In today’s construction news, read about how Nippon Steel has already helped U.S. Steel upgrade its facilities since it was acquired in June. On the other hand, Kellen Concepcion witnessed neighborhoods in Iraq that had been destroyed by the war begin to recover. Twenty years later, the former US Marine is the head of Semper Fi Rebar, a California subcontractor founded on the same resilience and building principles.
US Steel and Nippon Steel Present a $14 Billion Domestic Investment Plan
Original Source: US Steel outlines $14B domestic investment plan with Nippon Steel
U.S. Steel and parent firm Nippon Steel aim to invest $14 billion in growth capital over several years.
By 2028, the Pittsburgh steelmaker will invest $11 billion in domestic manufacturing, R&D, and product innovation. The effort will “protect and create” over 100,000 jobs nationally.
The U.S. Steel-Nippon Steel cooperation also prioritizes operational efficiency and cost reduction to fund growth. The Japan-based company’s second-quarter earnings presentation calls for $2.5 billion in annual earnings and synergy gain by 2030.
Since being acquired in June, Nippon Steel has helped U.S. Steel enhance its facilities. The company’s board of directors approved two $300 million projects in September: a slag recycler outside Pittsburgh and hot strip mill renovations in Gary, Indiana.
Nippon Steel’s recent financial report lists a new direct reduction iron facility, blast furnace refurbishment, and electric arc furnace enhancements across U.S. Steel’s sites as future projects. The firms announced a $75 million commitment to establish a premium thread line at U.S. Steel’s Fairfield, Alabama, tubular facility this week.
“These initiatives are already delivering real results,” U.S. Steel CEO Dave Burritt said. We are on a wonderful route to forging American steelmaking’s future.”
The businesses said they identified over 200 initiatives to improve U.S. Steel operations using Nippon Steel’s technology and management resources.
The investment commitments come as tariff uncertainty reduces steel product demand in China, Japan, and other key markets. Nippon Steel’s earnings presentation said equipment concerns and uncertainty raise costs in the US steel market, which is “significantly below” expectations. The business eliminated U.S. Steel from its fiscal year outlook.
The Japanese steelmaker expects an underlying business profit of 680 billion yen ($4.51 billion) for the year ending in March. It fell from 793.7 billion yen in fiscal 2024.
“I am confident that as we continue to combine Nippon Steel’s technological expertise with U.S. Steel’s operations, we will create additional value for stakeholders and see further growth and financial benefits,” Takahiro Mori, Nippon Steel’s representative director and U.S. Steel board chairman, said.
US Steel approves $300M manufacturing investments, JD Fields expands to MD
A US Marine’s Journey to Leadership in Construction
Original Source: From combat zones to worksites: a US Marine’s path to construction leadership
Kellen Concepcion watched war-torn neighborhoods recover in Iraq. Two decades later, the former Marine runs Semper Fi Rebar, a California subcontractor based on resilience and building.
Concepcion’s career and worldview were impacted by his unusual path into building.
His narrative showed Construction Briefing how service veterans may move into civilian employment and how the business can obtain competent labor.
Early life, military service
Hawaii native Concepcion joined the Marine Corps in 2002 after graduating high school. A talented baseball player, he considered community college athletics but opted against it.
“I just didn’t want to do the school thing,” he remarked.
He joined the initial US invasion of Kuwait and Iraq weeks after joining the military.
We passed the departure border two weeks after landing in the Middle East. The conflict began then, he said.
He served three Marine tours over several years. During the Battle of Fallujah, he was in Baghdad and Fusaybah, a Syrian border city.
He remarked, “It was a very tough deployment.”
He also remembers the human component of those tours.
When we went out, my guys carried soccer balls or school materials. We distributed them to street youngsters. We stopped to play with them sometimes. I wanted them to know we could help, he said.
On his third tour, he returned to the city he had patrolled and saw early restoration.
“Seeing where this empty lot was and now there’s a new house with kids running around, it influenced my decision to go into construction,” he added.
Looking for a new goal
Concepcion joined the Ironworkers Union in Hawaii with a family friend after leaving active duty, his first trades experience.
His civilian life was interrupted by another Hawaii Army National Guard deployment to Iraq.
His convoy hit an IED during deployment. He was taken to Germany and then to a Texas military burn facility for burns and lung injury.
He said, “I was there for about three months healing.” “Once they released me, I went home to Hawaii and struggled physically and mentally.”
