About Marmon/Keystone

We Are More Than Metal

With over a century of expertise in the metals industry, our intense focus is on solving our customer’s pain points using unique methodologies such as Voice of the Customer and supply chain mapping/modeling.
Marmon/Keystone works hand-in-hand with each customer to design and implement leading-edge, technology-driven solutions. Unique, innovative, lasting solutions that identify and resolve inefficiencies to keep projects moving smoothly and cost effectively.tals.

Our Financial Stability & Growth

 

Marmon/Keystone LLC and affiliated businesses are members of The Marmon Group, an international association of approximately 150 manufacturing and service business units that operate independently within diverse industries.

 

The Marmon Group provides member companies with cost efficient management consulting services, a central source for access to operating capital and a disciplined yet entrepreneurial identity. Marmon Group companies have a combined revenue of more than $7 billion. The Marmon Group is also a Berkshire Hathaway company. These affiliations provide Marmon/Keystone with both financial and operational security.

 

Marmon/Keystone's growth has been achieved through an unwavering reinvestment of earnings in new facilities, expansion of existing facilities and improved technology. Over the past decade we have invested more than $70 million in equipment, new warehouse locations and expansions of existing facilities that have enabled us to remain competitive and profitable. Debt incurred for major acquisitions and expansions has been retired. Financially and managerially stable, Marmon/Keystone is positioned for continued growth in the years to come.

Quality = Meeting the Customer's Requirements

Above all else, Marmon/Keystone has always been committed to one concept: Quality.

The concept of quality is nothing new at Marmon/Keystone. In fact, for nearly a century we've proven our commitment to this concept. With every order, we give you the expertise of knowledgeable sales people, the selection of a full-range inventory containing over 9,500 sizes and grades of pipe and tubing, on-time deliveries, and our ongoing desire to meet and even exceed your expectations. This commitment to quality has made us a leader in the industry, serving over 30,000 customers worldwide. We have formalized the value-added service that has been our cornerstone all these years. We call it the Quality Improvement Process.

Our Quality Improvement Process 

The Quality Improvement Process is a company-wide program that places the responsibility for quality in the hands of each and every one of our employees. All employees are encouraged to be proactive in their attitude toward quality, and this attitude has helped to shape the culture at Marmon/Keystone.

The Core Concepts of the Quality Improvement Process

The Quality Improvement Process encompasses the following basic objectives:

• Achieving quality by meeting all customer requirements.

• Lowering the cost of ownership

• Managing the cost of quality

• Stressing prevention vs. inspection

• Making quality the responsibility of every employee

• Maintaining zero defects as the performance standard

The Cycle of the Quality Improvement Process 

At Marmon/Keystone, all matters relating to quality are examined using the following fundamental elements of quality improvement:

• Identifying and prioritizing defects

• Monitoring defects

• Analyzing root causes

• Taking corrective action to eliminate causes of defects

Marmon/Keystone's Investment in Quality

Reflective of Marmon/Keystone's staunch commitment to the Quality Improvement Process is a solid investment in the necessary resources. We invested an initial one million dollars in the program, and our ongoing investment exceeds one million dollars per year. In addition, our people have committed a significant amount of time and energy.

Examples of this commitment include the instruction in quality improvement in which every employee participates. Once their training is complete, each employee becomes a member of one of our 100+ Quality Unit Teams - special proactive groups which continually meet to act as steering committees for long-range process planning and quality improvement. These groups initiate over 300 improvements (called PSBs, short for Problem-Solution-Benefits) annually.

Based on our employees' performance, each is recognized and rewarded accordingly, which serves as an extra incentive for quality work and builds a sense of pride in one's job.

Benefiting Our Customers is Our Ultimate Goal

By eliminating defects altogether, we can lower the cost of ownership - which includes the time and money involved in inspection, scrap, rework, safety stock, administrative overhead, warehousing, warranty and field repairs. We also can better manage the cost of quality, which includes the cost of finding a defect and the cost of fixing it.

