Scrap Solutions Since 1885
The Story of The David J. Joseph Company

During its first century of service, The David J. Joseph Company established itself as the premier scrap brokerage company in the world. Well-known throughout the steel, foundry, and ferrous scrap industries, The Joseph Company’s actual origins, however, were in other areas of trading.

Joseph Joseph, a native of Germany, settled in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1863 and began a hide and wool trading operation. The business grew and Joseph added his brother, Samuel, to the operation, forming the Joseph Joseph and Brothers Company. In 1885, with the advent of the Industrial Revolution and soaring demand for scrap metal, the Josephs turned to scrap iron trading, abandoning forever the hide and wool business.

The fledgling scrap iron trading company grew quickly. Joseph also tried - and succeeded in - other businesses, including the Ohio Falls Iron Company, the Indiana Rolling Mill Company, and the Railway Supply Company. The various companies were family owned and operated and four of Joseph’s sons became involved in their management.

At the time of Joseph Joseph’s death, his youngest son, David, was manager of the scrap trading operation which, by 1914, included 7 plants and branch offices in most major American cities. With the beginning of World War I, demand for scrap iron increased tremendously; and, by the end of the Great War, The Joseph Joseph and Brothers Company was the largest scrap metal firm in the nation.

In January 1921, David Joseph established the company as The David J. Joseph Company and his renowned drive and energy assured the company’s prosperity through the 1920’s. David Joseph’s trading instincts and willingness to seize opportunities were legendary -- exemplified in a single purchase of 16,000 scrap railcars and locomotives from the Southern Railway.

The stock market crash and the Great Depression temporarily staggered The Joseph Company and David Joseph, resilient and resourceful, diversified into other projects. However, he also stayed with the company’s basic scrap trading business and successfully began to export scrap iron to England in the 1930’s.

In 1945, David J. Joseph, Jr. became president of the company. A Yale graduate, David Jr. renewed his father’s commitment to the company’s heritage of service and excellence; and, following the second World War, the company once again operated offices in seven major cities as well as a scrap processing plant in Cincinnati.

David Joseph, Jr. believed that effective management and honesty were the keys to the company’s success. His statement that "The greatest asset a company can have is the people that work for it" still echoes in the essence of the company’s management philosophy today. Following David Jr.’s vision, the company embraced innovation in management systems and communication techniques. Its strengths consolidated in the 1950’s and 60’s, The David J. Joseph Company was well prepared for its rapid growth in the 1970’s and moved sure-footedly and profitably through the difficult and turbulent 80’s.

With no other family members involved in management, continuity of the business for both employees and customers was assured by the sale of The David J. Joseph Company in 1975 to SHV Holdings NV of Utrecht, The Netherlands.

In 2008, Nucor Corporation acquired the stock of SHV North America Corporation, the owner of DJJ. Nucor is the largest manufacturer of steel and steel procucts in the U.S. DJJ has served as a broker of ferrous scrap to Nucor since 1969.

With approximately 40 traders working in individual markets across the United States, The David J. Joseph Company utilizes its network organization to accommodate the specialized needs of scrap sellers and buyers in each market area. Decentralized trading responsibilities supported by strong, comprehensive, centralized staff functions permit the company to quickly and confidently respond to changing forces in the marketplace. This organizational structure, described by management as "a federation of autonomous business units," fosters a distinctive company culture of comradery, aggressiveness, energy, and pride.

In order to promote continuing growth, the company has moved without hesitation into new activities closely related and complementary with its basic business. The Joseph Company adheres to a long-standing trading policy of avoiding risk-taking and not making speculative purchases or sales.

Innovation is found throughout The Joseph Company. In the mid-1960’s, the company was instrumental in developing the first medium-sized shredders for the purpose of upgrading the quality of old automobile scrap. Burning equipment was built (and patented) to facilitate preparation of wood-lined boxcars while complying with increasingly stringent environmental regulations. Transportation and marketing staff are unparalleled in the scrap industry and their counsel is sought by those outside scrap as well. The Joseph Company was the first scrap broker to employ a Metallurgical Engineer, with hands-on scrap melting experience, in a full-time Quality Manager staff position. State-of-the-art data processing technology, thorough information analysis, and a communication system linking together company traders provide the edge necessary to stay one step ahead of the competition.

To The David J. Joseph Company, success is measured not only in profits, but also in the rewards of high-quality business practices. In the words of past Chairman James R. Breth, "Integrity, thoroughness, and reliability are the trademarks of our dealings with other businesses, as well as relationships with our employees. These practices have served us well for more than a century and will continue guide us in the years to come." Current CEO and President Keith B. Grass adds "Honesty, reliability, dependability, and strong customer relationships have been -- and will continue to be --cornerstones of our business. Our success depends on our employees, our most valuable assets."