McNichols Co FAQ: What a Procurement Manager Wants You to Know

Unless you've been living in a well-organized spreadsheet, your search history has a few random entries. Mine has 'mcnichols co' next to 'how to screenshot on windows' more than I'd like to admit. And if you typed 'mcnichols scrap iron & metal detroit mi' or 'foil board' and ended up here, you might be looking for something else. But if you're trying to figure out whether McNichols Co is the right supplier for your next grating or perforated metal order, this FAQ is for you.

I'm a procurement manager for a mid-sized industrial contractor. I've managed our materials budget for six years, tracked hundreds of orders in our cost system, and negotiated with more metal suppliers than I can count. The answers below are the ones I wish someone had given me before I made some expensive mistakes.

What questions are covered?

• Is McNichols Co the same as McNichols Scrap Iron & Metal in Detroit, MI?
• What products does McNichols Co actually sell?
• Why is the lowest quote rarely the cheapest?
• Is local always faster than national stock?
• Should I pay more for fiberglass grating?
• How do custom sizes and fabrication work?
• What should be on my spec sheet before I ask for a quote?

Is McNichols Co the same as McNichols Scrap Iron & Metal in Detroit, MI?

No. They have similar names, but they are separate businesses. McNichols Co is a national distributor of metal and fiberglass products, including grating, perforated metal, expanded metal, wire mesh, and stair treads. McNichols Scrap Iron & Metal in Detroit, MI, is a scrap metal operation. Different industry, different business model, different invoices.

I've seen this mix-up happen in real purchasing workflows. Someone searches for 'mcnichols scrap iron & metal detroit mi,' finds a quote, and later realizes the legal entity on the order doesn't match the approved vendor list. That's a paperwork headache you don't want when an auditor asks why you paid an $18,000 invoice to an unregistered supplier. Always verify the full legal name and tax ID before you issue a PO.

What does McNichols Co actually sell?

McNichols Co's core product line is material for industrial and architectural applications: bar grating, fiberglass grating, perforated metal, expanded metal, wire mesh, safety grating, stair treads, and a range of finishes. If the project needs a walkway, a drain cover, a security screen, or a sunshade panel, there's probably a product in the catalog.

If you're searching for 'foil board' — like foil-faced backing board or decorative foil paper — that's not what McNichols sells. It's an easy search mix-up, especially when you've been comparing a dozen different materials. But for metal and fiberglass products, the range is broader than most buyers expect. They also offer custom fabrication, which is often the difference between a workable quote and a costly field modification.

Why is the lowest quote rarely the cheapest?

This is the hill I'll die on. The lowest price per unit is not the lowest total cost. In 2023, I compared costs across five vendors for a grating order. The lowest quote was $2,050 from a national online supplier. That quote looked great until I added freight at $360, a cut tolerance charge at $95, and galvanizing tags at $180. Total from that supplier: $2,685. The higher initial quote — $2,300 from a different supplier — included freight and standard cuts. That's a 16.7% difference hidden in the fine print.

I'm not saying the most expensive quote is always the best. But if you don't ask about freight, minimum order charges, handling fees, and whether the list price includes processing, you're guessing. And guessing is how project budgets die.

Is local always faster than ordering from a national supplier?

The 'local is faster' thinking comes from an era when warehouses were smaller and national distributors only moved product by rail. That's changed. Today, a well-organized national supplier with a regional service center can often beat a local shop that has to order special sizes from the same national supplier.

What matters isn't the vendor's address. It's what they actually have in stock. I've seen a local quote promise '3-5 days' and deliver in 9 because the local shop didn't stock fiberglass grating. Meanwhile, the national distributor's quote said 'ships in 5 business days' and the material arrived on day 6. The difference was almost nothing — once I stopped assuming local meant faster.

That said, local suppliers still win for true emergencies. If you need a piece of standard steel grating in hand today, a local yard can be the right call. But for planned projects, base the decision on verified ship dates, not geography.

Should I pay more for fiberglass grating?

Fiberglass grating costs more upfront. In my experience, it often runs two to three times the price of steel grating for similar dimensions. But that premium buys three specific things: corrosion resistance, electrical non-conductivity, and a much lighter panel. Those aren't luxury features. They're performance requirements.

One facility tried to save about $4,000 by using painted steel instead of fiberglass in a chemical storage area. Within two years, the steel began to fail. Replacement plus the cost of putting a service platform around the area ran roughly $12,000. The 'budget' choice looked smart until we saw rust scale. I've told this story in every procurement meeting since.

If you're comparing fiberglass vs. steel, don't just compare material prices. Compare what happens when the material gets wet, hit, or exposed to chemicals. The cheapest choice is not the one with the lowest invoice. It's the one that doesn't need to be replaced before the project pays for itself. This isn't like choosing a frameless shower door for looks — it's a functional decision that affects safety and maintenance budgets.

How do custom sizes and fabrication work at McNichols Co?

McNichols Co offers custom fabrication, but the word 'custom' changes meaning depending on who's quoting. Some suppliers include square cutting as standard. Others charge extra for any deviation from a stock panel. That discrepancy has burned me more than once.

On one order, I assumed 'custom fabrication' included notching. It didn't. The base quote was reasonable, but the extra processing pushed the final invoice 18% higher than what I'd approved. We didn't have a formal spec checklist at the time. Now we do. Every quote request includes: material, finish, thickness, bar size, spacing, width, length, quantity, edge condition, hole pattern, and required certifications. If it's not on the spec sheet, it's not in the contract.

Create the checklist now. The third time something goes wrong isn't a learning opportunity — it's a pattern. The fix costs the same either way.

What should be on my spec sheet before I ask McNichols Co for a quote?

Here's the short list: material grade, surface finish, thickness or bar size, bearing bar spacing, panel width and length, quantity, edge condition (serrated or smooth), load requirement, and any certifications for structural or safety use. Add the end-use context too, even if it feels obvious. A grated mezzanine needs different specs than a trench drain cover, and the vendor can't read your mind.

Email the RFQ instead of just calling. I know it feels slower, but written specs create a paper trail. When a delivery shows up with the wrong bar spacing, you'll want that trail. And if you need to send a marked-up drawing, yes, you can screenshot on Windows with Win+Shift+S and paste it directly into the email. I've done that more than a few times when a quick drawing was faster than a typed description.

The last thing I'll say: ask for the total delivered cost. Not the material price. Not the 'base quote.' The full number, including freight and processing. That's the number that belongs in your budget.