Our Quality Improvement Process ensures:

• Customer satisfaction

• Total conformance

• No rejections

• Less re-work

• Less wasted time

• Money saved

   

The Bottom Line

With every order you place with Marmon/Keystone, you can be assured you'll get a reliable, precise product with dependable service and unsurpassed delivery. Such reliable service and ongoing commitment to quality are what make Marmon/Keystone the recognized industry leader.

Our People

 

At Marmon/Keystone, we genuinely believe that our people are our greatest asset. We have great confidence in their experience, resourcefulness and ability to perform.

 

This commitment to performance is exemplified by the personal stake taken by everyone at Marmon/Keystone - executive staff, corporate and branch management, as well as sales, warehouse, and support personnel - to ensure the successful execution of our agreements.

 

Throughout all levels of our organization, Marmon/Keystone team members have formed highly-effective working relationships with their colleagues at our customers' facilities. These relationships are based on a clear understanding of our customers' requirements and operations. 

Our Facilities and Equipment

Marmon/Keystone operates more than 30 locations throughout North America and Mexico employing over 1200 people and maintaining over 2.1 million square feet of office and warehouse space. More than 300 additional acres are devoted to outside storage. Domestically, recent expansion of the company's national network reflects our commitment to serving the entire United States and signals increased participation in all markets. Over the last few years, eight of our facilities have undergone significant expansion or have relocated to larger, more modern facilities. More than $35 million has been invested to expand and enhance these locations. In addition, all of our facilities have upgraded their material handling systems so as to improve their overall handling efficiency. These upgrades have included high volume stacker systems, state-of-the-art material handling systems, new saws, cranes, and other equipment to improve the efficiency of our work stations. All of these improvements have one objective in mind: total customer satisfaction.

Our Transportation

 

 

 

 

Marmon/Keystone partners with Ruan Transportation to provide prompt, efficient delivery throughout the continental United States. With more than 80 years of transportation management experience, Ruan is one of the top 10 privately owned transportation companies in the country, with 230 locations and 5,100 employees and professional drivers.

Ruan is a member of the SmartWay Transport Partnership, an innovative collaboration between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the freight industry designed to increase energy efficiency while significantly reducing greenhouse gases and air pollution. Ruan was also the first transportation company to implement a formal safety program in the 1940s. Their safety program has grown into a propriety safety program called Megasafe, a comprehensive system that guides training, safety meetings and overall field safety operations. 

 

Our Inventory

With an excess of $100 million in inventory, Marmon/Keystone is the largest stocking distributor of pipe, tubing, and chrome plated bar in the world. We maintain over 400 product classifications comprised of over 9,500 individual items. These inventories are readily accessible to our experienced inside salespeople via a state-of-the-art computer system. With the aid of our efficient physical distribution system, our vast array of inventory is available to all of our locations on a very timely basis.

Our Supplier Innovations

 

Our suppliers help us help you. All of our suppliers are subject to a rigorous Supplier Quality System that continuously holds them to high standards in terms of quality of materials, delivery and service performance, and competitive pricing.

 

We have instituted formal processes with several of our key suppliers aimed at reducing cycle time for our best-performing product lines. Other processes geared towards eliminating channel redundancies have been instituted using leading edge technology and process flow analysis. Marmon/Keystone has taken these same philosophies and instituted them with selective customers to increase their efficiencies, thereby lowering their total costs.

