Our story begins in 1876 … an unusual year in American history. Ulysses S. Grant was president, General Custer and his men had a major disagreement with the Sioux Indians at the Little Big Horn … and Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in Boston.
But, in San Francisco, Frederick K. Morrow and a partner began the manufacture and sale of solder, Babbitt metal, and type metal, and a branch in Portland (Oregon) was a remote possibility … the business prospered.
In 1883, the year the Northern Pacific gave Portland its first transcontinental rail link, William N. Morrow, brother of Frederick, opened a Portland branch to facilitate distribution to the Pacific Northwest. The Pacific Metal Works at Second and Davis Streets was our first location in Portland.
In those early days some of our most important products arrived from England in sailing ships that made the long voyage around Cape Horn for return cargoes of grain. These three-masted sailing ships brought light gauge galvanized steel sheet made in Wales, much in demand for roofing, as well as tin and terne plate. In time, we added antimony from China; tin from Malaysia; lead from Australia; zinc from Belgium; and, of course, sheet copper, both hot and cold rolled.
In 1888, ten years after Mr. Bell’s invention reached Portland and only three years after electric street lighting, we erected a one story brick building at Second and Everett. This was initially a manufacturing facility and warehouse for our imported steel and tin. Soon it served our complete product line; tin and solder for the canneries of the Columbia River, Puget Sound and Alaska, and small operations of tinsmiths, blacksmiths and metal shops; Babbitt metal for anti-friction lining for bearings; type metal, a most important market for us; and zinc for the gravity batteries of the early telegraph industry. By today’s standards, this would be considered a modest inventory.
There was a new metal which was as light as a feather, yet strong as steel. It was called aluminum and some thought it was the metal of the future. When the Spanish American War came along in 1897, our aluminum inventory had increased to a dangerous amount, 180 pounds. Until after World War II, we were the only aluminum distributor in the Pacific Northwest. Today, this metal of the future comprises 40 per cent of Pacific Metal’s total inventory, over 4,000,000 pounds.
On April 18, 1906, San Francisco suffered the worst earthquake in it’s history, followed by a devastating fire. Our Pacific Metal Works there was completely destroyed. To compensate for the lost output, our Portland branch, joined by the San Francisco crew, worked ’round the clock. Unquestionably, the San Francisco earthquake had a decisive influence on how and where we expanded.
In 1909, the owners decided to concentrate in the Pacific Northwest under the direction of Harry F. Morrow, son of William. A new building was erected at Park and Everett Streets in Portland. Four years later, the California business was sold and the Portland business incorporated as Pacific Metal Works of Oregon. The name was changed to Pacific Metal Company in January 1922.
Changing demands by our customers, as well as the emergence of many innovative products, have prompted the distribution of a diversified inventory .This is evidenced by the nearly 10,000 line items in our stock today. Aluminum sheet, plate and shapes; carbon steel flat rolled coil and sheet, including galvanized and painted products; stainless steel; building products; fasteners of all types; industrial compounds and adhesives and tools and machines for the working of metals are carried in our local warehouses. We carry one of the widest and most diverse inventories of any service center anywhere. A significant portion of these inventories are “special” items for specific customers or industries.
The changing customer requirements for more and more “pre-production processing” and providing precision tolerance blanks on a Just In Time (JIT) basis has necessitated significant investment in very sophisticated metal processing equipment. High speed close tolerance cut to length and blanking lines have been added along with precision shears and saws to provide rapid response to customer needs throughout our marketing areas.
In 1984, after 108 years of Morrow family ownership, a new Pacific Metal Company was formed. By 1996, about 70 per cent of the company was owned by the employees through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The company was sold to Metals USA in 1998, then again in 2002 to Reliance Steel and Aluminum. Even though the ownership has changed hands the employees still take an owner’s interest in satisfying your requirements, no matter who you contact, receptionist, salesperson, warehouseman, or truck driver.
The fundamental principles of our operation have always been quality and service quality products from quality suppliers we can depend on, and service to our customers they can depend on. We pride ourselves in providing our customers with the products they need; where and when they need them. This has always been our goal. We’ve dedicated our growth for over a century to achieving that goal.
For us, this is just where the future begins. Today our service centers cover the west, from Alaska to the Sacramento Valley of California to the eastern plains of Montana and Wyoming.
Portland, Oregon -The “Rose City” continues to be the hub of our organization. In 1965, after 89 years of business, the facility was relocated on an industrial site in Southwest Portland. A 100,000 square foot warehouse was erected on Bond Avenue, just south of the Ross Island Bridge, to service not only local area customers, but other branch requirements as well. Coil breakdown and cut-to length equipment along with slitting, precision sawing and shearing provide modern methods of “pre-production processing” and inventory handling. In contrast, a Will Call department with “self-service” characteristics caters to the walk-in, fast-pick-up clientele.
