Historical Timeline

70 Years of History

Steel, LLC began as a small subsidiary company in Virginia in 1947. Each decade as U.S. commerce and populations grew, Steel helped change the nation’s landscape to reflect that growth. Our employees’ creativity, expertise, and dedication can be seen in many of America’s hallmark buildings that continue to be treasured and utilized by generations from around the world.

We were pleased to make great strides right alongside America over these past 70+ years, and we owe our success to your partnerships. Here’s a look at yesterday, today, and tomorrow in the world of Steel.

  • 1942

    1942

    America creates its first programmable computer and Pan American Airlines conducts the first flight around the world.

  • 1947

    Steel LLC timeline logo

    Steel Inc. develops as a subsidiary of Bristol Steel in Bristol, Virginia.

  • 1950

    1950

    Charles Schulz’s Peanuts cartoon strip and the first modern credit card are introduced.

  • 1950s

    Steel’s principal figure Karl Kranig grows the company from a detailing service to a medium-size structural steel fabricator.

  • 1954

    Steve Allen

    NBC debuts the first late-night talk show: The Tonight Show

  • 1960s

    Steel expands its offerings and begins fabricating schools, retail buildings, and light industrial structures.

  • 1963

    Karl Kranig becomes sole owner and CEO by buying out Bristol Steel; Gene Holloway becomes Steel’s President.

  • 1967

    The Super Bowl debuts in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum; the Green Bay Packers play the Kansas City Chiefs and take home the first victory, 35-10.

  • Late 1960s

    Steel completes several marquee projects including Phipps Plaza (upscale mall), Phase 1, World Congress Center (½ million sq. ft.), the CNN building (formerly Omni).

  • 1969

    Neil Armstrong becomes the first man to walk on the moon…we wonder how many Steel-made structures he could see from space.

  • 1970s

    Heavy steel and industrial markets engage Steel to build structures such as power plants and an airport terminal/concourse.

  • 1972

    The first pocket calculators are introduced and a year later in 1973, Martin Cooper of Motorola places the first mobile phone call.

  • 1981

    MTV debuts in the United States.

  • 1986

    At 86 years old, Karl Kranig sells Steel, Inc to internal employees Gene Holloway, Jim Newton, Skip Burdette, and Dan Williams.

  • 1989

    America’s favorite pastime expands into the evening hours when Wrigley Field in Chicago adds lights for night games to its Major League Baseball Park.

  • 1991

    Steel’s new owners fully repay the loan for the company’s acquisition in just five short years due to bustling projects including the Delta Airlines Technical Operations Center.

  • 1999

    The world fears a Y2K (year 2000) bug will render computers inoperable at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve.

  • 2001

    The World Trade Center and the Pentagon become terrorist targets, prompting added considerations in building design and further reinforced construction.

  • 2004

    Steel LLC timeline logo

    Steel Fabricators, Steel Inc, Lyndon Steel, and Fabco Metal Products united to form FabSouth. These four entities collectively maintained their brand and market what Steel, LLC is today.

  • 2003-2006

    Social media changes the way people communicate with businesses and each other.

  • 2010

    Canam purchases FabSouth and becomes the largest steel contracting company in North America.

  • 2014

    With hundreds of structures attributed to its name, Steel LLC continues to design-build and design-assist with structures across the nation.