Our History  

1907	William Horwitz and partners opened a used pipe distributorship, Keystone Pipe & Supply, in Butler, PA to supply the booming oil well drilling industry. The first oil well, located in Western PA, was drilled in the 1850s.
1951	President William Horwitz retires, Maurice Horowitz assumes presidency.
1967	Keystone Pipe & Supply merged with Tubular Service Corporation of Springdale, PA, a tubular products distributor with branches in Springdale, Atlanta, Kansas City, Denver, Salt Lake City, Birmingham and Chicago. The company is renamed Keystone Tubular Service Corporation. Began stocking stainless pipe and tubing
1969	Location in Neenah, WI opens, later moves to Appleton, WI
1970	Keystone Tubular Service Corporation became a member of The Marmon Group of companies Corporate office building in Butler, PA is destroyed by a major fire
1971	"Open Seam" company newsletter started (renamed "The Mar/Key" in 1983)
1972	Charlotte branch established
1974	Major expansion at East Butler, PA branch includes the first stacker system in the company, 2200 pans Seattle location established Kansas City location expanded
1975	Chicago branch relocated to 95th & Cottage Grove Springdale facility phased into East Butler, PA location, including equipment and personnel
1976	Atlanta branch expanded Houston branch is established Southampton branch established.
1977	Worcester, Massachusetts location established
1978	Company name changed to Marmon/Keystone Corporation Salt Lake City branch relocated Minneapolis location opened (later closed) Established Marmon/Keystone Canada Inc. in Burlington, Ontario Established Montreal facility(Boucherville) Maurice "Maury" Horowitz retired, Joe Turner named president
1979	Atlanta branch relocated to Norcross, Georgia Chicago branch relocated to Lemont, the largest US warehouse of its kind W. Lamar Wilkinson replaced Joe Turner as president
1980	Los Angeles sales office opened Million $ sales club established (name changed to Mar/Key Club in 1982)
1982	Charleston branch opened (later closed in 1995)
1983	Began stocking aluminum products
1984	Established M/K Express Co., a trucking subsidiary in East Butler, PA Southampton branch relocated to Clark Street
1987	Location in Orlando, FL opened
1988	Tubes, Inc. is acquired, with branches in Los Angeles and Fresno, CA
1989	Tulsa branch opened (later closed in 1991) Constructed office building for Butler, PA branch - 11,500 sq. feet Relocated Los Angeles branch to Pomona, CA, adding 147,500 sq. feet Expanded Fresno branch by 15,000 sq. feet. Expanded Burlington location by 31,606 sq. feet. W. Lamar Wilkinson retired, Norman E. Gottschalk Jr. succeeds him as president
1990	Philadelphia branch established (later relocated to New Castle, Delaware)
1991	Initiated the Quality Improvement Process  Pipe yard completed in Birmingham Orlando location relocated, adding 11,315 sq. feet Charlotte branch expanded by 27,500 sq. feet Workplace Excellence award received from NASPD
1992	First annual company-wide Quality Renewal Celebration held
1993	Assets of Lyman Tubeco purchased, adding Winnipeg, Edmonton, Vancouver locations to Marmon/Keystone Canada Opened newly-constructed 110,000 sq. ft. office/warehouse in New Castle, Delaware Sponsored the Wasp II Indy car
1994	Marmon/Lyman renamed Marmon/Keystone Canada Inc, January 1st Birmingham relocated to newly constructed facility, March Initiated Supplier Quality System (SQS) Butler branch is first in the company to earn ISO 9002 Certification, September Sales office in Monterrey, Mexico established, November Acquired Specialty Steels (Pechiney Co.), adding St. Laurent, Mississauga, Dartmouth, Coquitlam, Edmonton to Marmon/Keystone Canada
1995	Stainless bar, metric chrome bar added to product line Canadian truck fleet replaced
1996	Marmon/Keystone website launched JIT II concept initiated at New Castle branch Computerized Test Report System installed Vancouver, BC branch relocated to newly-constructed facility in Langley Little Canada, Minnesota branch opened (later closed), May Minneapolis location established, July Future Metals, Inc. became a subsidiary of Marmon/Keystone, September
1997	Wheeler Tubes, Inc. of West Midlands, UK purchased, February Paris sales office established (later closed), February Burlington expansion completed, July Beijing, China Development Office opened, October (closed in 1999) STELplan iX conversion initiated, November Acquired Pipe & Tube, Inc. of Salt Lake City and Elko, NV, December
1998	Chinese Government gives approval to do business, July Acquired Bushwick Metals, Inc. of Bridgeport, Connecticut, November 20th Huron Steel and Toledo Steel in Michigan become subsidiaries of M/K, November Sacramento, CA location established, December 8 Began offering Value Added Services
1999	Toledo Steel became a branch of Marmon/Keystone, January Canada moves Corporate headquarters to Burlington, January Fastener Division relocated to Mississauga, August President Norman E Gottschalk Jr. named "Service Center Exec of the Year"
2000	Truck fleet replaced at all US branches, May M/K Wheeler Ltd. expansion completed Acquisition of Azco Steel Co., subsidiary of Bushwick Metals, May Value Added Services offered company-wide Winnipeg expansion completed, August Canada sold Fastener division, August Computer systems upgraded in UK, Belgium, August Atlanta expansion completed, August E-Commerce Internet system developed
