A little about us ...
Atlas Metal & Iron Corp. is an industrial scrap metal processor. We purchase both nonferrous and ferrous metallic scrap from industry and from the general public.
Such metals are aluminum, brass, copper, lead, stainless steel, zinc, cast iron, and steel. We process the incoming scrap metal by various methods such as baling, cutting, chopping, shearing, and sorting.
- Hydraulic baling presses are used to compress recyclables that require greater density prior to shipping;
- hydraulic shears use a downward cutting motion to shear large pieces of scrap for better manageability;
- briquetters increase density as do balers, but the briquettes differ from bales in size, density, and shape.
We operate, inside our warehouse, an insulated wire chopper that reduces insulated wire and cable in size into small nuggets and separate the metal from the insulation jacket through a series of steps which include granulation, magnetic separation, sizing, and air separation.
After processing, our products are then shipped by truck and railcar to end use consumers for remelting and manufacture of new products which otherwise would have been produced from virgin ores.
We also operate a maintenance shop for the fueling, servicing, and repair of our trucks and equipment. Such maintenance activity, whenever practical, takes place indoors in our shop, but may also occur outside as well. A new 22,000 square foot warehouse has been constructed on the southwest quadrant of the site and it will be used to warehouse non-ferrous metals.
About Atlas Metal & Iron Corp
The Company's History
Incorporation and Early Beginnings
Atlas Metal & Iron was incorporated in Denver, Colorado in 1956 by Don Rosen and three other family members. The company began operations on a one acre site purchased to start a small retail scrap yard.
The company struggled through its first seven years of business, but began making significant financial progress in 1964. The next year, however, the company suffered a substantial setback when it was struck by Denver's famous Platte River flood of 1965. The effects of the flood required Atlas to obtain financing to rebuild the company, but also created an opportunity to plan for its future.
The 1970s and 1980s
This period was an era of environmental awareness which led to an increase in the numbers of corporations and individuals involved in recycling. During the period of 1972 - 1978, Atlas experienced double digit growth and sales increased from the $20 million to the $30 million range. This period was, however, one of high inflation which put tremendous strains on obtaining and controlling financing. Even with the enhanced corporate and consumer awareness of recycling, this inflationary period created difficulty for the company resulting in only single digit growth.
The 1980s was a period which brought on many new environmental, governmental, and regulatory challenges to the recycling industry. These challenges enabled Atlas to develop its environmental operating guidelines and to position itself to meet current and future environmental requirements. This period was also one in which the company experienced slower growth and only moderate profits.
The Early 1990s
The company's corporate management team is now comprised of five principals having extensive recycling experience. Don Rosen, the Company's founder, serves as President. Art Medow, Executive Vice President, is a 35 year veteran of the scrap metal business. Marvin Kippur, Vice President, is another long time member of the recycling industry. Michael Rosen, Secretary Treasurer, is a graduate of the University of Colorado School of Business. Robert Simms is a graduate of Miami University and has extensive experience in both ferrous and nonferrous metal trading.
With specific goals of growth and stability, the Atlas management team has moved the company forward. The company made significant capital investments in state-of-the-art metal processing and recycling equipment to efficiently handle growing metal tonnage needs.
These investments have resulted in higher revenues and greater profitability. Atlas now has four facilities in the greater Denver metropolitan area incorporating over 10 acres of land, and is the largest scrap metal recycling firm in the Rocky Mountain region. With over 100 employees, the company services both the retail recycling industry and the rapidly growing corporate recycling arena.
1994 and 1995 proved to be exciting years of growth and profitability for Atlas. Sales grew to $40 million in 1994 and dramatically increased 30% in 1995 to reach a record high of $52 million. Much of this growth was due to higher commodities prices, as actual growth in physical volume of total tonnage handled was between 9% and 10%. While sales increased 30%, the company's profits rose over 250%.
This sensational rise in profits was due to the introduction of highly sophisticated scrap metal processing equipment. The addition of this equipment enabled Atlas to decrease its costs of production, increase the turning of its inventory, and decrease its dependency upon outside financing. By reducing its processing costs, Atlas was able to expand in its geographical region and obtain other sources of scrap metal from suppliers that were previously selling to Atlas' competitors.
During 1996 and 1997, lower commodity prices resulted in reduced sales volume to the $40 to $45 million range with profits ranging from $750,000.00 to $1 million. Even with lower sales volume, the company continued to increase its profitability.
The Present
Atlas Metal & Iron Corp. moved to a new larger facility at 1100 Umatilla. Featuring an ATM for cash dispensing and full security camera and monitoring system.
