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North Alabama has a rich metalworking history dating back to the small iron furnaces in the early 1800’s. Through the years, technologically advanced components and parts have been manufactured and fabricated here.  Products include the Apollo rockets that sent man to the moon as well as the space station components that ensure the long-term survival of the world’s astronauts in space. North Alabamians are historically characterized by their strong work ethic and values. Our metalworking companies are producing products with world-class workmanship and precision. Due in part to our heritage in metalworking, many of today’s world-class metalworking companies call North Alabama home. These companies are flourishing in North Alabama and the overall business environment that attracted their investment still exists today.

Today, Alabama is one of only three states with more than 10 metalworking training programs certified by the National Institute for Metalworking Skills Inc. (NIMS). Of the state’s 15 certified programs, eight are located in North Alabama as follows:

Allen Thornton Career Technical Center
Austin High School
Calhoun Community College
Cullman Area Vocational Center
Ernest Pruett Center of Technology
Huntsville Center for Technology
Limestone County Career Technical Center
Madison County Career Academy

Recent Metalworking expansions in North Alabama include the following:

• Nucor Steel’s announcement of the addition of a galvanizing line in 2006.
• Axsys Technologies’ 2004 expansion to produce the unpolished mirror segments for the James Webb Space Telescope, the nation’s next generation space telescope and successor to the Hubble.

Resources:

	Existing Industries
	Tool & Die and Moldmakers

Links:

• Aerospace Companies
• Automotive Companies