DeKalb Iron & Metal, LLC

DeKalb Iron & Metal, LLC is founded upon a rich history dating back to the early 1900s. This deep-rooted history is still prevalent in the level of customer service and craftsmanship found at DIMCO today.

In 1918, Michael Mable, a 20 year old immigrant peddler was traveling by train to Chicago. As the train pulled into DeKalb, Mike saw the bustling landscape of the local industries present in the community. A block from the train station, he found a small scrap yard that was established by two WWI vets only a year earlier. He negotiated a price for the fledgling operation, and on July 1, 1918, DeKalb Iron and Coal was born.

Mike made the business a successful operation by providing superior service at a fair price. As the name implies, the company handled coal in addition to scrap iron and metals. During the Depression, some of his customers could not pay him for the coal they needed to heat their homes. Mike understood the desperate situation of his customers and delivered the coal anyway. His dedication and level of service were rewarded with strong customer loyalty.

In 1947, his son-in-law, Dave Prober, entered the business. Dave, with an engineering degree from the University of Illinois, improved the company by mechanizing the operation. Dave purchased the company in 1954 and started the New Steel & Metal Service Center that year. Jeff Gorman, Dave’s son-in-law, later assumed the role of President and led the company for several years before its sale in March 2017.

DeKalb Iron & Metal celebrated 100 years of metal recycling in 2018 that included opening a remodeled drive-thru recycling facility as part of  a several facility upgrades that continue to ensure an excellent customer experience.   The new management has invested in the company by expanding its box and container fleet to meet recent customer growth; making facility upgrades to enhance the customer experience, implementing a new ERP software system to modernize technology, and so much more.  Visit DeKalb Iron & Metal today to take advantage of great facilities, excellent customer service, and honest & transparent transactions.  The photo (below) shows the new ownership and management of DeKalb Iron & Metal (Right to Left):  Chad Schwebke (with scissors), General Manager & Principal; Bob Palm, Buyer; Tom Stocks, Principal; and Brian Burns, Principal posing during the 100th Anniversary Celebration in April 2018 with members of the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce.