Together With

The pipe fabrication operation reached capacity faster than expected and is already preparing for major workforce and facility growth in Jefferson County.

By The Jefferson Review Staff

The company specializes in large-scale pipe fitting and fabrication for major projects across the country. Inside the Cedar Hill shop, the production floor has been arranged as an efficient assembly line.

Raw materials enter the facility before workers prepare flanges by grinding bevels, removing paint, and cleaning the metal. Fitters position and tack the pieces together on stands before moving them to the welding area.

After the major welds are completed and cooled, workers apply a protective coating to prevent rust and corrosion. The ends of the pipes are then covered to protect the interior during transportation, and the finished products are staged for shipment.

Since beginning operations in Cedar Hill in mid-May, the facility has already processed and shipped an estimated 30 to 40 tractor-trailer loads of fabricated pipe. Much of the current work is connected to major construction projects, including data centers, but company leaders said products fabricated in Cedar Hill are being sent to projects throughout the United States.

Harry Dunsford, president of Icon Mechanical, said the company moved from acquiring the property to operating a fully functioning fabrication shop in approximately three months.

“In a short three-month period, we went from basically acquiring this place to a full-blown operation here,” Dunsford said. “Fabrication from here is going across the country.”

The company’s growth has happened even faster than leadership initially expected.

“I knew we’d get to capacity quick,” Dunsford said. “I didn’t expect us to get to capacity this quick, which is really great.”

That rapid success is already pushing Icon Mechanical to consider its next move.

The Cedar Hill shop currently employs approximately 30 people. Company representatives said they expect the workforce to grow to 50 or more by the end of the summer, with a longer-term goal of reaching approximately 100 employees by this time next year.

Dunsford said company leaders are already scouting additional properties for a larger operation. Icon Mechanical is considering greenfield sites that could accommodate a purpose-built facility of approximately 100,000 to 150,000 square feet.

A custom-built location would provide the reinforced floors, overhead cranes, production space, and outdoor storage areas required for heavy fabrication work. Retrofitting an existing building for that type of operation can require extensive concrete reinforcement and other costly improvements.

For Dunsford, the company’s investment also has a personal connection. He told those attending the ceremony that he lives in Imperial, making the Cedar Hill operation an opportunity to grow Icon Mechanical in his own community.

“It is pretty awesome to have the shop right here, kind of in our backyard,” Dunsford said.

Jefferson County Executive Dennis Gannon said the facility is connecting local residents with skilled employment while also attracting additional families to the county.

“These workers who you just took a picture of, about 60 percent live in Jefferson County,” Gannon said. “Ten percent said they were moving to Jefferson County, and all of them are working in Jefferson County.”

Gannon noted that the building had been empty when he drove past it approximately a year ago. Today, it is operating near capacity and supporting a growing workforce.

For employees, the location can mean more than a shorter commute.

Specialized welding, pipe fitting, and fabrication work often requires tradespeople to travel long distances or spend extended periods working outside the region. A major industrial employer in Cedar Hill gives Jefferson County workers the opportunity to earn strong wages and develop specialized skills while remaining close to their families.

Instead of driving into another county each day or leaving Missouri for extended assignments, workers can build careers while still returning home at night.

Icon Mechanical is working with local welding schools and Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 562 to recruit, train, and connect workers with skilled career opportunities.

Scott Ramshaw, business agent for Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 562, attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony and expressed excitement about the opportunities Icon Mechanical could create for union tradespeople, future apprentices, and Jefferson County families.

The relationship provides a potential pathway for students to move from technical education into apprenticeships, full-time employment, and long-term careers in the skilled trades. It also gives experienced pipefitters and welders additional opportunities to earn strong wages closer to home.

Dunsford credited Cedar Hill shop superintendent Dustin Cauble with helping recruit workers, staff the shop, and bring the operation to full production so quickly.

“I attribute a lot of the way we got off the ground so quickly to him, recruiting out of welding schools, manning the shop, and helping run operations,” Dunsford said.

Dunsford said Icon Mechanical has received a positive reception since arriving in Cedar Hill and has not struggled to attract workers.

“I don’t think we’ve had any issues finding people to come work for us,” Dunsford said. “We’re recruiting out of local welding schools, giving people an opportunity not just to go to work, but to see the other opportunities that are out there.”

Icon Mechanical has work underway in 27 states and a substantial backlog of secured projects. Employees who want to remain local may be able to establish careers in the fabrication shop, while those interested in traveling could eventually pursue opportunities at project sites across the country.

Josh Williams, a candidate for Jefferson County Council District 7 who helped arrange Monday’s interview, said businesses like Icon Mechanical can strengthen the county’s economy while generating revenue needed to support public services.

“We need good economic development and good jobs in Jefferson County,” Williams said. “That increases our tax base and helps support the services we have here that are struggling.”

Williams specifically pointed to fire protection and emergency medical services as areas that could benefit from a stronger commercial and industrial tax base.

He also emphasized that industrial growth should be handled responsibly, with appropriate locations, development standards, and protections for surrounding property owners.

“We can bring manufacturing and industrial businesses into Jefferson County, but we also have to be mindful of where we put them and make sure the right guardrails are in place to protect our communities,” Williams said.

The economic impact extends beyond the fabrication shop. Employees purchase meals, fuel vehicles, shop locally, and may eventually buy homes in the area. The company also relies on nearby suppliers and service providers, creating additional economic activity throughout the community.

For Icon Mechanical, the ribbon cutting marked less of a beginning than a milestone in an operation that has already moved quickly from an empty building to a busy production floor.

With the shop near capacity, hiring underway, and expansion plans already being discussed, the company’s arrival could represent the beginning of a much larger investment in Jefferson County — one measured not only in square footage and truckloads, but in careers built, families strengthened, and skilled workers able to come home at the end of the day.