Behr Iron and Steel moved to its new port location in Portage, Ind. the beginning of this month. The vacant parcel of land was previously occupied by National Steel. According to a port spokesman Behr is the first scrap recycler with a lease arrangement with the Port of Indiana, a quasi government operated state agency.
According to local press reports Behr leased five acres at the site. The port authority approved the Behr lease the beginning of this year.
One of the reasons for the long delay between the approval and the actual opening of the direct port access facility was the length of time needed to install rail spur at the site.
The company is a division of Joseph Behr and Sons, a Rockford, Ill.-based metals and recycling company.