Scottish Metals Recycler To Open Plant In NC

A Scottish company is opening a $4 million aviation metals-recycling plant in Monroe that could eventually employ 40 and house a training facility to serve the entire corporation.

Caledonian Alloys Ltd. of Livingston, Scotland, expects to begin production as soon as next month in the former Mid-State Iron Works building in Monroe, NC.

The facility is expected to start small, although it is expected to grow as demand for the metals increases, company officials say.

For Monroe, the aviation-related business fits well with the industries the city wants to attract, says Chris Platé, city business and economic development director.

"It's part of the clusters that we're going after, and it's a supplier to a larger company," he says, referring to Allvac Industries Inc., which employs more than 1,000 workers in Monroe. "It's strengthens our second-largest industry," Platé adds.

Caledonian Alloys contracts with Allvac and other metals companies to collect titanium, nickel and cobalt that is lost during production. The company then degreases the metals, melts them into usable shapes and resells them.

The plant isn't a low-end metals reprocessing facility, Platé says.

"This is different from scrap metal," he says. "This sells for (prices) in the thousands of dollars a ton and is only used in highly specialized aviation parts."

In recruiting Caledonian Alloys, Platé used a little-known state statute that exempts recycling companies from city and county property taxes.

However, the company doesn't qualify for other city and county inducements, which are based on employment and investment, Platé says. "We found a better option for them."

Monroe and Union County will reap benefits from the plant, Platé says, noting that the company is buying a home in town to house executives and other workers who will be in Monroe for short periods of time.

Caledonian Alloys also will employ local workers and pay property taxes on sections of the plant not directly dedicated to recycling.

The company will be Monroe's first Scottish business. The plant will be managed by Mike Oruska, who couldn't be reached for comment.

Caledonian Alloys also has facilities in West Virginia, Connecticut, Great Britain, the Czech Republic and China. American City Journals