Ben Weitsman opens Port of Albany facility

Upstate Shredding-Ben Weitsman has opened its newest scrap metal recycling facility at the Port of Albany in Albany, N.Y. The Albany plant, to be called Ben Weitsman of Albany, is the company’s first facility with direct water access to export markets.

“After 13 years of hard work and dedication by our entire organization, opening at the Port of Albany makes this dream come true and sets our company firmly on the path to reaching our goal of $1 billion in annual sales,” says Adam Weitsman, owner and president of Upstate Shredding-Ben Weitsman.

A grand opening ceremony was held at the location on Aug. 10, 2013. According to Upstate Shredding, after securing the property the company invested around $15 million to equip a facility that will act as a retail scrap yard, a scrap processing center and an export yard. The yard is entirely paved and has new structures, scales and processing equipment.

The company says that at least 40 full-time jobs were created with up to 60 full-time positions expected by the time the facility is up to full capacity.

“Having direct access to export facilities will greatly hone our competitive edge and allow us to further tap into domestic and worldwide markets,” says Adam Weitsman. “The retail yard in Albany is a huge addition to our footprint. Our goal as a company is to dominate scrap in the Capital region by appealing to customers of all types and paying them the highest prices for their scrap metal. We have spared no expense in creating a state of the art scrap metal recycling facility that the Capital region has never seen.”

In addition to the Albany facility, Upstate Shredding-Ben Weitsman has 12 other scrap yards in Ithaca (two locations), Jamestown, Rochester, Syracuse, Owego (two locations), Allegany, Liberty, and Binghamton, N.Y.; as well as New Castle and Scranton, Pa.

The company says it has received approval to build an auto shredder in New Castle, Pa, which will be the company’s second shredder, joining one in Owego, N.Y.