Chicago-based Second City Metals celebrated its 14-year anniversary in July.

Second City Metals is a national steel distributor that sells 60-inch coil for rectangular duct and slit coil for spiral-duct manufacturers in galvanized, galvannealed, perforated, stainless, aluminum, aluminized, and polyvinyl-coated coils and sheets. In addition, the company sells spiral tube formers and all replacement parts for spiral tube formers.

All of the steel sold by Second City Metals is used in the HVAC industry, the company says. Besides selling galvanized coil, Second City Metals sells polyvinyl chloride for underground duct and perforated coil for double wall. These products, along with stainless, aluminum, aluminized and galvannealed/paint grip, are not used often in the HVAC industry, but are needed quickly if a sheet metal shop has a job calling for this type of ductwork, the company says. 

“Time is of the essence for sheet metal shops and Second City Metals knows this,” said company President Joe Landry. “Therefore, we provide quick turnaround for what we refer to as ‘specialty metals.’

“Even though it’s a small part of the HVAC business, it’s an integral part of Second City Metals’ business,” he added. “In addition, for customers who don’t need full truckloads, we can save freight by filling the truck with 60-inch galvanized coils. Customers appreciate when you provide them with options.”

Second City says it is the only steel distributor who provides all metal manufactured on a spiral tube former. In 2000 there wasn’t a steel distributer who was fully dedicated to spiral manufacturers in particular and the HVAC industry in general, so Landry said Second City capitalized on the void.  Then in 2004 Second City Metals added 60-inch galvanized coil. This enabled HVAC customers to purchase their spiral and rectangular coil from Second City Metals.

“The majority of the customers we have today started with us almost 14 years ago, and even though we’ve had customers leave for short periods of time they always seem to come back,” Landry said. “I guess that’s what happens when you consistently provide a quality product at a fair price for 14 years.”