Eric Daniel, General Manager for Brighton

NIM Group announces new Metalwest GM in Colorado

Eric Daniel, General Manager for BrightonEric Daniel has been named General Manager of flat-rolled distributor Metalwest’s Colorado region with responsibility for facilities in Brighton, CO and Albuquerque, NM.
Daniel joined the Metalwest corporate purchasing team as Supply Chain Manager in 2015.  He was promoted to Director of Supply Chain in late 2018 and ultimately joined the NIM Group corporate purchasing team in 2020 in an expanded director’s role.
Metalwest is a NIM Group company which also includes Norfolk Iron & Metal and Cd’A Metals and has locations throughout the U.S.

A Brief Snapshot of Industrial Metal Supply Careers

A Brief Snapshot of Industrial Metal Supply Careers

Choosing a career can be a difficult process. The options can seem overwhelming as personal interest, job outlook, and viability must all be considered. Fortunately, industrial metal supply careers offer a little something for everyone. The work is interesting and offers variety, and the industry is on the rise. Whether you find metals interesting or love the idea of working in supply chain management, the field is ripe with opportunity.

A Brief Snapshot of Industrial Metal Supply Careers

Metal Careers

Metal is a critical component of most manufacturing. It is found in tools, molds, other equipment, and of course in products themselves. Copper, aluminum, nickel, zinc, iron, and (consequently) steel are merely a few of the base metals commonly used in manufacturing, both commercial and industrial. The process to take raw metals, craft them into a desirable product, and get that product to the public is long and involves many steps. On each of those steps is another industrial metal supply career.

Careers that involve working with industrial metals range from metal foundry jobs to metal sales careers. Metal casting foundry jobs include laborers, finishers, craftsmen, furnace operators, assemblers, and casting managers, and fabricators to name a few. These kinds of careers are good for those who like to work with their hands and even with heavy machinery. Metal sales careers encompass jobs in customer service and work as a sales representative. Such work is a better fit for those who enjoy working closely with people.

Industrial Metal Supply Chain Careers

Simply put, a supply chain is a network of people or businesses that work in succession to produce and deliver a product or service. The rapidly expanding supply chain job market can be found just about in every industry, providing many job opportunities.

A Brief Snapshot of Industrial Metal Supply CareersWhere Do Supply Chain Managers Work?

First of all, what is a supply chain manager? This critical piece of the puzzle coordinates organizes and manages any and all logistics involved in the production and distribution process of a company’s goods. They oversee the entire life cycle of a product or service, from start to finish. 

Because of the critical nature of their work, supply chain managers can be found in any major business operation. Large companies especially need people to fill such positions, which is evidenced by the fact that major corporations like Amazon, Apple, General Electric, Intel, Procter & Gamble, and the U.S. Air Force are among the leading employers of supply chain managers.

Some companies specialize in one or more aspects of a supply chain manager’s role and contract out their employees to perform the service. This means that if you enjoy a certain facet of the job description—purchasing, production, distribution, or logistics—more than others, you may be able to find a role that caters to that skill set. 

What Careers Are in Supply Chain Management?

Because the field is so broad, it can be difficult to confine available supply chain management jobs to a list. Of course, there will always be work for supply chain managers, but management positions that are more niche are also available. These include but are not limited to logistics, distribution, purchasing, project, and procurement managers.

For those more interested in the operations side of things, warehouses and other facilities need operations staff and a chain of command. To ensure optimal performance, procurement, business, and operations research analysts assess current procedures and find ways to improve efficiency. Consultants can also be hired in specific capacities for a similar purpose.

Norfolk Iron & Metal to Name New Parent Organization

NORFOLK, NE, June 2, 2021 — Norfolk Iron & Metal, Co. (“Norfolk Iron”), a full-line steel service center, has announced the creation of NIM Group, a new parent identity for each of its brands:  Norfolk Iron and Metal, Metalwest, and Cd’A Metals.

In December 2018, Norfolk Iron acquired Metalwest, a leading processor and distributor of carbon and non-ferrous flat-rolled metal products with eight locations across the U.S.

Norfolk Iron expanded again in December 2020, with the acquisition of Cd’A Metals, a full-line service center and supplier with three locations serving the inland Northwest.

