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Metal Building Manufacturer Upgrades Manufacturing Equipment >> Brinnon Fire Hall Press Release >> October 18, 2001 Local firm takes on big steel Arlington's HCI Steel Building Systems has built a global market for pre-engineered metal structures. Joe Holden, president of HCI Steel Building Systems, uses high-tech equipment like this computerized steel cutter to build pre-engineered steel buildings that range from three-story office buildings to hangars that can swallow up a Boeing 747 jet. The modest size of HCI Steel Building Systems efficient manufacturing facility in Arlington belies its stature in the world of pre-engineered steel structures, a global market dominated by multinational corporations. That kind of competitive challenge doesn’t faze Joe Holden and Lee McDaniel, co-founders of the company 20 years ago in Anchorage. It just makes them work smarter. "We just spent close to $3 million on outfitting and retrofitting our shop technology, an investment to increase our sales volume. We re focusing on partnering with contractors who will be our exclusive selling agents in various parts of the United States, Canada, the Pacific Rim, China and Russia," said Holden, the company’s president. That’s a big attitude for a growing Arlington company with 80 employees. But HCI already has projects in many parts of the world and Holden has visited China several times in pursuit of new business. America’s economic slowdown is being felt at the plant but orders continue to flow. Although the privately-held company doesn’t release specific financial information, Holden predicted HCI would grow revenues at around 15 percent annually for the next several years. "We re bidding a job in China now," he said. "Unfortunately, there’s now a 27 percent duty to bring our products into China. In the early- to mid-90s, we were able to sell more easily into free trade zones in that country. But a billion-plus population of industrious people is still quite a market. And they re just starting to develop their economy." Holden expects the company to be more involved in power generation projects in the Western United States and Pacific countries. HCI will also be pursuing "projects in the Alaska and Alberta oil and gas industry, which are on the grow right now," Holden said. HCI continues to operate an office in Anchorage, building on two decades of work in that state. In addition to current projects, including a 135-foot-high petroleum coke storage building with a 240-foot clear span design for a California refinery, HCI is advancing into a new market niche it s been developing -- computer-designed multi-storied steel buildings that feature the best of both pre-engineered and traditional structural steel construction techniques. "Other companies have tried (small scale) multi-story steel buildings but couldn t make a profit at it. We ve figured out how to do that," said customer service executive Ron Kowalski. In September, HCI finished its first multi-story project: a three-floor, 30,000-square-foot Bellingham office built by Dawson Construction near Interstate 5 s Exit 252. The $2.6 million facility features split-face block on the ground floor and traditional red brick for the upper levels. Dawson has moved its headquarters into the building and leased the other two floors to Western Washington University. HCI Steel Building Systems second multi-story project is part of a mini-storage operation in Burlington, expected to be completed in November. "We work a lot with design/build teams," Kowalski said. "We re a partner in the work, providing stamped engineering drawings approved for each local project jurisdiction and delivering the steel for a very high quality building." Photo courtesy of HCI Steel Building Systems Sophisticated equipment like this computer-driven steel cutter turn out precisely cut pre-engineered steel pieces for HCI’s global projects. HCI is particularly noted for its open web truss systems that offer design flexibility for large clear-span buildings that need unobstructed floor space, such as aircraft hangars and indoor stadiums. Its products also include ribbed steel siding and roofs that can be used with brick facing to create a variety of architectural designs, he said. The company’s WeatherSpan interlocking panels provide roofs with no fastener penetration, eliminating a common source of water leakage. Much of the company’s work comes from referrals and those who have heard about its reputation for quality products. That kind of word-of-mouth promotion began traveling at hurricane speed when Iniki roared through the Hawaiian Islands in 1992. "We had just finished building an 83-foot-high performing arts center in Puhi, Kauai. The hurricane never damaged it," Holden said. "But other structures in the area were destroyed. Ours was the only one in the area left standing." When word of that got around, HCI landed contracts to re-roof every school on the island and build 16 new buildings. Holden said the firm has also built a dozen churches in Guam, where winds can reach 175 miles per hour during the hurricane season. Guam has the dubious distinction of recording the highest winds in the world, topping out at 236 miles per hour. The company’s success comes from working with both quality steel and quality workers, Holden said. Because efficiency is also a key ingredient in success, one of HCI’s newest pieces of equipment is a computer-controlled processor of large, long steel sheets. Rather than moving the welding gantry along the plates, a series of rollers moves the steel through the welding station where beams are formed and parts such as sheer plates are precisely cut out by super-heated plasma torches. "We use only the top grade steel and sophisticated equipment to produce precision beams and parts that fit together smoothly," Holden said. "When a contractor is working 100 feet in the air assembling steel and pieces don t fit together he can get awful grouchy on the phone. We like to avoid that." For more information, contact HCI Steel Building Systems, 18520 67th Ave. N.E., Arlington 98223, (360) 435-8871 or (800) 255-6788. The company’s Web site is www.hcisteel.com. TOP

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