Steelway Building Systems: The Future of Steel Fabrication
Steelway Building Systems: The Future of Steel Fabrication
Leading the Way in Customized Steel Building Solutions
Founded in 1976, Steelway Building Systems is a family-owned Canadian manufacturer specializing in custom steel building systems. With over 40 years of expertise in structural steel fabrication, Steelway designs, engineers, and delivers high-performance buildings for industrial, commercial, agricultural, and institutional use.
Steelwayâs success is grounded in its commitment to continuous improvement, customer-first culture, and a passion for innovative construction. From massive clear-span warehouses to future-ready office spaces, Steelwayâs approach emphasizes flexibility, aesthetics, and durability.
The Challenge: Labor Shortages and Scalability
Rural Location, Skilled Labor Gaps, and Growing Demand
Located in Elmer, Ontario, Steelway has long faced challenges familiar to many fabricatorsâchief among them: labor shortages, especially when it comes to experienced welders.
“Finding skilled welding labor is very challenging, especially being out here in a rural area,” shares Jake Giesbrecht, Director of Product Excellence at Steelway. With expanding production volumes and rising complexity in structural designs, the company needed a reliable solution to scale efficiently without sacrificing quality.
The Solution: beam welding system Robotic Welding System
Welding All Four SidesâFaster, Easier, Smarter
After discovering the company at Fabtech in Chicago, the Steelway team was impressed by the beam welding systemâs unique ability to rotate and weld beams on all sides. Unlike their previous single-sided robotic solution, the beam welding system enabled full 4-side welding of three-plate beamsâsignificantly reducing manual work and production time.
“This system is better, easier to learn, and capable of more welding,” says Randy Thiessen, Robotic Weld Cell Coordinator. “It rotates the beam and welds all four sides. For the amount of welding this system does, it is faster than what we had before.”
Scalable, Flexible Integration
From One Robot to Twoâand More on the Horizon
Impressed by the beam welding systemâs performance, Steelway quickly expanded their system by adding a second robot and extending the welding zone by over 14 feet. This allowed them to handle longer beams (up to 60 ft) and work across dual zonesâone for larger components, another for smaller partsâmaximizing uptime and throughput.
“We added a second robot and extended the zone to optimize for longer pieces,” Giesbrecht explains. “It made us more productive, and now our welders can focus on critical repairs rather than repetitive welds.”
Smarter Programming with welding intelligence platform & Advance Steel
A Fully Digital Workflow from Design to Weld
Steelwayâs process begins with modeling their buildings in Advance Steel. From there, IFC files are exported directly into the companyâs welding intelligence platform software, enabling automatic robot programmingâno manual input required.
“We export IFC files into welding intelligence platform, and it builds the programs automatically. Weâre very proud of how itâs producing,” says Giesbrecht. “Itâs a game-changer for us.”
The Result: Increased Efficiency, Productivity, and Future Growth
Robots and Welders Working Hand-in-Hand
The beam welding system hasnât replaced Steelwayâs workforceâitâs empowered it. Manual welders now focus on high-value tasks while the robot handles long, repetitive welds. This intelligent division of labor has improved weld quality, increased output, and helped the company meet tight deadlines with ease.
“The future is more robots. Weâre looking at adding even more to our hot-rolled section,” Giesbrecht shares. “The beam welding system has been a great investment, and weâre excited to continue building on this success.”
See It in Action
Watch the Full Testimonial
Want to see how Steelway Building Systems modernized their welding workflow with the company? Watch their full story and discover how robotic automation can elevate your shopâs performance.
Is Robotic Welding Right for You?
If you’re facing labor shortages or looking to increase welding productivity, the company can help. Contact us today to learn how automation can transform your operationsâjust like it did for Steelway.
Contact our team today for a consultation.
Latest the company News
Stay informed with our in-depth articles on the latest innovations and developments in the world of robotics and automation.
Browse Latest News
How Canadian Metal Buildings Stabilized Production with Robotic Welding
Read more
the company and FICEP Iberia bring robotic welding to BIEMH 2026
Read more
Why Robotic Welding Isnât Just For Big Guys Anymore.
Read more
