Scrap Smelter Starts Furnace

Metalico Aluminum Recovery Inc. said it started one furnace at its secondary aluminum smelter in western New York state, with a second furnace expected to double production when it comes on line next year.

Ken Blumberg, assistant plant manager, said the smelter in Lackawanna, NY, uses scrap aluminum as feed, which it then melts and forms into finished product.

"It is focused on making (380-type) remelt for the automotive die-cast users, and aluminum de-ox cone, which is used in integrated steel mills to deoxidize molten steel," he said.

Blumberg said that MARI, which is wholly owned by Cranford, New Jersey-based Metalico Inc., declined to disclose its present aluminum production capacity.

"We would rather not comment on that. It is a start-up and it is not like it's coming on-line with 3 million pounds a month. It will be at some point," he added, "but when we're at that point, we'll give out figures on capacity."

Currently on line are the first of two furnaces, a de-ox casting machine and a lab grade spectrometer, a MARI statement said. It added that the plant is fully permitted by the state Department of Environmental Conservation, in accordance with federal emissions standards.

Metalico Inc. operates scrap recycling and metal fabricating plants in seven states, and provides MARI with scrap. Reuters