A HISTORY OF MAKING HISTORY

The David J. Joseph Company began in 1885, as the Joseph Joseph and Brothers Company in Cincinnati, Ohio. Since then we’ve grown to two billion dollars in assets, a strong equity base and no debt. We think Joseph would be proud.

DJJ is proud to be America’s most trusted, full-service scrap recycling company. Our company was built the old-fashioned way…with loyal customer relationships, smart business sense and hard work. 

black and white photo of joseph joseph

1863

Joseph Joseph emigrated from Germany and settles in Cincinnati, Ohio, trading hides and wool.

early djj workers

1885

Joseph’s brother Samuel joined him and The Joseph Joseph and Brothers Company was born. In 1885, when demand for scrap began to soar, the brothers wisely switched from hide and fur trading to scrap metal recycling. Their business was located on Front Street in Cincinnati.

1905

Joseph Joseph passed away and son David J. Joseph became manager of the company’s entire scrap metal operation.

1914

Company had offices in most major cities, plus 7 scrap yards.

DJJ old corporate building

1921

On January 1, 1921, the company was renamed from Joseph Joseph & Company to The David J. Joseph Company (DJJ).

vintage men loading ship

1932

DJJ began exporting.

1938

David J. Joseph, Jr. graduated from Yale and joined the Company.

david j joseph jr

1945

David J. Joseph, Jr. becames President. The company had 7 offices and 1 scrap yard.

1950

DJJ had 5 offices and 2 scrap yards.

1954

David Joseph, Sr. passed away

1956

DJJ’s first agency account established.

1960

DJJ had 6 offices, 4 scrap yards.

DJJ car shredded vintage

1964

DJJ installed its first shredder in Tampa, FL.

two stacks of metal

1970

DJJ’s brokerage volume doubled since 1963
Company had 9 offices, 6 scrap yards.

1975

Company was sold to SHV Holdings, N.V of Utrecht, The Netherlands.

1980

DJJ became America’s largest scrap company. NF Division formed. The company had 14 offices, 14 scrap yards.

1981

DJJ formed the Railroad Equipment Marketing division (now Rail Equipment Group).

1982

U.S. Steel Industry operated at 48% of capacity, but DJJ remained profitable.

djj logo without nucor

1985

DJJ Centennial celebration! DJJ returned to deep sea trading after 45-year hiatus. Quality Department formed (becomes Mill Service Group).

1990

DJJ’s brokerage volume doubled again.
Company had 12 offices, 7 scrap yards.

david j joseph jr

1991

David J. Joseph, Jr. honored as a “Great Living Cincinnatian.”

Western Metals Recycling tan and green logo

1996

Western Metals Recycling (WMR) LLC formed.

river metals recycling and trademark metals recycling logos

1998

River Metals Recycling (RMR) LLC & Trademark Metals Recycling (TMR) LLC formed. David J. Joseph, Jr. passed away.

gemini logo blue and red and black

2000

DJJ Metals Group formed. Gemini also formed.

2001

DJJ Ferro-Alloy Group formed.

two stacks of metal

2002

DJJ’s brokerage volume doubled again.
Tampa mega shredder was installed.

2004

TMR acquired 3 Orlando facilities.
RMR acquired Somerset, KY facility.

u-pull-&-pay logo yellow black

2005

U-Pull-&-Pay, LLC established with purchase of Orlando property.
RMR acquires Owensboro, KY facility.

Texas Port Recycling black and blue logo

2006

Texas Port Recycling (TPR) formed; U-Pull-&-Pay (UPAP) LLC established in West Palm, FL; RMR acquired facilities in Paducah, KY and Metropolis, IL; TMR acquired facilities in Tampa (Ybor) and Sarasota, FL.

2007

TPR installed Mega Shredder; RMR acquired facilities in Xenia, OH and Greensburg, IN; U-Pull-&-Pay greenfield stores opened in Cincinnati, OH and Orlando, FL; U-Pull-&-Pay acquired stores in Albuquerque, NM, Colorado Springs and Aurora (Denver), CO.

nucor, metal recycling services, advantage metals recycling logos

2008

Nucor Corporation purchased DJJ. Advantage Metals Recycling (AMR) LLC formed. Metal Recycling Services (MRS) acquired. Opened Hong Kong Office.

david j joseph company logo

2010

DJJ 125 year celebration! TMR acquired 4 Ocala, FL recycling facilities.

2011

Metals Group opened Phoenix office.
TMR opened Sanford, FL and acquired Valdosta, GA recycling facilities.

2012

TMR acquired Tampa, Gainesville, and Sarasota, FL recycling facilities
WMR acquired Grand Junction, CO recycling facility
MRS acquired Gastonia and Marion, NC recycling facilities
UPAP acquired Indianapolis, IN and Phoenix, AZ self-serve auto parts stores.

2014

TMR acquired 5 Tampa FL area recycling facilities. WMR aquired Salt Lake City and Orem, UT recycling facilities.

2017

UPAP opened Pittsburgh, PA store.

2018

UPAP opened Houston, TX store.

2019

RMR acquired 4 Kentucky and Indiana recycling facilities.

full DJJ logo nucor

2020

12 District Offices
6 Recycling Regions with 63 facilities (18 automobile shredders)
Metals Group
Scrap Management
Rail Equipment Group
Ferro-Alloy Group
Gemini
12 U-Pull-&-Pay stores
Nearly 1,900 teammates worldwide