The creation of the new parent identity provides a structure that will support continued growth of existing geographies as well as future acquisitions.

“We are excited to have an identity that encompasses our family of companies, current and future,” said Arnie Robinson, NIM Group president and COO. “With NIM Group providing many of the corporate functions for our operating brands, our commercial teams can focus on expanding our product and geographic reach in support of future growth.”

Norfolk Iron & Metal to Acquire Cd’A Metals

NORFOLK, NE and SPOKANE, WA, December 15, 2020 — Norfolk Iron & Metal, Co. (“NIM”), a full-line steel service center, and The Coeur d’Alenes Company (Cd’A Metals), a full-line metal service center in the Inland Northwest, jointly announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement in which NIM will acquire Cd’A Metals. The transaction is expected to close on or before December 31, 2020.

The acquisition will complement NIM’s market coverage, adding three new locations in the Northwest, and further expand NIM’s product lines and processing capabilities. NIM first expanded its western geographic reach with its acquisition of Metalwest in 2018.

“We are pleased to welcome the Cd’A team members to the NIM family,” Richard Robinson, Chairman and CEO of NIM, said. “This investment represents a strategic opportunity to increase our capacity and geographic presence and is integral to our commitment to meet the growing needs of our customers. Cd’A Metals’ complementary capabilities combined with its long history of success positions us well to further develop our business in the northwestern markets.”

“It is a great opportunity for Cd’A Metals to join the NIM team,” said Lawrence Coulson, CEO of Cd’A Metals. “It was important that Cd’A Metals continue to be family-owned. Combining Cd’A Metals with NIM and Metalwest creates a family of companies that provides a broad geographic footprint, expanded processing capabilities and deep product offering ready to meet the growing demands of our customer base.”

Heritage Capital Group is serving as financial advisor, and Witherspoon Kelley is providing legal services, to Cd’A Metals. Abrahams Kaslow & Cassman LLP is acting as legal counsel to NIM.

About Cd’A Metals
Cd’A Metals is a full-line metal service center and supplier, headquartered in Spokane, Washington. With three locations across the Inland Northwest, the company provides bar and structural steel, plate and sheet products, as well as ornamental iron. Founded in 1884, Cd’A Metals has offered over a century of processing expertise to the metals industry and is a member of the Metal Service Center Institute (MSCI) and the North American Steel Alliance. For more information, visit www.cdametals.com.

About Norfolk Iron & Metal
Norfolk Iron & Metal, Co. (NIM) is a full-line steel service center headquartered in Norfolk, Nebraska. It is one of the nation’s largest and most technologically advanced steel providers. In 2018, NIM acquired Metalwest, a leading processor and distributor of non-ferrous and carbon flat rolled metal products. With 13 locations across the U.S., NIM’s warehouses are stocked with more than 3,000 items including carbon steel beams, angles, channels, flat-roll sheet and coil, plate, and tubing. NIM has been a family-run business since 1908 and is a member of MSCI. For more information, visit www.norfolkiron.com.

Metal West Blog

COVID-19 Update

At Norfolk Iron & Metal and Metalwest, the health and safety of our customers, suppliers, and employees is a top priority. With the ever-growing concerns regarding COVID-19 and the impact it may have on everyone, we wanted to let you know the steps we are taking during this time.

To follow with the CDC guidelines on social distancing, we will be restricting all non-essential travel and limiting face-to-face meetings. Our sales team will continue to make in-person visits, as necessary, following our customer’s guidelines for visitors at their facilities. Our commercial teams are always available to assist you via email, telecommunications, and video conferencing. We will also do our best to keep you updated on our social media channels.

You can also reach us for online quote requests via our websites:

During this time we are committed to doing business as close to usual as possible. We do not anticipate any disruptions to our ability to service our customers. With many locations throughout the U.S. between both companies, our diversified inventories, and redundant processing equipment across our facilities, we will be able to ensure our service to you continues.

As of now, we have not seen any disruption in our supply chains that would impact delivery times. Maintaining our own fleet of trucks gives us the ability to maintain the service to our customers without interruption.

We are committed to continue providing you with the best customer service, quality products, and value-added services that you’re accustomed to receiving from us. We value our relationships with you and appreciate your business.

