Newsroom - AIWDirect
AIW Joins the Triple-S Family
San Antonio Construction News, February 2021
Ten years after the end of the civil war, George Holmgreen, a blacksmith who moved into foundry steel and industrial supplies started Alamo Iron Works (AIW). The company, over the next 145 years, would become an industry name throughout Texas, supplying steel and industrial products to construction job sites and all types of steel users.
While the Holmgreen family held the company for five generations, it has since changed ownership several times. The latest being Triple-S Steel, one of the largest steel suppliers in the nation.
Bruce Stein founded Triple-S Steel in 1960 as a small new and used distribution yard spinoff of his father’s, Johnny Stein, scrap yard business, Dixie Iron and Metal Co. In the early years, Triple-S was mostly a steel retailer. The company’s growth began 36 years ago when the Stein family opened their second facility, in San Antonio. Since then, Triple-S has grown to a company of 1300-plus employees with 40 locations across the United States in addition to several in Colombia and one in Canada.
Effective Jan. 18, Triple-S Steel and Alamo Iron Works became one as AIW joined the Triple-S Steel family. “This is a very emotional addition to our family, particularly for my father but also for me. We grew up seeing these giant orange AIW trucks all over Texas. It was this big ol’ Alamo and little ol’ Triple-S,” says Triple-S Steel President Gary Stein.
For the team members of AIW, they could not be happier. “This is a monumental day for us. It is exciting to know that we are going to be under the ownership of a Texas steel company that knows our market and has proven they have what it takes to prosper in even the toughest of economic times. Our previous owners were very successful at selling MRO supplies but never really understood the steel side of our business. Under Triple-S we are going to be able to offer our customers much more than we could before,” says AIW Marketing & Communications Director Stacy Reynolds.
The decision by Triple-S to purchase AIW was for the most part a no-brainer. The distribution icon was ready to be under the leadership of owners who understand steel and who can help the company deepen its footprint in the industry. “The decision was only natural. We are steel people. Steel is in our blood. Our family has been in the steel business for so long that when it rains, we rust,” Stein states before stressing the uniqueness of the steel distribution business. “Steel is a unique business, and you can’t put it in a box and ship it like you can grinding wheels and a dozen pair of gloves.”
Reynolds agreed. “That is one thing that has differed between the two companies. Triple-S has always been about metal and AIW has always been half metal, half industrial supplies.” Today, Triple-S does sell industrial supplies in a few of their locations, but 90-plus percent of their revenue is in the steel business, according to Stein.
In the foreseeable future, it will be mostly business as usual for the AIW team. Ron Heidelberg, General Manager of AIW’s Steel Division, will be taking over as Operations Manager for the entire organization. The company will be keeping the Alamo Iron Works name and will continue to provide superior service to their customers as a supplier of both steel and industrial supplies. “While we don’t know exactly what the company will look like down the road, everyone has the utmost respect for the historical significance of both brands. We are focused on creating synergies that will make us stronger together,” says Reynolds, who will be taking over the marketing reins at Triple-S.
“I think what this acquisition really means is a better and more reliable, more dependable supplier for our customers. Triple-S Steel and Alamo Iron Works have been here a long time. We are taking the best of both worlds and steering them together. We are happy to increase our commitment to the San Antonio market and the South Texas Region. We believe in it and we are glad to be here,” Stein says in closing.
Alamo Iron Works is a supplier of steel and industrial supplies. -cmw
While the Holmgreen family held the company for five generations, it has since changed ownership several times. The latest being Triple-S Steel, one of the largest steel suppliers in the nation.
Bruce Stein founded Triple-S Steel in 1960 as a small new and used distribution yard spinoff of his father’s, Johnny Stein, scrap yard business, Dixie Iron and Metal Co. In the early years, Triple-S was mostly a steel retailer. The company’s growth began 36 years ago when the Stein family opened their second facility, in San Antonio. Since then, Triple-S has grown to a company of 1300-plus employees with 40 locations across the United States in addition to several in Colombia and one in Canada.
Effective Jan. 18, Triple-S Steel and Alamo Iron Works became one as AIW joined the Triple-S Steel family. “This is a very emotional addition to our family, particularly for my father but also for me. We grew up seeing these giant orange AIW trucks all over Texas. It was this big ol’ Alamo and little ol’ Triple-S,” says Triple-S Steel President Gary Stein.
For the team members of AIW, they could not be happier. “This is a monumental day for us. It is exciting to know that we are going to be under the ownership of a Texas steel company that knows our market and has proven they have what it takes to prosper in even the toughest of economic times. Our previous owners were very successful at selling MRO supplies but never really understood the steel side of our business. Under Triple-S we are going to be able to offer our customers much more than we could before,” says AIW Marketing & Communications Director Stacy Reynolds.
The decision by Triple-S to purchase AIW was for the most part a no-brainer. The distribution icon was ready to be under the leadership of owners who understand steel and who can help the company deepen its footprint in the industry. “The decision was only natural. We are steel people. Steel is in our blood. Our family has been in the steel business for so long that when it rains, we rust,” Stein states before stressing the uniqueness of the steel distribution business. “Steel is a unique business, and you can’t put it in a box and ship it like you can grinding wheels and a dozen pair of gloves.”
Reynolds agreed. “That is one thing that has differed between the two companies. Triple-S has always been about metal and AIW has always been half metal, half industrial supplies.” Today, Triple-S does sell industrial supplies in a few of their locations, but 90-plus percent of their revenue is in the steel business, according to Stein.
In the foreseeable future, it will be mostly business as usual for the AIW team. Ron Heidelberg, General Manager of AIW’s Steel Division, will be taking over as Operations Manager for the entire organization. The company will be keeping the Alamo Iron Works name and will continue to provide superior service to their customers as a supplier of both steel and industrial supplies. “While we don’t know exactly what the company will look like down the road, everyone has the utmost respect for the historical significance of both brands. We are focused on creating synergies that will make us stronger together,” says Reynolds, who will be taking over the marketing reins at Triple-S.
“I think what this acquisition really means is a better and more reliable, more dependable supplier for our customers. Triple-S Steel and Alamo Iron Works have been here a long time. We are taking the best of both worlds and steering them together. We are happy to increase our commitment to the San Antonio market and the South Texas Region. We believe in it and we are glad to be here,” Stein says in closing.
Alamo Iron Works is a supplier of steel and industrial supplies. -cmw