In addition to the warehouse, almost 10,500 square feet of office houses the Portland sales and service organization as well as the corporate administration. All branches are linked with an on-line computer system. This interactive communication network provides instantaneous information about company-wide inventories, order processing, purchasing, restocking schedules, payables and receivables. A number of “state of the art” communication systems feed information to the system and enable customers to access it as well.
In May of 2004 after 39 years at the Bond Avenue location we moved to a brand new state-of-the-art facility in Tualatin. Our computer systems we updated and we forward to the customer service benefits of improvements in materials handling and processing efficiency from our new warehouse layout.
Seattle, Washington -In 1947, the company looked northward to the “Queen City” of Seattle and opened a 19,000 square foot plant as its first physical expansion since coming to the Northwest. The business and facilities continued to grow for 30 years to meet local needs as well as the emerging markets of Alaska. The “expanded” 40,000 square foot warehouse and sales office was bursting its seams. It was past time to relocate. In 1979, a beautiful and modern 80,000 square foot facility was built south of the city in the Kent Valley at Tukwila. Additional space for inventories and processing equipment was utilized in 1986 with the addition of our Herr Voss leveling and cut-to-length line. The line and its products are dubbed “Max Flat” and have quickly been accepted as the quality standard in the industry. Like the Portland facility, Seattle provides a significant portion of the “inter-branch” needs of the rest of the organization.
Boise, Idaho -The “Gem State” of Idaho beckoned in 1953 and our third branch was opened in Boise. A 10,000 square foot leased facility was completely destroyed by fire in 1961, and new, slightly larger quarters were leased nearby. We’ve always maintained a commitment to the area and the many loyal customers. In 1986, a brand new warehouse, doubling our storage space, was leased west of downtown Boise, serving Idaho, Utah and the eastern markets of Oregon. The area and the branch continue to grow and prosper.
Spokane, Washington -In 1962, the year astronaut John Glenn orbited the earth, a fourth branch was added in Eastern Washington at the “Lilac City”. It was a modest beginning with a 6,000 square foot leased facility. Success required relocation to a 13,000 square foot warehouse in 1965. Some specialized processing equipment was added and the growth trend continued. Ten years later the demands of the Inland Empire and the Big Sky Country of Montana dictated the purchase of a four acre industrial site and the construction of a 40,000 square foot warehouse and office facility. Broader inventories and processing capabilities have followed as the metal using markets of the area continue to expand. In 1997, the warehouse was expanded by 6,000 square feet to provide additional space and much needed drive through access to overhead cranes for loading and unloading of trucks.
Eugene, Oregon -The exciting growth of the Mid-Willamette Valley, centered around Eugene, begged the creation of our sixth branch in 1972. A one acre site was purchased and a 20,000 square foot metal building erected to better serve the many customers of the area. Diversified manufacturing and the emergence of additional opportunities in and around Bend have maintained a steady growth. Customers responded so favorably to our commitment that we had soon outgrown the facility. In 1995, construction began on a new modern 30,000 square foot warehouse and office complete with overhead cranes and drive through truck access. With occupancy in mid-year 1996, this fast growing branch is ready to take on the challenges of the twenty-first century.
Billings, Montana -The lure of the markets in Eastern Montana, as well as Wyoming and the Dakotas, stirred the pioneering spirits left by our founders and our seventh warehouse and sales office was opened in 1977. The “Big Sky” over Billings looks down on our smallest facility where serving specialized customer needs are the every day norm. This branch thrives on challenge.
Pride of Ownership Means Better Service
Our one hundred twenty-five plus year history is one of growth and adaptation to the changing needs of our customers. Continued investment in new plants and equipment attests to the depth of our commitment to provide the best in products and service. Since reorganizing in 1984 as an employee owned company, sales have more than tripled. The key to increased volume is the commitment of employees to customer service. We believe each customer relationship to be a long-term partnership and our mission statement says so. Pacific Metal Pride is people; many long-term, knowledgeable employees dedicated to doing a good job. Even after our sale to Metals USA in 1998 and subsequent sale to Reliance Steel and Aluminum in 2002 the Pacific Metal Pride has stayed with our employees.
We are proud of our past and, more importantly, we are prepared for and dedicated to the future. The challenges of the twenty-first century are just as exciting to us today as the challenges of the 1880’s must have been to our founders. We are enthusiastic about being your metal service center.
Corporate Mission Statement
Build long-term profitable partnerships with stakeholders
offering integrity, flexibility, responsiveness and quality.