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Supporting the Data Center Industry Boom With Custom Metal Components

Data centers are driving one of the biggest manufacturing booms our nation has seen in years. As businesses and individuals lean further into AI and cloud computing, global data center capacity is expected to double by 2030, with nearly 100 gigawatts of new capacity coming online.

Most headlines focus on the technology inside these facilities. Less visible is the physical infrastructure that makes it all possible. From cooling systems to backup generators to server infrastructure, all of it relies on enclosures, racks, control cabinets, and other precision sheet metal components.

Nu-Way Industries has been fabricating these types of components for decades. As demand for data center infrastructure accelerates, that experience matters.

Where Nu-Way Fits in the Supply Chain

Nu-Way Industries plays a role in the data center supply chain, even if our name never appears on the finished equipment inside those buildings. Instead, our company supports the tier-one suppliers responsible for delivering the systems that power and protect modern data centers.

Those companies design and integrate everything from server infrastructure to cooling equipment and backup power systems. To manufacture those systems at scale, they rely on fabrication partners capable of producing the custom metal components that support their designs.

As a precision metal fabrication partner, Nu-Way works behind the scenes to help those suppliers deliver reliable systems while keeping demanding project timelines on track. In many cases, these suppliers need fabrication partners who can quote quickly and keep production moving without delay.

What Nu-Way Fabricates for The Data Center Industry

While the components used in data center infrastructure vary widely, they share a common set of requirements: precision, durability, and reliable production at scale. 

data center

At Nu-Way, we fabricate a range of custom metal components for tier one suppliers, including:

  • – Server racks and enclosures
  • – Control cabinets
  • – Generator enclosures and housings
  • – Heavy base weldments for backup generators, designed for forklift placement onto concrete pads

And because everything is handled under one roof, these aren’t partial assemblies waiting on additional components or processing steps from other vendors. With precision sheet metal forming, welding, powder coating, and electromechanical assembly all in-house, our team delivers finished components ready for integration, helping suppliers streamline their own production processes.

Why Nu-Way Is Built for This Moment

The data center boom may be new, but many of the components it relies on are not. Nu-Way has spent decades fabricating enclosures, racks, and control cabinets for industries that laid the groundwork for today’s infrastructure, including telecom, power generation, and server systems.

That history has practical value. After years of working across these industries, Nu-Way’s team has seen countless design configurations. That experience allows us to fabricate to exact specifications or recommend alternatives that achieve the same result at lower cost. When a supplier needs to scale from prototype to hundreds or thousands of units, the capacity is already in place.

If you’re looking for a precision metal fabrication partner who understands the data center industry, Nu-Way is ready to help. Reach out to discuss your next project.

Michael Westbrook: Leading with Process, Partnership, and Performance

On November 4, 2024, Nu-Way Industries began operating out of its new Elk Grove facility. The move was still in progress. Equipment hadn’t fully settled, assembly areas were unfinished, and teams were working through the disruption that comes with any relocation.

Then a customer called with an urgent, same-day parts request.

For Chief Operating Officer Michael Westbrook, that answer wasn’t complicated. The team delivered. 

Moments like this represent the baseline expectations of a reliable manufacturing operation. “First and foremost, you’ve got to deliver quality parts, and you have to deliver them on time,” Westbrook said. “Those are not requests. They’re requirements. Anything beyond that? That’s where the partnership comes in.”

This mindset of steady execution first, improvement second has defined Westbrook’s leadership throughout a year of significant transition for the company. 

Steady Leadership in Times of Change

Over the past year, Nu-Way navigated both a major facility relocation and leadership transitions following the passing of senior partner and President, Steve Southwell. Through all these changes, the priority remained clear: protect customer commitments while stabilizing internal operations. 

Westbrook’s approach was straightforward: keep communication open, remove process bottlenecks, and make sure teams had what they needed to perform. 

The results were tangible. Lead times that stretched to 10 to 12 weeks during the move were reduced to four to six weeks, with many sheet metal fabrication jobs now trending under four weeks, depending on complexity.

For Westbrook, improvements like these aren’t driven by quick fixes. They reflect a disciplined focus on understanding process flow, identifying breakdowns, and strengthening systems so performance becomes repeatable. The emphasis is always on addressing root causes rather than symptoms, a philosophy that reinforces accountability and long-term reliability. 

Built from the Shop Floor Up

Westbrook’s perspective was shaped long before the executive office.

He began working in manufacturing while still in high school and earned a degree in Industrial Engineering while working second shift as a manufacturing engineer. After graduation, he spent 17 years with another manufacturer, advancing through operations leadership roles and ultimately serving as Vice President of Operations.

When he joined Nu-Way in 2011 as Director of Operational Excellence, he brought both technical expertise and hands-on credibility. Over time, he led materials, operations, and continuous improvement initiatives before being named Chief Operating Officer.

Working across functions gave him a systems-level view of the business. “[Nu-Way’s President, Mary Howard] knew that I understood how it all connects, how it all flows,” Westbrook said. “If I understand that and put the right team in place, and we keep working on improving those flows, things will get better.”

A Process-First Leadership Style

Westbrook doesn’t describe himself as a top-down leader. Instead, he focuses on building strong teams and creating clear, repeatable processes.

Rather than dictating solutions, Westbrook empowers people closest to the work to solve problems and continuously improve. When something goes wrong, his approach is to examine the process first. “Let’s work through it. Why did this occur? Where is the process breaking down?” he said. “I always start with a process issue.”

It’s a pragmatic philosophy rooted in accountability and trust, not quick wins or short-term fixes.

Redefining the Customer Relationship

Beyond operations, Westbrook is equally focused on how Nu-Way engages with customers. He draws a clear distinction between transactional relationships and true partnerships.

“I start off conversations with existing customers and potential new ones with the desire to create partnerships,” he said. “Keep in mind there’s a big difference between a customer and a partner. A customer buys things from you. A partner is in this together with you.”

Under his leadership, Nu-Way increasingly engages earlier in the product lifecycle, collaborating with customers on design for manufacturability, cost optimization, and lead-time reduction. The goal is to contribute expertise, not simply production capacity.

Looking Ahead

As manufacturing becomes more data-driven, Westbrook is guiding investments in upgraded business systems and analytics tools that provide faster visibility into performance and enable quicker decisions.

“Businesses are run by numbers,” Westbrook said. “The better and quicker you can get to that information, the better off you’re going to be.”

It’s the same principle that has guided his career: understand the process, improve the flow, and deliver consistently.

If you’re evaluating a manufacturing partner for a new program or an existing product, Nu-Way’s team is ready to help. Contact us to discuss your project needs.