Ben Weitsman & Son of Syracuse Business Booms after Start-Up

Upstate Shredding LLC reports that its newest division, located in Syracuse, N.Y., has seen significant growth in both volume of material handled and total sales, despite a sluggish economy seen over the first half of 2010.

In an Upstate Shredding announcement, the company notes that its newest subsidiary, Ben Weitsman & Son, which has been in operation since December, 2009, has seen the volume of scrap metal processed increase by 600 percent over start-up forecasts. Meanwhile, the company has seen sales increase by 400 percent over initial management expectations.

“When we acquired the land and equipment of the scrap metal dealer Matlow Company, we had high hopes for our new Syracuse location. Our focus was modernizing the operation, so we were surprised when the customer support ramped up as quickly as it did. We knew things were looking great, but the final first and second quarter accounting truly amazed us,” says Steve Green, Upstate’s vice president.

The company cited the majority of the sales growth to a strong base of commercial, retail and industrial customers, including a recent contract with Covanta’s Onondaga resource recovery facility in Jamesville, N.Y., which processes 990 tons of solid waste per day. The Covanta facility also generates up to 39.5 megawatts of electricity and recovers tons of scrap metal that would otherwise be landfilled. 

Indicative of the increase in business at the Syracuse yard, the company has extended its business hours from 6 am to 6 pm, six days a week. To meet growing volume and expedite customers, a second truck scale was added along with additional yard equipment and roll-off trucks, and the company expects to add another ten new employees.