Our History

Founder Paul Mai started his trade as a young man in post-war Schweinfurt, Germany. Forging on to new frontiers and unable to speak English, he moved to the United States in 1958 where he worked on various job sites around central Kansas. Upon settling in Salina in 1962, he opened a one-man, 2400 square foot welding shop in the south industrial area. With limited resources available to him, he started with small repair jobs. His first contract was the Roosevelt-Lincoln Middle School Gymnasium, followed by the Bombing Range Observation Towers at Fort Riley.

Through the years, Paul’s business developed a reputation of quality, promptness, and customer service not to be surpassed by the competition; a fabrication company that could meet a customer’s schedule when material was needed quickly.  Today, PKM Steel takes pride in living up to this reputation.

PKM Steel Service Incorporated was established in 1988 to continue to serve the needs of contractors and owners requiring quality, service, and competitive pricing.  The company has had consistent growth in facilities, equipment, capabilities, management, and technology.  Today, PKM has 290,000 square feet of fabrication area under roof, and is known in the industry for our ability to handle unusual and complex jobs.  Because of our “CAN DO” attitude, PKM Steel has grown to become one of the most modern and versatile fabrication companies in the Mid-West.

In addition to PKM Steel Service Inc., the Mai family successfully operates the following additional companies: MSS Transport Inc., a full-service nationwide trucking company; Salina Steel Supply Inc., a steel warehouse service center serving Kansas customers statewide; and Maico Industries Inc., a fabrication company in Ellsworth.