Welcome to this episode of The New Warehouse Podcast, where Kevin Lawton speaks with Jonathan Miles of Nucor Warehouse Systems live from MODEX 2026. Nucor Warehouse Systems designs, fabricates, and supplies warehouse racking systems, ASRS solutions, rack-supported buildings, and other engineered storage infrastructure that support modern distribution operations.

Miles shares how Nucor is investing in automation while supporting customers with engineered warehouse solutions. The discussion also highlights Nucor’s vertically integrated steel production model and the growing importance of recycled steel in the supply chain.

Automation Growth Starts with Infrastructure

Automation may dominate conversations at MODEX, but the systems that support it remain critical to long-term warehouse performance. Miles explains that demand for automated storage and retrieval systems continues to rise as companies look for greater consistency, scalability, and operational efficiency. As Miles states, “I would say there’s an uptick in demand in automated storage and retrieval systems.”

Nucor Warehouse Systems supports those projects through racking systems, rack-supported buildings, and engineered warehouse solutions. The company is also expanding its engineering capabilities to support customers earlier in the design process. Miles explains, “We want to provide more engineered solutions to the market. We’re building up a strong engineering team and design team to take some of those resources  in-house and offer better solutions to end users.”

That investment extends internally as well. Nucor is adding 425,000 square feet of automated capacity at a new facility in Georgia. Safety remains a major driver behind that investment. Miles shares, “Any opportunity to remove a teammate’s hands from material is gonna help us on that journey to, you know, no recordables in our facilities.”

Cold Storage Automation Continues to Expand

Cold storage and refrigerated warehousing remain major growth areas for warehouse automation. According to Miles, automation has become deeply integrated within refrigerated environments due to labor demands and operational complexity. He explains, “Refrigeration really is almost all automated.”

The discussion highlights how automated guided vehicles, shuttle systems, and rack-supported insulated panel systems are becoming standard in refrigerated facilities. Nucor showcased insulated panel solutions mounted directly on racking systems at MODEX to demonstrate how warehouse infrastructure and automation increasingly work together. Miles also notes that food and beverage remains a stable investment area for operators. As he explains, “Food and beverage is a pretty solid spend every year from an end user perspective.”

Sustainability Remains Part of the Supply Chain Story

Sustainability has become a larger part of warehouse investment decisions, especially among enterprise customers seeking supply chain visibility. Nucor’s vertically integrated steel production model gives the company a unique position in that conversation. Miles explains, “One of the big differences with Nucor is we’re vertically integrated. So we recycle about 20 million tons of steel a year.”

The company produces approximately 25 million tons of steel annually, much of it sourced from recycled materials such as scrap vehicles and appliances. Miles explains, “We’re able to tell a sustainability story because we know exactly where that scrap came from.” The sustainability discussion also ties directly to the longevity of warehouse infrastructure. As Miles puts it, “Steel is almost endlessly recyclable.”

Key Takeaways

• Nucor Warehouse Systems is adding 425,000 square feet of automated capacity at its new Georgia facility
• Automated storage and retrieval systems continue to see increased demand across warehousing operations
• Safety is a major automation driver, especially for reducing hand injuries during material handling
• Refrigerated warehousing has become heavily automated with AGVs and shuttle systems
• Food and beverage remains a consistent investment area for warehouse automation