NASCC 2026 — The Steel Conference

Four themes from the structural steel floor

NASCC 2026 wrapped on April 24. Across three days at the Messer Cutting Systems booth (#3127) and the Akyapak USA booth (#2140), four themes came up in almost every conversation with structural steel and plate fabricators.

1. Scale without headcount

Bigger tables, heavier plate, tighter cut quality, and no new bodies on the floor. Automation, tool changers, and self-cleaning tables drove the question.

2. Multi-process on one table

Plasma, oxyfuel, and drilling and tapping on a single machine is getting real attention now. Three years ago almost nobody asked. This week, a lot of shops did. Messer pioneered this type of machine and has been building it for years.

3. Structural and plate as one purchase

CNC drilling, beveling, and plate processing are being treated as one integrated investment, not two separate buys. Cross-shop workflows are driving it.

4. Large format laser

The ability to bring laser quality and speed to structural cutting kept coming up. ACM carries multiple options on the laser side for shops looking at this seriously.

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If any of these match what your shop is planning, our team in Cambridge, Ontario handles the full Messer, Akyapak, Prodevco, and Han's Laser lineups across Canada, from quote through install through parts and service.

Email [email protected] or call 905-581-1191 ext. 1.