About Us
Our mission & Values
The mission of Charter Steel Trading is to provide reliable quality and service solutions to our customers through dedicated employees that value teamwork, accountability, and passion.
Customer Satisfaction
Respect
Passion
Accountability
Integrity
Teamwork
Customer Satisfaction
Respect
Passion
Accountability
Integrity
Teamwork
Our History
From Humble Beginnings to Steel Service Leader: A History of Charter Steel Trading
Founded in 1976 in Chicago, Charter Steel Trading Co., Inc. began as a steel brokerage, focusing on trading steel coils. A newcomer to the industry, Gary Birnbaum, joined the company shortly after its inception. Through hard work, dedication, and a natural talent for sales, Birnbaum quickly mastered the steel business.
Expansion and Growth
As Charter Steel prospered, Birnbaum recognized the need for vertical integration. In 1978, the company purchased a facility on West Roosevelt Road and invested in its first slitting line. This strategic move allowed Charter Steel to transform from a broker to a full-service steel processor, catering to customer needs with customized slit coils. The company's commitment to growth continued with the addition of more slitting lines over the years to meet increasing demand.
A Family Legacy and Continued Expansion
In 2010, Charter Steel entered a new chapter with the arrival of Gary's son, Evan Birnbaum, marking the company's transition to a second generation of leadership. This year also saw a significant physical expansion with the acquisition of a second facility on South Kostner Avenue. This strategic addition provided crucial cut-to-length processing capabilities, shearing services, and vital storage space for sheet metal, coils, and rail access. With over 250,000 square feet of space across both Chicago locations, Charter Steel solidified its position as a major player, servicing customers throughout North America.
Diversification and National Reach
Charter Steel's pursuit of growth extended beyond Chicago's borders. In 2012, the owners of Charter Steel acquired a tube mill in Brownstown, Indiana, now known as E & H Tubing. This strategic move diversified Charter Steel's product portfolio and established a national presence in the carbon steel tube market.
A Dedicated Team for All Your Steel Needs
Today, Charter Steel Trading remains a family-owned business, committed to providing exceptional service and high-quality steel products. Their dedicated team offers a comprehensive selection of sheet metal, coils, and tubing to meet the diverse needs of their customers across North America.
Certification
ISO 9001:2015 certification acts as a valuable roadmap for continuous improvement, ultimately leading to enhanced customer satisfaction, operational efficiency, and a competitive advantage in the marketplace.
Testimonials
Hear from satisfied clients across industries who trust us for exceptional service, reliability, and expertise in the steel market.
Ability to be nimble and service their customer whether big or small is important to us being a small steel user.
Fabricator
Responsiveness to a situation helps put them above other steel service centers.
Mid South OEM
Friendly and professional customer service who communicate to assure on-time delivery.
Midwest Stamper
Knowledge of steel is second to none in the industry.
Midwest OEM
Contact
If you are interested in our products and services and want to know more details, Please contact us by calling us, emailing us, or leaving a message here, we will respond to you as soon as we can.
