Service Centers
April 17, 2018
ASD’s Rebounding with Support of FMA
Written by Tim Triplett
The Association of Steel Distributors appears to be positioned for a turnaround that will give new life to the 75-year-old service center organization. ASD has found renewed purpose and direction under the auspices of the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association, International, Elgin, Ill.
ASD’s steel distributor members—mostly small to midsized family firms—have been gathering to swap war stories, and inventory, since 1943. Like many trade groups, ASD’s membership has suffered from industry consolidation, demographic changes and Internet-age communications that place a higher value on electronic relationships than personal ones. With its ranks dwindling to around 32 companies, ASD’s future was uncertain until its board decided last year to become part of FMA, a much larger organization whose members range from small fabricating job shops to major manufacturers. ASD’s current membership is in the mid-50s and rising.
