Atlas Metal & Iron Corp.

The Scrap Metal Processing Yard - Atlas Metal & Iron

Atlas Metal & Iron Corp. has long been recognized as a national leader in the recycling industry. We employ about 150 people and we process metals only, including steel, stainless steel, aluminum, copper, brass, lead, zinc, used beverage containers, and high temperature alloys such as nickel, cobalt, and tungsten carbide. We do, as well, also operate an insulated wire chopping line.

Processing within Closed Structures

Although we do some iron and steel processing outdoors, our primary operations of non-ferrous materials are conducted completely within closed structures. We are not in the business of iron or steel shredding or automobile dismantling or shredding; nor are we in the business of smelting or refining. Further, we do not accept, purchase, reclaim, or process chemicals or used oil.

ISRI Leadership

Atlas Metal is also a leader within our trade association ISRI. ISRI, or the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries is the trade association representing approximately 1,400 companies that process, broker, and consume scrap commodities - including ferrous and nonferrous metals, paper, glass, plastics, and textiles. (see article on our very own Jerry Simms)

Our association's leadership is increasingly apparent in State and Federal matters as global attention focuses on ways to increase recycling and decrease waste. We have played a very active role within ISRI in the development of such programs as Safety Management, Environmental Operating Guidelines, and Storm Water Management Plans.

Our Truck Fleet

Our truck fleet consists of multiple tractor-trailer units, roll-off trucks, and lugger pan trucks which are used to service the widely varying needs of a variety of the Rocky Mountain region's largest industrial accounts such as Adolph Coors, Golden Aluminum, Ball Metal Container, Anheuser-Busch and others. We also purchase much of the scrap metal collected by a large number of other smaller sized scrap yards and recycling facilities in this region.

State of the Art Sorting and Processing

We process approximately 50,000 tons or 100,000,000 pounds of metal annually. This amount represents approximately 25 million pounds of iron and steel; 25 million pounds of aluminum, 15 million pounds of copper and brass; 5 million pounds of stainless steel; and approximately 5 million pounds of other assorted nonferrous metals. The scrap industry has evolved into a very highly sophisticated commodities market in which the end use consumer has specific requirements that the scrap conform to very precise grades and specifications. We, therefore, must operate with such compliance to what has become an internationally recognized standard that recognizes no fewer than 130 grades of nonferrous scrap and 100 grades of ferrous scrap. To do so requires a great deal of sorting, processing, and analysis through the use of a wide array of equipment and training. Less than 10% of our sales volume and approximately 20% of our physical volume is related to outdoor storage or processing.

Top Grade Equipment

Typically, inbound trucks carrying ferrous material or large amounts of nonferrous scrap will weigh at our state certified public scale. Once we have obtained inbound gross weights, the trucks are then directed to the appropriate area for processing. In order to process such large volumes and to prepare the scrap to the specific grades required by the end-use consumers, it is necessary to use such equipment as hydraulic and cable cranes, floor & crane mounted shears, shears, conveyors, shaker tables, bag houses, and tractor/trailer dumping devices. Our industry by nature receives in large volumes of bulky unprocessed scrap and must reduce it efficiently and constantly to a manageable size and to strict specification performance every day.

Eco Friendly and Environmentally Driven

Recycling is an important component in any long-term environmental strategy. It saves natural resources by using secondary rather than virgin materials for manufacturing while simultaneously using less energy. Recycling allows products otherwise destined for disposal to bypass the waste stream altogether. And, it contributes to economic growth through employment opportunities, tax revenues, purchase of new equipment, increased interstate commerce, and exports.