History of ARMOR Steel Buildings

Armor Steel Buildings, Inc. is a closely held employee owned and operated corporation with our corporate headquarters located in Englewood, Co. The diverse corporation consists of subsidiaries and affiliates located throughout the United States. Manufacturing facilities are located in Ambridge, PA; Mckees Rocks, PA; Taylorville, IL; and a new West Cost facility scheduled for late 2008.

Our founder and CEO, Dale Schamel, came into the steel building industry as an employee of a major steel buildings manufacture. He started out as an entry level project manager trainee for the company’s authorized dealers.

The day before Thanksgiving Day the overly ambitious project manager was dismissed by the company, just to be hired back a few days later due to a few dealers demanding his return. He alone was then transferred to a direct sales department where he was the lone sales representative. This department soon developed into a 4–6 member sales team that produced 5–7 million in steel component sales alone for the company. Throughout the next four years, it became apparent to Mr. Schamel and the company he worked for that his ambition, ideals and dreams well exceeded those of his employer, being dismissed a second time, he decided to set out on his own.

Using only his dreams, the common denominator of success, and the knowledge he had gained in project management and direct sales. Mr. Schamel started on his own as a steel building contractor / broker. With only $8,000 in his pocket, and growing family, he was faced with an unsure future. He was soon joined by a few of his previous associates, where he quickly turned a tiny basement office into an extremely successful young company. His company’s aggressive growth quickly brought the attention and concerns from many of the larger competing steel manufacturers and brokers, as well as manufacturers competing for his business, who were looking to get on board quickly as they saw the company’s business and visibility escalate.

One of the many manufactures that took notice of the rapidly growing company was a Panel Buildings factory in McKees Rocks, PA. Mr. Schamel had been ordering buildings through a dealer for just a short time, when a majority partner of the manufacturing firm found that the entire local dealer’s booming business was coming from one single broker. He contacted Dale directly to arrange a deal to have his building orders be purchased from his plant, rather than through a fading local dealer, ensuring Dale’s future panel business success.

Mr. Schamel, and the majority partner of the McKees Rocks, PA factory, along with a few of the more productive partners, decided to pool their business knowledge and resources and open up a straight wall “I-Beam” buildings factory in Ambridge, Pa. Even though the new factory struggled a bit in its infancy, it quickly evolved into the smooth and successfully running operation it is today. Mr. Schamel, and the majority partner of the McKees Rocks, PA factory, along with a few of the more productive partners; all decided to pool their business knowledge and resources and open up a straight wall “I-Beam”buildings factory in Ambridge, PA. Even though the new factory struggled a bit in its infancy, it quickly evolved into the smooth and successfully running operation it is today.

Mr. Schamel came across a phenomenal steel building opportunity. A local steel buildings company, with offices in Denver and manufacturing facilities in Taylorville, IL, which was run by a long-time associate, was being forced into a hostile take over by the facilities other partner who intended to downsize or liquidate the business. Mr. Schamel chose to use this opportunity to help an old friend and keep the factory in business; he bought out the other partner who would have rather seen the company suffer or be liquidated.

Armor moved into the 10,000 square foot corporate office in Englewood, Co where the company continued to flourish, and expand. Armor moved into the 10,000 square foot corporate office in Englewood, Co where the company continued to flourish, and expand.

Mr. Schamel was again approached by the majority partner of the Panel Buildings factory in McKees Rocks, Pa., where he was invited to become a partner of the facility in addition to the Ambridge and Taylorville facilities.

Countless numbers of businesses in the steel building industry were forced to close their doors due to an unprecedented raise in raw material costs. Even though it was an extremely difficult year for the industry, Armor Steel persevered and continued corporate growth hiring new management trainees, unlike so many other steel businesses which were forced to lay off employees. In fact Armor took this opportunity to expand its facilities into a more modern and professional 52,000 sqft facility that allowed room for its unprecedented growth. The ability to stay virtually debt free while expanding its corporate offices and 3 factory locations, has greatly contributed to Armor, and its affiliated companies long term success. The reason behind Armors continued expansion, while others were closing, was due, primarily to the solid financial foundation that stemmed from the debt free philosophy and the early investments decisions Mr. Schamel and his partners made early on and as the business grew.

The ongoing youthful and ambitious dreams of Armor’s officers, managers, employees, and affiliated companies, continue to fuel the company’s growth. With our larger corporate facility, our current expansion of management, and qualified dealers; Armor has current plans for an additional plant on the west coast by 2008. With the new plant, Armor and its affiliates will be able to further facilitate its ability to offer customers and dealers worldwide, our world class customer service, superior quality, and price. The ongoing youthful and ambitious dreams of Armor’s officers, managers, employees, and affiliated companies, continue to fuel the company’s growth. With our larger corporate facility, our current expansion of management, and qualified dealers; Armor has current plans for an additional plant on the west coast by 2008. With the new plant, Armor and its affiliates will be able to further facilitate its ability to offer customers and dealers worldwide, our world class customer service, superior quality, and price.

Armor Steel Buildings, Inc.
"The Symbol of Strength, Integrity and Quality."
We work to earn your confidence, before, during and long after the sale.