COMPANY HISTORY
The Year Was 1963
The world had just witnessed the first man in space, and technology was starting to rapidly evolve. The first video game had just been invented and live trans-Atlantic satellite television had been made possible via the Telstar satellite. Tubesales had built a fantastic name for themselves in the USA and decided to open their first UK facility in the heart of Southampton. Tubesales UK was formed and construction began on the West Bay facility in Dock Gate 10 of the Southampton Docks. Towards the end of 1963, the facility officially opened and the UK brand was launched.
No Heavy Metal
Glam rock made a colourful splash in the 1970s and became a significant soundtrack of the era. David Bowie and Elton John taking centre-stage adorned in sequins, nail polish and platform heels. Meanwhile, Tubesales had been steadily growing business within the UK. With this new age came a small expansion - the office doubled in size and the warehouse space increased by 20%, making room for a larger inventory and more staff.
The Big Move
In 1981 Tubesales made the decision to move to an expansive purpose built facility on Southampton’s edge of town Nursling Industrial Estate. This is literally only a few hundred metres away from the M27. That’s where you’ll still find us today in 2021.
Access to USA Inventory
Despite UK job losses within the steel industry during 1986, Tubesales UK have full access to all of Tubesales’ US inventory, regardless of grade, analysis, or quantity. This innovative solution strengthened Tubesales UK’s position within the market with the ability to provide a global offering.
Bonjour
Tubesales opens in Saint Nazaire in 1990. This new presence meant an immediate improvement in delivery speeds and service levels for European clients
Hello Williams - Hello TW Metals
Following some prosperous years for Tubesales, we merge with Williams merge in 1998, creating TW Metals. During this year, TW Metals also acquire Philip Cornes, expanding our portfolio to Birmingham in the UK, and South East Asia (SEA) for the first time.
The New Millennium
TW France move to a brand new facility in Saint-Ay. The Mayor and previous Managing Director David Henman laid some of the first bricks of the building in a ceremony to open construction work. This new facility was set to be bigger and bolder than the first, providing more space for inventory and value added services. In 2004 we opened our first facility in Rzeszow Poland.
High Performance
TW Metals is acquired by the prestigious O’Neal Industries in the USA. We became part of what is now the High Performance Metals Group of O’Neal Industries in 2005.
India and Poland
Growth remains a consistent theme for TW during the first decade after the Millennium with TW Metals India opening in 2007, and TW Poland moving to a new facility in Rudna Mala to facilitate this sustained development.
London 2012 = TW Metals Expansion
1. As London hosts the Olympic Games, TW expand further within Europe and open an Italian facility, close to Naples. 2. TW France expand their facility by 40%. 3. The Philip Cornes facility moves from Redditch [Birmingham] to a larger purpose-built facility on the old Rover site in Longbridge [Birmingham].
Specialty Distribution Lands in 2015
Philip Cornes takes the TW brand in 2015, establishing a dedicated team for Specialty Distribution in Europe. This gave TW the opportunity to offer a greater service and a wider product range serving many industries including Oil & Gas, Automotive, Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Offshore.
Italy Takes Off
TW Italy gets a new purpose-built facility in Acerra to support their expansion. Back in the UK TW Metals acquires Locate Supplies in 2018, a promising Plastics and Metals supply company based in the North of England with a unique dedicated waterjet cutting technology centre.
Polish Red Ribbon
Our Vice President and Managing Director Gail Thomas cut the red ribbon with its Branch Manager Monika Slusarczyk at a ceremony to officially open a new facility in Rzeszow, Poland. With a modern interior and large warehouse, it’s an asset for TW.
Covid 19 1-0 Aircraft Flights
A new challenge hit us all in 2020 – how to run a business with external factors beyond our control. With planes grounded around the world TW continued to grow. In the same year, TW Italy moves to an expanded warehouse with improved facilities in Teverola.
Located South in 2021
The northern Locate Supplies acquisition expand and open within the existing TW Metals Southampton branch facility. TW Metals also excel within Asia and open a new facility in Singapore, positioning the company to better service SEA. As strong as an Ox, and as fierce as a Lion, TW continues to flourish within the Metals Industry and the story continues…