2001	Minneapolis expansion completed, July Service center opened in Monterrey, Mexico, May Sales office established in Jackson, Michigan, February Paperless reporting system implemented, June Stainless bar product line expanded, resulting in the most diverse inventory in the tubular products industry, July
2002	Vendor Managed Inventory System upgraded, February Marmon/Keystone won Silver Triangle Awards with first place two categories, May Huron Steel became a branch of M/K, renamed M/K Huron Steel, June Marmon/Keystone widened marketing base in Mexico, June Future Metals broke ground for new headquarters, June Bushwick Metals, Inc. acquired Fisher Bros. Steel Co., September 23rd Richmond branch closed, November
2003	Future Metals relocated headquarters to Tamarac, FL, 2003 Roof collapsed at the New Castle branch, January Bushwick Metals consolidated Azco Steel and Fisher Bros. locations, May Toledo and Huron branches consolidated, June Marmon/Keystone Canada Inc. consolidates Edmonton/Leduc facilities, August
2004	Michigan facilities consolidated and moved to Temperance, MI, January Value Added partnership strategy developed, January M/K Express celebrated 20th anniversary, March New Castle, Delaware service center reconstruction completed, March Warehouse established (30,000 sq. ft.) in McConnellsburg, PA, March Detroit sales office opened, June M/K Wheeler locations in UK sold, September Annual safety record broken with 11 branches accident-free in 2004, December 31st
2005	New Value Added Services software introduced, March Marmon/Keystone Canada Inc. replaced Eastern Canadian trailer fleet, May Bushwick Metals, Inc. opened sales offices in Great Neck, N.Y. and Englewood, N.J., June Bushwick Metals installs new ERP computer system, July Break bulk facility established in Bucyrus, Ohio with lease of 150,000 sq.ft. facility, September Annual safety record broken with 12 branches accident-free in 2005, December 31st
2006	Mexico City Satellite branch opened, June Rochester, NY service center opened, July Value Added offerings expanded, September M/K Express shipped load number 200,000, October Safety Record broken with 14 branches accident-free in 2006, December 31st
2007	Marmon/Keystone celebrated its 100th anniversary, January Newly constructed satellite branch opened in Little Chute, Wisconsin, April Marmon/Keystone Canada expanded into Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, April Bushwick Metals acquired Koons Steel in Pa., May Marmon/Keystone acquired Victory Tube in Cleveland, May Marmon/Keystone Canada expanded Boucherville, consolidated Boucherville/Laval, July Future Metals opened service center in the Netherlands, August Marmon/Keystone adopted 80/20 principle, September E-commerce, electronic invoicing upgraded, October AZCO planned opening of service center in Arkansas, November Berkshire Hathaway Inc. acquires majority interest in The Marmon Group, December 25th
2008	Satellite branch opened in Ft. Worth, TX, February State-of-the-art telephone system installed at Corporate office and Butler branch, May Marmon/Keystone Canada acquired distribution assets of Summo Steel, May Cleveland service center expanded by 20,000 sq. feet, June Bushwick-Koons opened 120,000 sq. foot service center in Pottstown, PA, August AZCO Steel opened a service center in Pomona, CA, October Satellite branch opened in Sioux Falls, SD, December Future Metals opened a service center in Singapore, December
2009	Marmon/Keystone opened a satellite in Queretaro, Mexico, June Marmon/Keystone Canada constructed a new facility in Headingley, Manitoba, October Marmon/Keystone installed video conferencing system, November Annual safety record reaches new high of 21 accident-free branches, December 31st
2010	Marmon/Keystone Corporation became Marmon/Keystone LLC, January 1st Future Metals, Inc. became Future Metals LLC, January 1st Bushwick Metals, Inc. became Bushwick Metals LLC, January 1st Future Metals opened service center in Connecticut, March Marmon/Keystone Canada upgraded telephone system, July Service center opened in Spring Valley, IL, August
2011	Value Added Services division established, January Automated warehouse system introduced, April Monterrey, Mexico operation expanded, June
2012	Birmingham branch destroyed by tornado, relocated to Pinson Valley Parkway, January Norman E. Gottschalk Jr. named president of Marmon Distribution Services, Inc., J.T. "Tim" Spatafore succeeds him as president of Marmon/Keystone, January Tulsa satellite location opened, February Handheld digital warehouse automation devices introduced, April Bushwick Metals acquired Tarco Steel and Metal Fab, September Mexico City service center relocated and expanded, October Future Metals' Texas service center upgraded to larger facility, December
2013	Marmon/Keystone launched Mobile App for customers, February Newly-constructed Birmingham branch opened at Goodrich Drive, February Marmon/Keystone Canada opened Quebec City satellite, April Nashville satellite opened, May Future Metals relocated, expanded operations in England, October New McConnellsburg, PA building completed, November Marmon/Keystone Canada constructed new Saskatchewan facility, November Marmon/Keystone invests in new fleet of trailers, December
2014	Marmon Distribution Services, Inc. president Norman E. Gottschalk Jr. retires, is succeeded by Alan L. Wilkinson, January Future Metals opens Dayton, OH service center, January Marmon/Keystone President J.T. "Tim" Spatafore retires, March
2015	Marmon/Keystone Canada Expands Alberta Metals Service Center, August Marmon/Keystone's LA Branch offers laser tube cutting, December

