Coast Aluminum history

Thomas Neilan establishes Reliance Steel Products Company, a distributor of steel reinforcing bar, on February 3, 1939, in Los Angeles, California.

That year J.D. Ross, first administrator of the Bonneville Power Project (it was renamed the Bonneville Power Administration in 1940), commented in the Project’s first annual report that industrial development and national defense would be important uses of electricity from the dam.

In 1947, Thomas Neilan offers to fund his nephew's graduate studies at Harvard if he will work at Reliance for a year.

Reliance’s product offering in 1948 expands to include aluminum.

Reliance makes its first acquisition in 1952: Carthage Steel Strip, in South Gate, California.

In 1956, the company is renamed for a second time to reflect its expanding product lines, assuming the name it holds today: Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co.

After moving from Warehouseman to Manager to Vice President, William Gimbel succeeds as President upon the death of his uncle, Reliance founder Thomas Neilan, in 1957.

In 1962, Bill Gimbel commissions the manufacture and installation of a semi-automatic rack storage system to house metal sheet and coil in unused vertical warehouse space.

Joe Crider is made Executive Vice President in 1975.

Bralco Metals in Pico Rivera, California is acquired in 1977.

The aluminum companies paid millions of dollars to Bonneville, and this important income helped Bonneville provide many power-related benefits to its customers and environmental benefits to the region, particularly after Congress approved the Northwest Power Act in 1980.

In 1987, William Gimbel becomes Chairman (in addition to Chief Executive Officer); Joe Crider is promoted to President and Chief Operating Officer.

On September 16, 1994, Reliance issues 3.5 million new shares in its IPO, raising $45.9M and making Reliance a publicly-traded company on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “RS.”

In 1995, Dave Hannah is promoted to President and Gregg to Chief Operating Officer.

In 1996 the relatively brief history of aluminum smelting in the Northwest began to unravel.

Also in 1999, Karla Lewis (then McDowell) is appointed Chief Financial Officer.

By the summer of 2001, all 10 aluminum smelters were shut down or were operating at very limited and periodic production.

In 2005, Reliance is named “Acquirer of Choice” by MSCI's Forward magazine.

In August 2008, Reliance acquires the PNA Group of 23 service centers and seven joint ventures.

In 2016, ALCOA idled its smelters in Wenatchee and Ferndale, the last two operating in the Northwest.

If the plant were not restarted by June 2017, ALCOA would owe the PUD $67 million.

In 2018, Reliance also achieved record net sales of $11.8 billion, record pre-tax income of $850.6 million, a record annual gross profit of $3.3 billion, and record non-GAAP EPA of $8.94.

In 2019, Reliance commemorated its 80th anniversary and celebrated 25 years on the New York Stock Exchange.