He moved to California to reset. He worked odd jobs, including at a wholesale shop, before his then-girlfriend, now wife, pushed him to return to the trades.
An ironwork brotherhood
Just the push he needed. Concepcion worked under foremen who became mentors and friends in California.
Concepcion started as a first-period apprentice and became a journeyman after four years.
He found military-style camaraderie along the way.
“They took me in even though I was an outsider from Hawaii and most of the crew spoke Spanish,” he said. “It helped me get out of that little rut.”
The trade culture was familiar.
“It’s a hard trade, knuckleheads talking trash, but I liked it,” he said. “It reminded me of the Marine Corps and Army, everybody having fun but getting the job done.”
This environment made him believe he could do more than farm. Ironworkers’ IMPACT Program Administrator Cindy Quiroz, who specializes in contractor training, taught him business development.
He founded Semper Fi Rebar in 2016 with her help.
Building Semper Fi Rebar
Quiroz reunited with Concepcion and introduced Martinez Steel years later. Concepcion learned while delivering large contracts through Semper Fi Rebar in the Small Business Administration (SBA) mentor-protégé program.
The partnership helped the company land high-profile projects like American Airlines’ terminal redevelopment at Los Angeles International Airport, SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, and the basketball team’s future home, the Intuit Dome. Large contractors like Hensel Phelps, Flatiron, and Largo Concrete worked.
Volunteering to build a home for a disabled Green Beret veteran through the Jared Allen Foundation stood out. “That’s probably one of my favourite projects,” Concepcion said.
Semper Fi works with Martinez but is increasingly bidding projects alone. It is also looking to grow beyond California.
“In the next few years we want to gain a foothold in the Maryland, DC, Virginia area,” he added, saying he had recently spoken with Ironworkers Local 5 in Washington, DC.
Leadership and lessons learned
For Concepcion, the leap from field work to boardrooms has been as much about mindset as competence.
“Walking into these meetings, I’d feel like I didn’t belong. These guys have their college degrees, operating multimillion-dollar firms. At first, I’d just stay silent and let Cindy take the part. But over time, I recognized I do belong at the table.”
That growth came in part from his openness to ask questions and seek advise (whether from his wife, Quiroz or others in the sector), something he believes is not usually expected in construction.
“In the trades, people think you’re supposed to be the alpha male. If you ask questions, you’re not an alpha male anymore,” he explained. “But for me, I’ve never had a problem asking for help. If you don’t inquire, you’ll never learn.”
That candor extended to conversations about his military service.
“I do have PTSD, I do have TBI [traumatic brain injury], but it doesn’t affect me as much as others because I’m able to talk about it,” he said.
The reason? Communication.
This is contagious. After I opened up, my coworkers did too.”
Honor for service, call to action
Concepcion was honored at George Washington’s Mount Vernon Mansion in Virginia during a Purple Heart ceremony in August.
Concepcion was honored at George Washington’s Mount Vernon Mansion in Virginia during a Purple Heart ceremony in August.
A Purple Heart ceremony at George Washington’s Mount Vernon Mansion in Virginia honored Iraq war veteran Concepcion in August.
Honored for his physical and emotional dedication, Concepcion is now building his reputation in construction.
Ironworking gave Concepcion purpose again, not just a trade. “I’m building not just structures, but a future for myself, my family, and other veterans.”
Industry leaders said his story shows veterans’ resiliency in the trades.
He restored his life and is now building careers for others and boosting our business, said Eric Dean, general president of the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental, and Reinforcing Iron Workers.
Concepcion hopes his tale inspires veterans and young workers to participate in the US construction industry, which still needs skilled labor.
“When service members leave, we have trouble transitioning,” he added. But finding the proper work with camaraderie and purpose helps.
Construction has been that for me.”
Summary of today’s construction news
In summary, the investment pledges coincide with a drop in the demand for steel products in China, Japan, and other important markets, which is partly due to tariff uncertainties. According to Nippon Steel’s earnings presentation, the steel market conditions in the United States are “much below” forecasts as a result of equipment problems and increased uncertainty driving up costs. As a result, the company’s fiscal year projection did not include U.S. Steel.
On the other hand, Concepcion, who has been recognized for his mental and physical sacrifice, is currently attempting to establish his reputation in a new field: construction. In light of the ongoing skilled labor crisis in the US construction industry, Concepcion believes his experience will inspire other young workers and veterans that there is a place for them in the field.