 

Marmon/Keystone Presidents 

 

1907 - 1951 1951 - 1978 1978 - 1979 1979 - 1989 1989 - 2012 2012 - 2014 2014 - 2016 2016	William Horwitz Maurice Horwitz Joseph Turner W. Lamar Wilkinson Norman E. Gottschalk Jr. J.T. "Tim" Spatafore Alan Wilkinson Jim Van Ingen
2017 - 2019	Vern Abel
2019 - Present	Jamie Martin

 

 

Marmon/Keystone Canada Presidents

  

1979 - 2004 2004 - 2013	Douglas Williams David Rombough
2013 - Present	Lou Germano

 

 

 

Marmon/Keystone LLC

 

Celebrating a Century of Service

1907 to 2007

 

1907	1919	Current

 

 

Reflections from the President of Marmon/Keystone

Letter written December 31, 2007 and placed in the M/K 100 Year Time Capsule:

 

In these final days of the year 2007, I find myself contemplating the vast number of events that have taken place not only throughout the world, but particularly within our company, over the past 100 years. I'm humbled to know that I just happen to be the president at this tremendously significant time in our company's history.

If we look back to the events of the early 1900s, we can only imagine what life was like when the Horwitz family began their pipe business. And as our country became more and more industrialized, those early partners had the foresight to be able to compete with oil well suppliers, predict economic trends and know when to diversify the product line.

When the winds of war came about, followed by the Great Depression, the years were surely bleak but the demand for pipe and tubing was still there. One trait our early leaders certainly must have had was persistence; a fierce determination to succeed in a world that was changing drastically.

With World War II came a different economy and a more discriminatory type of customer. Since that era, our standards of living have changed dramatically. Industries everywhere were forced to make adjustments in how they operated. Once again, new cars were on the market, construction of homes soared, and the baby boomers came into being!

Our company made drastic changes too. And we've been doing it ever since. Gone were the branches that supplied pipe to the oil fields, as we welcomed the ability to expand, eventually from coast to coast. The old inventory, a thing of the past, was gradually replaced with thousands of grades and sizes of not only carbon, but stainless, aluminum, and even chromium. Our sales grew into triple digit millions, and our name became a household word in the industry.

