A Tribute to Our Founder

Theodore J. Orlowski
1934 – 2017

Born in Chicago in 1971, Ted founded the business that became Arlington Metals Corporation. Through hard work, leadership, and unyielding optimism he built an industry leading steel and metals processing and sales company serving customers nationwide. Ted started from humble roots and a big family in the Humboldt Park neighborhood, where he met Virginia and then later married her in 1955. In the late 1960’s and after working for others, Ted’s business “Orlowski & Associates” transformed into Arlington Processing in 1971 when the family moved to Arlington Heights, Illinois.  He rented space at 7400 Channel Road in Skokie, Illinois to run a single 52-inch Wean pull-thru slitter, only toll processing steel. Ted did it all, from installing, operating, maintaining the equipment to marketing, selling, and collecting from customers. In 1974, he formed a metal sales division, and from there the business grew into Arlington Metals Corporation in 1981. Arlington opened its current facility in Franklin Park, Illinois in 1981, and then opened its Sawyer, Michigan facility in 1987.  Today, Arlington Metals is truly a family business, consisting of Ted’s family and the larger family of employees, customers, vendors, and friends whose lives he enriched and mentored over many years.  As a result, Arlington Metals and its legacy will live-on for generations to come.

Threading through the decades…a ribbon of metal reflecting a dedication to service.

It all started in 1971 with a single, used 52″ Wean pull-thru slitter under the name Arlington Processing Corporation. As the first ribbons of slit steel emerged, it signaled a journey that has covered a million miles of metal, threading through time, streaming into our customers’ plants to be transformed into thousands of different products. 

There was a special pride seeing that first coil loaded on a truck.  We carefully scrutinized and packaged it, being sure it was exactly what our new customer wanted. 

We still feel that first day’s pride.  From the partnerships that have developed with our customers and vendors, the company has grown and changed, and though it was renamed Arlington Metals Corporation in 1981, it is now compromised of multiple locations with investments in the latest technologies and the best training for our people with these changes being made with one primary focus; “a commitment to our customers.”

Even as the speed of business accelerates, we remain focused on what is important; how to better serve the customer.  Arlington Metals is truly a reflection of a dedication to our employees, customers, vendors and our investment in the future.  We are proud of our work, and proud of the next generation that has made its mark on the company and helped set the course for the future.

We invite you to walk our production floor, talk to our team, and see the pride of ownership our people have in every job entering our doors.