Industrial Metal Supply

What Industrial Metal Supply does

Industrial Metal Supply Company (IMS) is a privately held, family-owned metal service center founded in 1948 in Burbank, California, by Norman and Sally Sherman, and currently led by Neil Sherman, son of the founder. The company operates eight physical store and warehouse locations — Sun Valley (corporate headquarters), Irvine, Riverside, Gardena (IMS Express), San Diego, San Jose, Phoenix, and Tucson — collectively spanning more than 400,000 square feet of inventory and processing space across California, Arizona, and Nevada. IMS is ISO 9001:2015 certified, Dodd-Frank conflict-minerals compliant, and RoHS/REACH compliant. Offerings span aluminum, steel, stainless steel, copper, brass, and specialty metals (including chromoly 4130, DOM tubing, tool steel, zinc, and bearing bronze) supplied in bar, sheet, plate, tube, pipe, structural, and precut forms, complemented by fence/gate/rail ornamental products and metalworking accessories.

Name

Industrial Metal Supply

Legal name

Industrial Metal Supply Company

Website

https://industrialmetalsupply.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Privately held, family-owned metal service center operating eight distribution and processing locations across California, Arizona, and Nevada, supplying aluminum, steel, stainless, copper, brass, and specialty metals — with custom cutting, fabrication, and same-day pickup — to manufacturers, fabricators, contractors, hobbyists, and government buyers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Metal Distribution and Processing Services

NAICS

Metal Service Centers and Other Metal Merchant Wholesalers (423510)

SIC

Wholesale-Metals Service Centers & Offices (5051)

akta.pro primary industry

Steel Products Trading & Service Centers (Flat, Long, Pipe & Tube, Rebar) (IMAKAJAB)

Keywords

• Metal distribution services
• Aluminum steel supply
• Metal processing services
• Precision metal cutting
• Industrial metal products

Headquarters

HQ city

Irvine

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Metal Product Sales: Primary revenue from selling metal products including aluminum, steel, stainless steel, copper, brass, and specialty metals. Products sold in various shapes (bar, sheet, plate, tube, pipe, structural shapes) and forms ( precuts, remnants, full lengths). Revenue generated through retail storefronts, phone orders, and same-day Will Call pickup.
2. Metal Processing Services: Value-added processing services including cut-to-size, laser cutting, plasma cutting, waterjet cutting, shearing, and sawing. These services add processing fees on top of material costs and help differentiate IMS from basic distributors.
3. Metal Contracts: Long-term metal supply contracts for manufacturers and fabricators with guaranteed pricing and scheduled deliveries. Offers volume discount pricing for large orders.
4. Export Services: Export of metals to Pacific Rim countries including Asia, New Zealand, and Australia. Services include processing, packing, export documentation, and CIF pricing to international harbors. Minimum 4,000 lbs order for competitive freight pricing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Industrial Metal Supply is a full-line metal service center that distributes aluminum, steel, stainless steel, copper, brass, and specialty metals in bar, sheet, plate, tube, pipe, and structural forms through eight physical store locations across the Southwestern US. The company complements metal product sales with value-added processing services including precision cutting (Hi-Def Plasma, Flatbed Laser, 6-Axis Tube Laser, Waterjet), cut-to-size shearing and sawing, custom aluminum extrusions, next-day local delivery, and same-day Will Call pickup.

Product overview

Industrial Metal Supply is a full-line metal service center offering a comprehensive portfolio of metal products and processing services. The core product lines include Aluminum (bar, tube, pipe, sheet, plate, structural shapes in alloys 3003, 5052, 6061, 6063), Steel (hot-rolled, cold-rolled, galvanized, alloy variants), Stainless Steel (304, 316 in various forms and finishes), Copper and Brass, and Specialty Metals (cast iron, chromoly, tool steel, zinc, lead, silicon bronze). These are complemented by Fence, Gate & Rail ornamental products and Metal Accessories (hardware, tools, safety equipment, welding supplies). The service offering centers on Precision Cutting Services (Hi-Def Plasma, Flatbed Laser, Tube Laser, Water Jet) and Cut to Size Services, with Custom Extrusions available for specialized needs. The company also provides delivery and will call pickup services plus online tools (Metal Weight Calculator, Conversion Calculators) to support customer projects. With seven warehouse locations across California, Arizona, and Nevada totaling over 400,000 square feet, IMS serves manufacturers, machine shops, fabricators, maintenance departments, and DIY customers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IMS Express: Express pickup service offered at the Gardena location with same-day metal pickup after 11AM ordering.

