Material Sciences history

After graduating from Northwestern University, Heizer went to work for Allstate Insurance in 1962, where over the course of the next seven years he built up the company's private placement division, ultimately overlooking $100 million in investments in more than 70 early stage companies.

A new 28-foot coating line was added in 1965, followed by the introduction of a cut-to-length line and square shear line, which allowed the company to make and sell pre-coated steel sheet for use in the manufacture of small appliances.

As part of a 42,500-square-foot addition to Plant #2 in 1973, a 5,000-square-foot laboratory facility was built.

As part of a 42,500-square-foot addition to Plant #2 in 1973, a 5,000-square-foot laboratory facility was built. It was during this period that parent company MSC began receiving greater funding from the venture capital fund owned by E.F. "Ned" Heizer, who became a director in 1976 and whose fund became the principal owner.

In July 1986 MSC spent $13.8 million in cash, notes, and stock to acquire Schaar Industries, the nation's largest independent vapor metallizing firm to the packaging and graphics arts markets.

1991: Turnaround specialist G. Robert Evans is named president, CEO, and chairman.

1992: The company's stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Then, in June 1993, the company once again attempted to grow through acquisitions, paying $14.5 million in cash for Armco Steel Company's coil coating facility in Middletown, Ohio.

The company completed a pair of purchases in 1997, adding Richmond, California-based Pinole Point Steel, a hot-dipped galvanizing operation, and affiliated Colorstrip, Inc., a coil coating paint facility.

More positive developments were the increased usage of Quiet Steel by United States automakers and the 2000 acquisition of Goldbach Automobile Consulting, which paved the way for the company's Quiet Steel products being sold in Europe.