Seeing Orange - Valley Joist lands national Auto Zone account

The steel joist industry in America entered a recession in 2007 and slumped into a depression in October 2008 due to a lack of bank funding which brought commercial construction projects to a virtual standstill. With such a sharp decrease in demand, steel joist production industry wide has dropped 67 percent from peak years — from 1.5 million tons annually to 476,000.

One competitor could not survive in this depressed industry and shut its doors, which opened a door for Valley Joist, manufacturer of steel joists, girders and metal deck with locations in Fernley, Nev., and Ft. Payne, Ala. Knowing that this competitor had a contract with Auto Zone to produce steel joists and metal deck for new stores in Arkansas and Florida, Valley Joist Sales Manager Bill Jacoway and General Manager Fred Steele made a pitch to Auto Zone and won not only Arkansas and Florida, but a nationwide contract for 150 to 250 stores annually. Production began in March 2010 at Valley Joist East in Ft. Payne, and the first order for nine new stores — 110 tons of joist and girders and 76 tons of metal deck — began shipping in May.

Steele remains optimistic about the future. “Auto Zone has long-term plans, and we have a long-term contract,” he said.