Global Materials Services LLC

Industry:	Marine Shipping & Transportation
Revenues:	$24.8 Million
Employees:	350

Description

The foundation for Global Material Services was established in 1981 with the construction of Rivergate Terminal in a new still water port area of Memphis. In July, 1993, the Rivergate Terminal Company partners acquired Mid-South Terminal Company and its public terminal located on Presidents Island in Memphis. In 1992, the Rivergate Terminal Company facility was leased to International Shipholding Company. ISC uses the facility to lift lash barges from the water and unload and load in a covered area. In 1993, the Mid-South Terminal Company merged with the Memphis terminal operated by American Commercial Marine Services, a division of American Commercial Barge Lines. The two terminals continued to operate under the name of Mid-South Terminal Company (MSTC). The company recognized the benefits of operating multiple terminals to better serve shippers and end users, and it began a long term program to develop a network of terminals serving America's industrial heartland. In 1995, MSTC acquired the operating assets of Pine Bluff Warehouse Company (PBW). PBW had facilities in Pine Bluff, Fort Smith, West Memphis, Osceola, and Helena, Arkansas. Then in 1999, MSTC acquired Arrow Terminals Company, headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Arrow acquisition substantially expanded GMS' network with their terminals on the upper Ohio River, Chicago, Houston, Decatur and internationally. Concurrent with the Arrow acquisition, the name of MSTC was changed to Global Materials Services LLC (GMS). GMS restructured in two operating divisions: RivTerm Division and Arrow Terminal Division. RivTerm operates general commodity public terminals, whereas Arrow specializes in ferroalloys, pig iron and other bulk supplies to the metals industries. However, each terminal provides general commodity or alloy services as needed by local markets. In late 1999, the RivTerm Division acquired a public warehousing company in Fort Smith, Arkansas and now operates that company under the name of Warehouse Services. In May, 2000, the RivTerm Division acquired the terminal, marine and trucking operations of Hill Marine Enterprises in Decatur, Alabama. Then in May 2001, GMS RivTerm Division acquired 6 terminals from its affiliate, American Commercial Terminals to round out the current 26 terminal network. The ACT terminals are located along the lower Ohio, Missouri and Tennessee Rivers. GMS is in the process of completing an internet accessed data network to tie together the physical terminal network. This system will make inventories, receipts and shipments available at any time to shippers or consignees.