NKS commenced business in 1989 as National Knife & Supply, an industrial knife distributor. Our focus was selling precision industrial knives in the paper, wood and metals industries. We represented Toyo Knife Company, the recognized worldwide leader in knife technology. We developed distributors and end-user customers, and provided them with the highest quality products and application expertise.

In 1991, NKS recognized a niche opportunity in the metals distribution industry. At the time, the small order business was under-served. Many customers, both large and small, had requirements for small quantities of stainless steel coil. The major service centers either, did not have the capability or the desire to deal with small orders. NKS developed the slitting expertise and material sources to provide stainless steel coil in quantities of 1 to 200 pounds. With the ability to ship product in 2 to 3 days (or less if required), our customer base grew, and National Kwikmetal Service was established.

Today, NKS operates both businesses out of a state-of –the-art 50,000 square foot warehouse in Des Plaines, Illinois. National Knife continues to sell industrial knives and grinding machines. Our product line has expanded to include knives used in the production of printed circuit boards, film and much more. National Kwikmetal has added additional slitting equipment and specialized film application equipment, as well as adding brass and copper to our product line. While we continue to specialize in small service sensitive orders, we have taken the same dedicated approach to orders of any size.