Indiana Scrap Metal Recycler Plans $4 Million Upgrade

According to an article in Manufacturing & Technology eJournal, long-time scrap metal recycler J. Solotken & Co., Indianapolis, will spend $4 million to move into a renovated facility across town. The investment includes buying a former steel warehouse on English Avenue, on the southeast side of the city, along with renovations and the purchase of equipment.

Although the new 140,000-square-foot space will be slightly smaller than what the company has now, it will mark a more efficient one-floor operation, says Joe Alpert, president of J. Solotken.

“We’ve been at South Harding Street location in west Indianapolis near downtown since 1936,” Alpert says. “This used to be a four story furniture factory so we’re dealing with things like freight elevators and ramps. Our new site will have 40-foot ceilings. It will be an open, unobstructed operation.”

Getting the new site ready will take 12 to 18 months.

The company has 40 employees and Alpert expects to keep everyone after the move, which he says has been a long time coming. “The search to find a property that fit our needs took about 10 years.”

J. Solotken is a specialty scrap metal company focused on nonferrous metals, such as high temperature alloys, copper, brass and aluminum. In addition to its expertise on non-ferrous scrap, it purchases various industrial grades of iron and steel scrap with direct mill shipments and brokerage services, according to its website. Its scrap customers include foundries, mills, ingot makers, smelters and refiners.

Alpert says his company doesn’t handle things like autos and appliances and doesn’t operate a steel shredder.

This article was written by Joe Cogliano II, Manufacturing & Technology eJournal, www.mfrtech.com.