WARREN — After nearly five decades as a structural steel fabricator at the corner of Burton Street and Pine Avenue, Livi Steel Inc. is introducing a rebrand and new website to highlight its expanded capabilities.

The third-generation, family-owned company, situated across from Kimberly-Clark Corp.’s new $800 million paper manufacturing plant, attributes the timing to recent success and internal upgrades.

“We’ve seen a lot of growth in sales and are making changes to better serve that growth,” said Angela Arnold, the company’s chief financial officer and chief people officer.

The rebrand communicates to customers and the Warren community that Livi Steel can handle larger and more complex projects, supported by new equipment like the PythonX machine and PeddiAssembler.

This has enabled work on Amazon facilities, a prison and components for the Kimberly-Clark project via local and out-of-state contractors.

Ashley Morrow, who manages human resources, grants, office operations and serves as designated employee representative, explained the internal evolution leading to the changes.

“At one point, we were still kind of like stone and chisel, then we started getting newer machines. That’s when we started upskilling people, but all the changes we made were very internal so the outside world didn’t know that Livi Steel was in the 21st century, and they didn’t know we could take on bigger jobs or more jobs at a time,” she said.

“Now we’ve got four or five Amazon projects, which again, is very different for us,” Morrow said.

“And now that we have the PythonX … and a PeddiAssembler, which is amazing, we’re able to do not only a lot bigger projects, like some more tonnage, but we’re able to do more intricate projects that we weren’t able to do before.

“Just because with the small staff we have, we didn’t really have the time to be doing pipe or doing different calculations for certain kinds of pieces. So now the machines are doing that for us.”

The PythonX is a robotic plasma-cutting system and the PeddiAssembler is a newer robotic welding machine that came about in the late 2010s. Both are tools to help companies like Livi Steel automate and enhance precision in structural steel production.

Morrow, who joined six years ago as an assistant to her mother, Arnold, talked about their partnerships with local organizations like Flying High Inc., Trumbull Career and Technical Center, and others extend beyond financial support to include student training on actual Livi Steel products.

“They can actually weld products and fit products that are going to go into a real world building. So when they get their certificate, they don’t just have the education part of it. They actually have hands-on knowledge and experience that they can apply if they go get a job wherever, whether it’s here or another manufacturer,” she said.

Brian Goldmire, transitioning from estimating to project management, described his focus on coordination.

“My role and responsibility is to try and streamline all of the different moving parts, also ensuring we all work as a team to complete each project,” he said.

Upgrading communications is where Goldmire sets much of his focus during the rebrand.

“The only culture change that I am trying to achieve is improving communication from our shop to site and everywhere in between,” Goldmire said. “Making sure everyone is on the same page” is the hardest part of turning client ideas into buildable plans.

On managing material costs amid market volatility, Goldmire said, “With the constant market fluctuations, you just need to stay focused on the project time lines. Set maximum time frames so the customer understands the market. If they miss the time line, then the pricing will potentially change.”

What Arnold didn’t want to be lost in the modernization was their family atmosphere.

“We are still small in numbers, so with an open- door policy, every employee knows where my office is and they see me out in our shop. They know me and know they can talk to me any time,” she said.

She balances profitability and employee care by “remembering there’s not one without the other.

“You need to do what you can when you can for both (business and employees),” she said.

Some adjustments included more mental and physical health days, flexible paid time off, and morale booster type events like pizza parties.

“It’s more just like let’s have a good time. It’s work, but it doesn’t have to be stressful and boring,” Morrow said. “It’s a win, win for all of us.”

The company operates in a socially and economically disadvantaged area, which Morrow said presents challenges like health disparities, poverty, low educational attainment, poor infrastructure, housing insecurity, and environmental harms. However, it also offers opportunities to support the community, local schools, nonprofits, and groups like the Youngstown / Warren Regional Chamber and Mahoning Valley Manufacturers Coalition.

Remaining in Warren is central to Livi Steel’s identity.

“It is very important. We are growing, the city is growing, the Voltage Valley is having a resurgence and is growing!” Arnold said.

Morrow and Arnold pointed toward some goals for the future that included improving communication and response times, exploring artificial intelligence software for manufacturing, and securing grants for equipment like a plasma table.

Arnold summarized her priorities are, “To remove any redundancies and streamline any processes that we can. To improve communication and response time to our customers, vendors, and employees,” she said.

Morrow credited collaboration for their recent success.

“We’ve been able to flourish as much as we have in the last two years because of our connections, especially with MVMC and Flying High,” she said. “I hope other manufacturers realize that partnering isn’t a bad thing. … It helps you grow, learn, find grants, and find employees.”

For the future of steel fabrication, Goldmire said, “Adapt. You have to be able to adapt to whatever comes at you.”