise and Cutting-Edge Tech

From its origin with five employees in the corner of a warehouse, Haskell Steel has grown to a 50-plus-person operation using state-of-the-art technology on a 30-acre campus and 100,000 square feet of facility space.

Haskell Steel Director Touan Plante, who joined Haskell in 2010 and leads onsite operations, said that the origins of Haskell Steel are integral to Haskell’s journey as a leader in the design-build industry.

From its earliest days, Haskell has been a user and innovator in tilt-up construction, an efficient method in which concrete slabs are cast horizontally at the jobsite. Once cured, the slabs are picked by crane and set in place, creating a wall from a series of consecutive panels standing next to each other.

Forming the concrete panels required steel.

Early on, Haskell depended on fabricators throughout the country for its steel needs, which meant it was subject to price fluctuations and delivery delays that resulted in critical schedule impacts. In the mid-1970s, the decision was made to take control of its own supply chain, and Haskell Steel was created.

Providing Certainty for Critical Path

Operating from rented warehouse space with limited space and equipment, Haskell Steel began making embedded plates and angles for tilt-up panels. By 1980, a push for increased self-reliance drove them to create a production facility capable of providing all the steel necessary for Haskell projects.

“As the company continued to grow and take on larger and more complex projects, Haskell Steel grew and evolved with the company,” Vice President of Manufacturing Ryan Hollister said. “Haskell Steel has been purpose-built for the complexities and speed required for integrated AEC projects, and our facility is designed to be flexible and adapt to the diverse range of projects Haskell builds. Whether it is heavy structural fencing to contain elephants, an aircraft mega-hangar or a manufacturing facility, our team is prepared to handle it.”

The presence of in-house steel resources offers advantages beyond certainty of supply. Traditionally, consideration of steel fabrication occurs near the end stages of project procurement. But at Haskell, the steel team has a seat at the table early in the conceptual design process, which allows its experts in procurement, fabrication, and installation to provide design input, weigh production options, and begin procurement and fabrication much earlier than the conventional approach allows. This shortens the project lifecycle by months.

Haskell’s aggressive application of technology in every stage of steel production also sets it apart.

Innovative technology and equipment provide Haskell Steel the ability to punch well above its weight class. Robotic manufacturing and 3D design tools improve safety and quality by automating steps of the fabrication process; this has the benefit of both reducing the team’s exposure to hazards and providing precision beyond the capabilities of manual operations.

While the improvements to efficiency are important, the ability to provide Haskell Steel craftsmen with a safe working environment elevates morale and is core to Haskell’s philosophy of providing team members with the best job of their life. Haskell Steel’s safety record reflects this. In an industry where everything is hot, heavy, and sharp, Haskell Steel boasts an impressive record of zero incidents in more than three years.

Total Steel Service for NCL Terminal B

Nowhere has the breadth and range of Haskell Steel been better displayed than on the recently completed Norwegian Cruise Line Terminal B at PortMiami. Haskell Steel joined conversations early in the creation of the terminal’s iconic curvilinear design and took the lead on the steel design detailing, material procurement, fabrication, logistics, and erection of more than 8,200 tons of steel. Haskell Steel fabricated steel at its own facility, managed a network of thirteen sub-fabricators, centralized procurement, managed the logistics of shipping by road, rail and water, and led erection in the field.

Haskell also is a trusted source of steel and start-to-finish project management for other contractors and owners. It recently delivered for one client five structures totaling 3.3 million square feet of roof area, and while it averages annual production of about 6,000 tons, its integrated design experience and toolset enable it to oversee much larger projects than firms without the breadth of services Haskell provides. Haskell Steel managers benefit from the same training and resources all Haskell managers receive. This provides the team with the tools, training, and support available to a company the size and scale of Haskell without losing the flexibility and nimbleness that smaller companies can provide.

And its capabilities have been certified by the American Institute of Steel Construction continuously since achieving the designation in 2009.

“It’s a rigorously audited quality program,” Plante said. “AISC sets the standard for quality in our industry. The AISC certification means a fabricator strictly adheres to the best industry practices. Every year, AISC auditors conduct on-site inspections of our complete operation, measuring quality, safety, training and management practices. AISC certification requires us to continuously improve and keep our saw sharp.”

Adding Stainless Steel Expertise

In Spring 2022, Haskell acquired Ocoee, Florida-based Cortez Incorporated, a mechanical and process contractor with more than 50 employees and nearly 100 years of experience in fabrication, installation and maintenance, serving primarily the food and beverage industry.

Cortez expands Haskell’s integrated capabilities to serve its customers with an acuity that has made it the No. 1-ranked Food & Beverage Manufacturing Contractor by Engineering News-Record two of the past three years and one of the top Consumer Packaged Goods service providers in the U.S.

“The acquisition of Cortez expands our toolbox into stainless steel fabrication,” Hollister said. “They're oftentimes contracted by owners directly or by equipment manufacturers, so that will give us a lot of valuable insight into our clients’ needs.”

Haskell Steel’s expertise, technology and collaborative approach can cut months off of your project timeline. Contact the Haskell Steel team to discuss the options.