Unlike Roach's other companies, Combination Iron and Steel was initially established not to support the operations of his Chester shipyard, but to produce steel rails and other products for third parties.
Roach lost control of the company after his shipbuilding business entered receivership in 1885.
After noting the rapidly growing demand for steel products in the United States, Roach decided to take advantage of it by establishing a second steel mill in addition to his existing mill, the Chester Rolling Mill, which was utilized mainly for supplying steel parts for his ships.
[2] One of the company's first orders was for 15,000 tons of steel rails for the Northern Pacific Railroad Company, but when Roach had trouble sourcing the steel from existing suppliers, he decided to establish his own steelmaking firm, the Standard Steel Casting Company, which commenced production in 1884.
[2] In 1885, the Roach business empire was forced into receivership after the U.S. government voided one of its shipbuilding contracts.