Rigidized Metals
Richard S. Smith’s dream of producing textured stainless steel started to come true in 1940.That’s the year Smith, after years of unsuccessfully pitching the idea of manufacturing textured metals, left his job as a salesman for Republic Steel in Pittsburgh Rigidized Metals Corp. The company moved from Pittsburgh to Buffalo in 1942. Three generations later, Rigidized Metals employs 45 at its Buffalo facility and about 20 sales representatives across the country and has annual sales of more than $10 million.
For its innovative approach, financial stability and continued growth, Rigidized Metals Corp. has been named a recipient of a 2000 Galanis Award for Excellence in Family Business.
Rigidized Metals manufactures stainless steel textured with numerous patterns and designs. Smith, who passed away in 1978 first got the idea to create textured metal when he saw a decorative textured metal cigarette case in a store window. After leaving Republic Steel in 1939, Smith formed his new company in 1940.
During the early years, the company produced textured metal for the Hoover Vacuum Cleaner Co., the U.S. Navy, the commercial and military aircraft industries and the automobile and transit industries. Later, Rigidized Metals produced materials for the exterior of buildings, elevator panels and doors.
Today, Rigidized Metals lists among its customers Bell Helicopter, Ford, Chrysler and General Motors, Kenworth, Mack, Kodak, Polaroid and 3M. The company is headed by a third generation of the Smith family. Richard S. Smith Sr., company founder, passed the business down to his son, Richard S. Smith Jr. On Jan. 1 of this year, his son, Richard S. Smith III took over as company president.
The company is active in the charitable endeavors such as the Atlantic Corridor Board between Buffalo and Ireland and is involved in the local community, encouraging involvement in neighborhood litter cleanup programs.