David J. Joseph Co. marks 125th anniversary
Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-Chief
The David J. Joseph Co. reached a milestone—125 years in business as of this month—celebrating its formation in the 19th century, when German immigrant Joseph Joseph started a hide and fur trading business in Cincinnati, where the company still bases its headquarters. Joined by brother Samuel, Joseph Joseph formed The Joseph Joseph and Brothers Co., and scrap metal became the primary focus of the family business.
From those beginnings, the company has grown to a become a global scrap broker, processor, and logistics provider. David J. Joseph became manager of the company’s entire scrap operation following his father’s death, and the company assumed its current name on Jan. 1, 1921.
Among other services, the company provides custom railcar purchase or lease packages to industrial rail users. DJJ operates one of the largest private railcar fleets in the U.S. to help deliver its traded commodities to customers. In addition, for more than two decades DJJ has been developing tailored programs for steel mills to minimize liquid steel costs while maximizing customer productivity and profitability. DJJ’s safety process includes ongoing training and procedures “to ensure the safety of all employees, customers, and suppliers.”
The company says it prides its longstanding role in the evolving U.S. recycling industry, long before “going green” and recycling became household words. The David J. Joseph Co. today supplies scrap, scrap substitutes, ferro alloys, and nonferrous metals to steel producers, foundries, and aluminum smelters, sourcing materials from its own scrap processing facilities and others from around the world. DJJ trades extensively in international markets, and operates 15 ferrous and nonferrous metals brokerage offices, including offices in Hong Kong and Switzerland.
DJJ’s corporate parent is Charlotte, N.C.-based Nucor Corp., a purchaser of ferrous scrap and a steel producer and recycler serving North America.
