Aluminum Recyclers Council forms

Recycled aluminum alloy producers from across the United States have formed the Aluminum Recyclers Council (ARC) to advance and grow the North American aluminum recycling industry, as well as to promote sustainable aluminum alloy products.

ARC says the council was formed so that recycled aluminum alloy producers, “key contributors to the aluminum industry, can finally have a unified voice in an industry undergoing dramatic changes.”

The organization says its mission is to promote and defend the domestic aluminum recycling industry and establish a business excellence program focused in the areas of operational efficiency, environmental leadership and worker safety.

Membership in ARC is open to secondary aluminum smelters and their suppliers. ARC says membership also could be extended to other companies in the aluminum recycling industry.

“Too often, our industry is left without a voice in legislation and regulation impacting our businesses and the lives of all our employees,” says Luke Palen, president of Spectro Alloys Corp., who also was elected as the first chairman of the ARC board. “We also recognize that we have a tremendous opportunity to expand the usage of recycled aluminum alloys in new applications. Consumers are demanding a more sustainable product, and recycled aluminum alloys provide huge benefits.”

The initial members of ARC’s board of directors and their positions include:

• Palen, chairman of ARC, president of Spectro Alloys Corp., Rosemount, Minnesota;
• Mark Buchner, vice chairman of ARC, president of Continental Aluminum, New Hudson, Michigan;
• Brandon Cox, director of ARC, CEO of Custom Alloy Sales Inc., City of Industry, California;
• Rick Merluzzi, director of ARC, president and chief operating officer of Metal Exchange Corp., St. Louis;
• Pat Carlin, director of ARC, sales manager at Superior Aluminum Alloys, New Haven, Indiana;
• Greg Palen, director of ARC, chairman at Chairman, Spectro Alloys Corp.; and
• Jeff Henderson, president of ARC, president of The Sanford Organization, Wauconda, Illinois.

The group says it intends to use the council to develop a business excellence program involving webinars and workshops for its membership. 

Buchner says, “We believe there is a real opportunity for us to work together to develop best practices in all phases of the manufacturing process, not the least of which is safety. By working together to find those best practices we will all become better at what we do.”

President Henderson adds, “There are many common issues among companies that recycle aluminum.  This provides an opportunity for ARC to create a platform as an industry voice and advance the interests of the members.”

Future events and meetings are under discussion and will be announced as they develop. To learn more about ARC visit www.recyclealuminum.org.