For as long as he can remember, Kory Niemi’s loved working, getting physical and taking pride in his craft. When at the crossroads between attending university or enrolling in trade school, he chose the latter, embarking on what’s now become his career and passion: welding massive industrial structures.

“Since my first school project,” he says, “I’ve always wanted to feel great about my work and to know it’s the absolute best it can be.”

Now a senior welder with 15 years of experience under his belt, Kory’s projects are daunting in size and complexity. His employer manufactures large industrial tanks, stacks, pressure vessels and custom equipment, some pieces weighing up to 244 tons.

“Everything needs to run smoothly, everything needs to flow, and I need tools I can rely on.” He describes the long days he spends working at heights and inside tight, uncomfortable spaces, as well as the rigorous inspections his pieces go through; “My work needs to be flawless because it goes through X-rays and tons of testing. If something fails, it delays the whole process and time gets wasted.”

Kory attributes his meticulousness and commitment to precision from his family, who taught him at a young age to always do things right. “I want every weld to be perfect and I want every piece to shine,” he says, adding that his desire to keep evolving and getting better often keeps him up at night. “Working isn’t just something I like doing, it’s something I need to do,” he emphasizes.

The last and most satisfying part of each job, he says, is watching the piece leave the shop on its way to its final destination. “We have to take the doors off the warehouse to get it out, the police come to guide traffic and hydro teams lift the power lines so it can pass underneath.” Once the structure disappears over the horizon, Kory heads back inside, flips down his helmet, and gets to work on his next piece.

His teacher once told him, “You’re only as good as your last job” – a philosophy that continues to guide him today. “I want each job to always exceed the last one that I did. That’s my drive.”

"You’re only as good as your last job. So I need consistent, efficient tools to outdo myself."

- Kory Niemi
SENIOR WELDER