Following the global standard for sustainable metal production, Schupan & Sons Inc., a family-owned industrial recycling and metals distribution company, has inaugurated a cutting-edge production facility near Kalamazoo. With a substantial investment of approximately $20 million, this 100,000-square-foot facility, situated on 10 acres behind the Midlink Business Park, marks a pivotal move towards meeting the escalating demand for eco-friendly or 'green' aluminium.
Embracing the sustainability ethos, the facility underscores the industry's shift towards recycled aluminium for lightweight applications, emphasising its low-carbon footprint and contribution to environmental welfare, a stark contrast to conventional primary aluminium production methods.
When is the recycling facility estimated to begin operations?
Scheduled for full production by the end of January, the facility boasts state-of-the-art equipment and can process up to 50 million pounds of aluminium annually. Recognising the surge in preference for recycled "green" aluminium, particularly in industries like automotive, this venture positions Schupan for substantial growth in the years ahead.
Currently, Schupan blurted out in a company statement: "The reason we put the plant in is we know that in the next few years, the demand for (green aluminium) from our consumers is going to be very great. The idea is: We want to be proactive, not reactive, and we already have consumers for the product we're going to be making that want to buy it."
In response to the surging global demand for environmentally conscious solutions, the production of "green aluminium" is witnessing a commendable upswing. This sustainable aluminium, derived from recycled materials or sourced from low-carbon electricity, is gaining traction across the automotive, construction, and beverage can sectors, aligning with governmental emission-reduction objectives.
Will Schupan's recycling technology bring a 'green' aluminium revolution to Southwest Michigan?
Acknowledging the energy-intensive and carbon dioxide-emitting nature of conventional aluminium production, Schupan & Sons Inc.'s latest facility, equipped with advanced aluminium shredding and sorting technology, stands as a pioneering venture in Southwest Michigan.
The utilisation of its nationwide trading group ensures a seamless supply chain from the scrap industry to aluminium billet makers and coil producers.
The company asserted: "There's a huge difference — and energy difference — between what we call primary aluminium, which takes a lot more energy and power, and secondary aluminium, which is the ability to use scrap and has about 90% energy savings."
"By reusing aluminium, (it) can be used over and over. It's extremely recyclable," Schupan added.
Positioned as the eighth facility in the Kalamazoo area, this expansion underscores Schupan's commitment to sustainable practices, complementing its broader 125,000-square-foot initiative in Russellville, Ky., devoted to a beverage container recycling plant—a testament to their strategic and eco-conscious endeavours. This latest facility will continue Schupan's existing aluminium recycling activities around Southwest Michigan.
Other relevant recycling advancements in the area
Norsk Hydro, the Norwegian aluminium and renewable energy giant, has completed a $150 million recycling plant in Cassopolis, producing up to 265 million pounds of recycled aluminium annually. Norsk Hydro also formed a joint venture with Michigan-based recycling firm Padnos to introduce Hydro's flagship sorting technology, Hysort, in the U.S. The fifty-fifty enterprise, called Allusort LLC, aims to improve the supply chain's environmental footprint and maximise the use of complex scrap.
The executive vice president of Hydro Aluminium Metal, Eivind Kallevik, exemplified: "We are starting to see the trends toward customers wanting more circularity and looking more at the environmental footprint of the products that the consumer can buy at the end. So we've done this for quite some years in Europe … and then we looked at: How can we introduce this product into the U.S. market?"
These investments from companies like Norsk Hydro and Schupan are essential for Michigan's auto industry and broader future, according to Glenn Stevens, executive director of MICHauto and vice president of mobility initiatives for the Detroit Regional Chamber.
"Sustainability, clean energy and the new energy economy are really growing. It's part of the auto industry, (and) it's also growing on its own as an industry, and Michigan's ability to lead in these technologies, which are environmentally friendly, sustainable, focused, and clean energy solutions, is really important for Michigan's future," Stevens concluded.
The recycling industry is gaining immense popularity owing to the increased use of repurposed material that aligns with global carbon reduction standards. If you wish to learn more about the initiatives in the recycling sector, please have a look at AL Circle's special report, World Recycled Aluminium Market Analysis.
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