United Pipe & Steel Corp., a subsidiary of Reliance, Inc. and headquartered in Ipswich, Massachusetts, is a distributor of standard pipe and tube products in the United States. The company serves wholesale distributors in the plumbing, heating, HVAC, fire protection, electrical and other industries from their distribution centers across United States. Products sold include steel pipe, copper tubing, PVC pipe, electrical conduit, strut channel and threaded rod.[1]

United Pipe & Steel Corp.
Company typeMaster Distributor
IndustryPlumbing, heating, hvac, pvf, electrical
Founded1980; 44 years ago (1980) in Everett, Massachusetts
FounderDavid Cohen
HeadquartersIpswich, Massachusetts
Number of locations
12 Distribution Centers (2024)
Area served
Contiguous United States
Key people
Greg Leidner (CEO)
ProductsPipe, electrical conduit, strut channel, threaded rod
ServicesLess than truckload shipping
OwnerReliance, Inc.
Websiteunitedpipe.com

History

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United Pipe & Steel was founded by David Cohen in Everett, Massachusetts, in 1980.[2] Morgenthaler, a private equity firm, acquired the company in 2013.[3]

In 2019 United Pipe & Steel was acquired by One Equity Partners,[4] and operationally integrated with Merfish Pipe & Supply, a master distributor based in Houston, Texas. In 2020, both companies were merged and renamed Merfish United.[5]

In 2021 Reliance, Inc. acquired the company,[6] and it was renamed back to United Pipe & Steel in 2023, with an updated brandmark.[7]

Business model

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United Pipe operates a fleet of semi-trailer trucks and flatbed trailers, delivering less-than-truckload orders of pipe to wholesale distributors in the industries served. This model, known as master distribution, supports the supply chain by allowing suppliers to make smaller purchases and replenish their inventories more quickly.[8] By allowing distributors to mix and match products, low minimum order weights can be easily met for free freight allowed on regular, weekly truck delivery routes.[9]

References

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  1. ^ "Products". United Pipe & Steel. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
  2. ^ "2017 Supply House Times PVF Ring of Honor: United Pipe & Steel | 2017-12-13". www.supplyht.com. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
  3. ^ Equity, Morgenthaler Private. "Morgenthaler Private Equity Announces The Recapitalization Of United Pipe & Steel Corp". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
  4. ^ "United Pipe & Steel and Merfish Pipe & Supply announce merger | 2019-02-04 | Supply House Times". www.supplyht.com. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
  5. ^ "Merfish Pipe & Supply and United Pipe & Steel Announce Name Change to Merfish United | 2020-02-03 | phcppros". www.phcppros.com. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
  6. ^ Partners, One Equity. "One Equity Partners Agrees to Sell Merfish United". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
  7. ^ "United Pipe & Steel Corp. Returns | phcppros". www.phcppros.com. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
  8. ^ "Master Distribution in the New Era | 2020-06-01 | phcppros". www.phcppros.com. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
  9. ^ "2017 Supply House Times PVF Ring of Honor: United Pipe & Steel | 2017-12-13". www.supplyht.com. Retrieved 2024-04-01.