Service Steel Aerospace (SSA) was founded in 1976 in Tacoma, Washington. The company was established as a specialty metals distributor for the aerospace industry. In 1982, SSA expanded our warehouse operations into southern California. In 1988, SSA expanded into Akron, Ohio strategically placing our facility close to both our customer base and the mills.

SSA's original founders sold the company in 1989 to Underhill Investments who continued to grow the company. Underhill Investments sold SSA to Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. in 1997. Rebranded as Reliance in 2024 to reflect its diverse portfolio, it is the largest Aerospace distributor and the largest metal service center in North America. Reliance is a fortune 500 company and trades on the NYSE (RS). Reliance operates from 290 metals centers in North America.

In 1999 SSA continued to expanded our products and services through the acquisition of United Alloys Aircraft Metals in Los Angeles, California. SSA fully integrated the companies which expanded SSA into the higher grade nickel and titanium products. The acquisition of United Alloys Aircraft Metals also diversified SSA into oil tool, medical implants, prosthetics, auto-racing and land based turbine markets.

In 2000, SSA moved our Akron, Ohio facility to a larger 30,000 sq ft warehouse in Massillon, Ohio.

In 2008, SSA acquired Dynamic Metals International in Bristol, Connecticut. The acquisition of Dynamic Metals expanded SSA's operations into the northeast and expanded our product selection into Maraging steels.

In 2012 SSA moved our Tacoma facility to a new 85,000 SF, 8 acre lot in Fife Washington. The new location offers continued expansion opportunities for future growth.

In 2014, SSA completed the acquisition of RTI Connecticut and moved the current SSA Bristol, CT location into the newly acquired 30,000 square foot facility in Windsor, CT. The larger facility enhances SSA's product line to include nickel alloys, and additional steel and titanium products. This location is strategically located to better serve the North Eastern US and Eastern Canada's high performance metals market with enhanced service and product offerings for quicker deliveries.

In November 2016, SSA opened a new facility in Wichita, Kansas. The 38,000 Sq Ft facility was constructed to service the central United States specialty metals market with local inventory, quick turn around, and industry leading service while helping to lower shipping cost. SSA Wichita is AS 9100 and ISO 9001 certified, as are all of SSA’s locations.

In October 2018, SSA moved its Massillon Ohio facility to a new state of the art metal processing facility in Canton Ohio. This new 77,000 SF facility is located on 17 acres of land allowing easy expansion in future years.

Today SSA services over 10,000 customers in 33 countries. The specialized metals that Service Steel Aerospace distributes supports industries such as, Commercial Aviation, Defense and Space, Oil and Gas, Racing, Medical, Firearms, as well as many other industries.