Times have been good, but we had had some lean years as well. Two things remain constant; our strength, in both our people and in our quality of product and service, and our focus on the principles of integrity and reliability. We've earned the respect of companies the world over, and today we should all be proud to have played a part in this success.

To those who come after us, I believe we have triumphantly carried the torch through "A Century of Service." We hope you will carry it to an even greater degree.

 

Norman E. Gottschalk Jr.

President

 

 

 

100 Year Time Capsule

Frank Zbuckvich, Maintenance Person from the Butler Branch, designed and constructed the time capsule. Frank has been with the company since 1961, and is pictured here with President Norman E. Gottschalk Jr.	Marmon/Keystone executives place items in the time capsule, which is kept in the lobby of the Corporate Office.	The pipe and tubing sculpture that adorns the top of the time capsule.

 

 

 

Items Contained in the Time Capsule

 

 

* Reflections letter from the President of Marmon/Keystone, Norman E. Gottschalk Jr.

* Copy of the White House congratulatory letter signed by President George W. Bush

* 2007 List of employees

* 2007 Stock list

* 2007 Company calendar

* 2007 Quality Renewal Monopoly Money

* 2007 Commemorative edition of the Mar/Key newsletter

* 2007 Agenda and attendance lists from the SQS outing held July 16th

* Golf balls and tees, also given out at the SQS outing

* Marmon/Keystone anniversary flag

* Hat featuring the M/K 100 year logo

* Commemorative key chain, also given to employees

* Commemorative wind chimes, also given to top customers

* 1999 Metal Center News magazine article feature Service Center Executive of the Year Norman E. Gottschalk Jr.

* Purchasing magazine article from 1993 of five tips for finding the right service center supplier

* Butler Eagle article from June 29, 2007 on Marmon/Keystone's 100 years

* Sunday News Journal from New Castle, PA

* Butler, PA pictorial from 1970s featuring a page on Keystone Tubular Service Corporation (later renamed Marmon/Keystone)

* Pipeline, the former company newsletter

* Marmon/Keystone ad showcasing Harley-Davidson, from 1994

* Two advertisements on the M/K expansion into the Western U.S.

* Pictures of fire damage on January 28, 1970 to the Keystone Pipe & Supply Co. building, which was rebuilt and serves as the Corporate Office

* Two copies of the Quality video

* Quality Dollars

* List of the Butler Branch's top 20 accounts

* 1933 catalog for wire rope found in retired Butler Branch Maintenance Foreman Joe Graham's desk. The product was distributed by the company at one time.

* Tim Spatafore's business card from the 1970s

* Display of sales contest pins

* Commemorative plate from the Atlanta Open House on May 1, 1980

* Pocket knife that was given as a 1984 safety award for Atlanta employees

* Patch from Atlanta

* Scrapbook album of the Salt Lake City Branch

* Utah bell

* Sample of stainless over copper from the Los Angeles Branch

* Stainless Tube engraved with Denver and Kansas City employee names

* Brass plate from the safety award presented to Denver in 1989 for being the first branch in company history to go one year accident-free

* Picture of Denver's management staff

* Chicago Open House brochure

* License plate and die cast care from CAT, the Charlotte branch's top account

* Tubing license plate from former Charlotte district manager Ken Kinnaird

* Belt buckle from Bush Hog, the Birmingham branch's top account

* World's fastest motorcycle Bubba poster

* First M/K flag flown in Rochester, NY, acquired in 2006

* Hat from Victory Tube company, which was acquired by Marmon/Keystone in 2007

* Small clock that resembles a computer, advertising Direct Connect

* M/K branding iron given by Copperweld

* M/K Express hat

* Marmon Wasp car coffee mug

* Marmon Wasp die cast car

* Marmon Wasp returns pin, also given to employees in 1993

* Mr. Quality water globe giveaway

* Sunglasses giveaway

* Pock knife giveaway

* Tape measure giveaway

* M/K coaster advertising stainless bar

 

 

Congratulatory Letter from President George W. Bush