Products and services

• Aluminum Products Full line of aluminum materials including bar, tube, pipe, sheet, plate, and structural shapes in alloys 3003, 5052, 6061, 6063, 3105, and cast tooling plate. Sold to manufacturers, fabricators, contractors, and DIY customers through retail storefronts and delivery.
• Steel Products Carbon and alloy steel products including hot-rolled, cold-rolled, galvanized, A36, A513, A653, and specialty steels in bar, structural, pipe, plate, and precut forms. Includes specific product lines such as 4130 Chromoly round tube, DOM round tube, chrome plated round tube, rebar, and steel structural shapes.
• Stainless Steel Products Stainless steel bar, tube, pipe, sheet, and plate in mill, 2B, 8 mirror, hot-rolled annealed, linear buff, polished, and satin finishes in alloys 304, 303, and 316.
• Copper and Brass Products Copper (alloy 110) and brass (alloys 260, 360) products including bar, foil, sheet, plate, tubing, and polished options for construction, plumbing, and electrical applications.
• Specialty Metals Exotic and specialty metals including cast iron, chromoly 4130 and DOM tubing, tool steel (O1, A2), zinc, lead, silicon bronze, bearing bronze, and expanded/perforated sheet.
• Fence, Gate and Rail Products Ornamental iron components including scrolls, spears, decorative elements, hammered tube and bar, handrails, panels, pickets, balusters, gate hardware, and railing components in aluminum, brass, steel, and stainless steel.
• Metal Accessories Hardware, fasteners, safety equipment, metal finishes, adhesives, welding supplies, tools, markers, lubricants, and metalworking accessories.
• Precision Cutting Services Advanced metal cutting including Hi-Def Plasma, Flatbed Laser, Tube Laser (3D 6-axis), and Water Jet cutting services for precision fabrication. Used by manufacturers, fabricators, and machine shops needing tight-tolerance cut parts.
• Cut to Size Services Custom metal cutting and sizing including shearing, sawing, band sawing, and plate sawing with rapid turnaround and prototype production support.
• Custom Extrusions Custom aluminum extrusion services for specialized project requirements, supporting buyers needing non-standard profiles.
• Export Services Export of metals to Pacific Rim countries with processing, packing, export documentation, and CIF pricing to international harbors. Minimum 4,000 lbs order for competitive freight pricing.
• Hi-Def Plasma Cutting High-definition plasma cutting services for various metal types and thicknesses, providing precision cutting performance at speed.
• 6-Axis Tube Laser Cutting 3D 6-axis tube laser cutting service for precision tube and pipe processing.
• Waterjet Cutting Waterjet cutting services for precision metal fabrication without heat-affected zones.
• Flatbed Laser Cutting Flatbed laser cutting services for precision sheet and plate metal fabrication.

Quantifiable outcome

• Next-day delivery available throughout California and Arizona
• +2 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kaiser AluminumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading producer of fabricated aluminum products for aerospace, high strength, general engineering, automotive, and custom industrial applications.
• SAPA/HydrocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld's leading producer of extruded aluminum profiles. Hydro is the world's leading producer of extruded aluminum profiles with design solutions for virtually all industries.
• AlcoacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld's leading producer and manager of primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum and alumina facilities.
• Sierra Aluminum CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAluminum supplier for IMS raw metal inventory.
• NucorcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManufacturers of steel products including carbon and alloy steel in bars, beams, sheet, and plate. Operating facilities primarily in U.S. and Canada.
• North American Stainless (NAS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinest stainless steel producing mill in the Western Hemisphere, founded in 1990.
• CSI (California Steel Industries)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading producer of flat rolled steel in Western US, producing widest range of flat roll including hot rolled, pickled & oiled, galvanized, cold rolled sheet and ERW pipe.
• NASA (North American Steel Alliance)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerMember-owned purchasing cooperative serving the metals distribution industry.
• MSCI (Metals Service Center Institute)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerBroadest-based not-for-profit association serving the industrial metals industry.
• HulaminminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouth Africa-based producer of semi-finished and fabricated aluminum products.
• MI MetalsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNationwide leader in aluminum extrusion manufacturing with custom or standard extrusions.
• Searing IndustriesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSteel tubing manufacturer using prime Cold Roll Commercial, Hot Roll Pickled & Oiled, Galvanized and Hot Roll Steel Products.
• Vest Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOver 30 years of tube manufacturing experience including ornamental squares, rectangles, mechanical and structural tubing.
• Phoenix TubeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading manufacturer of stainless steel tubing, rounds, squares, rectangles and processed flat bar.
• Revere CopperminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded by Paul Revere, one of oldest manufacturing companies in US. Produces copper and copper alloy sheet, strip, plate, bar and extruded profiles.
• Eagle Access Control SystemsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLeading manufacturer of Eagle brand gate operators, battery back-up, gate hardware and access control accessories.
• Guardian Gate HardwareminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorManufacturer of world's finest gate hinges with only Lifetime Warranty in the industry.
• ForneyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNationwide leader in distribution of metal working and welding products.
• Riverside CorrugatingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUltimate supplier of metal roofing and wall systems in California, also leading in architectural, commercial and residential metal roofing.
• NOMMAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTrade association of the ornamental and miscellaneous metalworking industry.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Reliance Steel & Aluminum: Largest US metals service center operator with 300+ locations and broad multi-metal inventory. Overlaps directly with IMS in carbon steel, aluminum, stainless, and specialty metals distribution; competes on scale and mill-pricing leverage rather than local service.
• Ryerson:

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/8970771468
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/industrial-metal-supply

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Industrial Metal Supply