Norfolk Iron & Metal | Metalwest
Leadership teams

Metal West Steel Products

Norfolk Iron & Metal Closes Acquisition of O’Neal Flat Rolled Metals from O’Neal Industries

BIRMINGHAM, AL and NORFOLK, NE – January 2, 2019 Norfolk Iron & Metal Co. (Norfolk Iron), a full-line steel service center, and O’Neal Industries Inc. (ONI), the largest family owned group of metals service centers in the United States, today jointly announced that Norfolk Iron has acquired O’Neal Flat Rolled Metals, LLC (OFR Metals), a wholly-owned subsidiary of ONI.

OFR Metals is a leading North American metals service center, focused on processing and distributing non-ferrous and carbon flat-rolled products from eight facilities, principally in the western US. OFR Metals will return to its former name, Metalwest, a name equally recognized for quality and service in the flat rolled industry. All members of OFR Metals’ management team are continuing in their current roles, with Jeff Simons continuing as president and CEO.

Norfolk Iron and OFR Metals are both businesses that place the highest importance on safety, employee engagement and exceptional customer service. The acquisition will enhance Norfolk Iron’s geographic footprint by adding eight new locations, while also expanding its product lines and capabilities for processing flat-rolled carbon, stainless and aluminium products.

“We are pleased to welcome the OFR Metals [Metalwest] team members to the Norfolk Iron family,” Richard Robinson, president of Norfolk Iron, said. “Investment in our business has always been an important part of our commitment to meet the growing needs of our customers. Metalwest is a natural fit with our current operations and brings complementary capabilities with the same reputation for outstanding service.”

“We could not be more excited about joining the Norfolk Iron team,” said Jeff Simons, president & CEO of OFR Metals [Metalwest]. “Our businesses create a family of companies with a broad geographic footprint and deep product offering, ready to meet the growing demands of our customer base.”

“We thank Jeff Simons and the entire OFR Metals team for their years of outstanding service and dedication to our company,” Holman Head, president and COO of ONI said.  “We couldn’t be more pleased to have the OFR Metals team become a part of Norfolk Iron & Metal, and we wish them every success.”

Headwall Partners, LLC and XMS Capital Partners, LLC are serving as financial advisers, and Maynard Cooper & Gale is providing legal services to ONI. Abrahams Kaslow & Cassman LLP is acting as legal counsel to Norfolk Iron. Financing has been provided by First National Bank of Omaha.

Metal West Steel Products

Norfolk Iron & Metal to Acquire O’Neal Flat Rolled Metals from O’Neal Industries

BIRMINGHAM, AL and NORFOLK, NE, November 15, 2018 — Norfolk Iron & Metal Co. (Norfolk Iron), a full-line steel service center, and O’Neal Industries Inc. (ONI), the largest family owned group of metals service centers in the United States, today jointly announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement in which Norfolk Iron will acquire O’Neal Flat Rolled Metals, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of ONI.

The closing is expected to be on or before December 31, 2018.

Headwall Partners LLC and XMS Capital Partners, LLC are serving as financial advisors to O’Neal Industries.

About O’Neal Flat Rolled Metals

O’Neal Flat Rolled Metals (OFR Metals), an O’Neal Industries affiliate company, is a leading processor and distributor of non-ferrous and carbon flat rolled metal products. Its eight locations house over 650,000 square feet of processing and warehousing capabilities, offering customers sheet and coil materials including stainless, aluminum, hot rolled, cold rolled and galvanized. OFR Metals also offers painted, polished and coated material to suit diverse customer needs. For more information, visit www.ofrmetals.com.

About Norfolk Iron & Metal

Norfolk Iron and Metal, founded in 1908, is a family owned and operated metals service center based in Norfolk, Nebraska. Its five locations offer customers sheet, plate, long products and tubing as well as advanced value-added services with a growing array of processing equipment. For more information, visit www.norfolkiron.com.

About O’Neal Industries

O’Neal Industries (ONI) is the largest family owned group of metals service centers in the United States. Composed of six leading brands and generating sales of approximately $2.6 billion in 2018, ONI is based in Birmingham, Alabama, and has more than 80 specialized facilities throughout North America, Europe and Asia. For more information, visit www.onealind.com.