SUGAR LAND, TX -- (Marketwire) -- 08/16/10 -- Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas) -- With development of coal-fired power generation at a standstill and natural gas and renewable development inconsistent, nuclear power could be on the cusp of a renaissance of project development in the U.S. Already, there are proposals for about 86 gigawatts of new generation capacity from nuclear units being developed by utilities in the U.S. As the first wave of projects nears the construction stage, contractors will be tuning up certification programs in the hope of securing contracts in this growing sector. However, the renaissance is in its infancy, as the nation's energy policy direction remains unclear, and the licensing process can be daunting.

One of the companies getting a head start on the competition is Qualico Steel Company Incorporated (Webb, Alabama), which recently was awarded its first structural steel fabrication contract on a nuclear project in the Southeastern U.S. Qualico recently completed a demanding audit and certification process and is now certified to furnish materials under the NQA-1 Program, Levels QL-1, QL-2, QL-3 and QL-4. Qualico Steel is separating itself from the competition. "It's an exciting time for us," says Tom Defnall, vice president of business development for Qualico Steel. "When the nuclear project surge starts, we are going to be ready. This certification puts us in a small, select group of companies that have the capability to deliver fabricated structural steel for these nuclear projects."

For the past 12-plus years, Qualico has been very active in the power industry, with extensive experience in emissions control and new generation projects, but nuclear is a new arena for the company. The certification and audit process is more stringent than what is required for AISC certifications. Steel is tracked, qualified and verified from the melt shop where it was manufactured all the way through the fabrication process via an extensive paper trail. Qualico Steel's quality-assurance process was improved, bringing the fabricator's procedures and quality-assurance manuals up to speed.

In addition to NQA-1 certification, Qualico is AISC certified in the following: Conventional Steel Building Structures, Simple Steel Bridges, Complex Steel Building Structures, and Sophisticated Paint Endorsement.

Qualico Steel is regularly engaged in the fabrication of structural steel, specializing in medium to heavy industrial, infrastructure and power projects. Qualico also fabricates a considerable amount of miscellaneous steel and has machine shop and plate-work fabrication capabilities. Qualico has complete pre-engineered building capabilities, as well as hybrid design/build capabilities.

The company's plants are equipped with the most modern technologies and are staffed with customer-oriented professionals that understand the importance of scheduling, sequencing and on-time deliveries. With fabrication facilities in Memphis, Tennessee; Midlothian, Texas (Dallas area); Montgomery, Alabama; and Webb, Alabama (Dothan area), totaling 13 production bays, Qualico is currently producing and delivering approximately 1,000 tons per week.

For more information contact Tom Defnall, Vice President Business Development for Qualico Steel at tdefnall@qualicosteel.com or call 205-410-1660.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. IIR's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle™, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities. For more information send inquiries to metalsandmineralsgroup@industrialinfo.com or visit us at www.industrialinfo.com.

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