Top 4 Reasons to Weld at Westfield Steel
Welding is considered a “hot job” because it involves fire and spark producing tools. It’s also one of the hottest hot jobs in the steel industry. According to Jack Laudig, lead certified welding inspector at Westfield Steel, “More people should consider welding as a career path. It is a trade that really combines artistry and technical expertise. And nationwide, there’s a 500,000 person shortage in welding.” In this post, we’ll explore why you should consider a career in welding at Westfield Steel.
- You can level up at Westfield Steel. Some welders learn the basics of welding on the job, and many welders have completed a basic welding training program (at a trade school or community college) where they must pass written and skills testing. Welders who are doing structural fabrication at Westfield Steel must be certified in every type of weld they make. Once our welders have reviewed the written procedure for making the weld, they must demonstrate the weld, and it must be checked by a certified welding inspector (like Jack Laudig). Welding here definitely comes with bragging rights.
- You are part of something special at Westfield Steel. “I’ve worked for this company for 22 years, and that’s not an unusual tenure around here,” said Laudig. “Our people just don’t leave. This company really is a family, and everyone has a say in what we do and how we do it. Your opinion is heard and respected around here. The company is flexible with people when they have family issues arise, and long-time employees (which is most of us) are honored at company events.”
- You get variety and cool projects at Westfield Steel. We do a lot of small to medium structural fabrication and a lot of steel beams and rebar welding. In Terre Haute, we build material handling tables for the automotive industry. We are currently installing the pneumatic controls that make the tables rotate and tilt to allow for easier access in the manufacturing facilities.
- There is always something happening at Westfield Steel. Westfield Steel is on the brink of becoming one of very few steel fabrication companies in Indiana to be certified in ballistic welding, which means we will be creating welding procedures for armored personnel vehicles. It has been a costly and long procedure, but we are committed to expanding our capabilities and serving new markets.
Whether you are a ROMF or green horn, there’s a reason to become a welder at Westfield Steel. If you want to learn more about working for Westfield Steel, visit our careers page. And if the steel-toe shoe fits, apply today.
About Westfield Steel
Westfield Steel has a deeply-rooted midwestern history. They were founded in 1977 as a family-owned company, which has grown over the years to encompass not just steel fabrication, but also distribution and light manufacturing. Its distribution arm, Westfield Steel Express, is an authorized-for-hire common carrier that provides affordable, on-time delivery for a wide range of cargo, including lumber, cement, steel coils, heavy equipment and building materials.
Westfield Steel’s industry affiliations include: The Metals Service Center Institute (MSCI), the North American Steel Alliance (NASA), the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI), the Indiana Fabricators Association (IFA), the American Welding Society (AWS), the Canadian Welding Bureau (CWB) and the Ohio Structural Steel and Architectural Metals Association (OSA.)
