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Interco is a global recycling company headquartered in St. Louis with facilities in Missouri and Illinois. The company ships nonferrous and electronics scrap worldwide utilizing established partnerships with end consumers in the United States, Europe, Latin America, and Asia.

Interco has been recycling computers, batteries, metals, and electronics with a focused track record of innovation and integrity since 1996. The company specializes in the placement of smelter-ready materials catering to commercial, industrial, dealer, and government organizations nationwide.  

The Interco recycling facilities are separated into three departments: nonferrous metals, computers and electronics, and battery processing. The nonferrous facility is located on the 40-acre main campus in Madison (IL) while the computers and electronics are processed in Edwardsville where the Administrative and some logistics offices are located. The commercial department is located on The Hill in St. Louis. 

Metal Stamping Industry Recycling at Interco

Interco Recycles Metal Stamping Industry Scrap

metal stamper scrap

Interco recycles nonferrous metals for a variety of different trades including the automotive, telecom, solar panel, and metal stamper industries. The company specializes in recycling scrap metal alloys into smelter-ready materials. The company sorts, grades, processes, and packages these metals specifically for metal stampers around the world. Recycling metal stamper scrap and producing smelter-ready materials is important for both bottom lines and the environment. The Interco facility is well equipped to handle large-scale scrap metal recycling. The facility and staff cater to both suppliers and consumers around the world.

Interco Recycles Nonferrous Metals for a Variety of Industries

recycle nonferrous metals

Interco processes over 12 million pounds of nonferrous material each month. The company uses several different processes to recycle nonferrous metals:

  1. Firstly, both mechanical separators and hand sorting techniques separate metals according to grade.
  2. Secondly, if necessary, the materials undergo processing in the metallic powder and dust separation plant.
  3. Next, a machine shreds the sorted metals into smaller pieces.
  4. Lastly, the sorted, graded, and processed metals are packaged for shipment to end customers. These customers will refine and smelt the metal into ingots for manufacturers to use to make new products.

The metal stamping process produces leftover punches and strips, shavings, dust, and turnings, as well as off-spec scrap pieces. Many of these by-products of metal stamping industry scrap contain nonferrous metals such as aluminum, copper, nickel, and brass.

Interco Recycles Excess and Scrap Metal Alloys

scrap metal alloys

Metal stampers partner with Interco to recycle the leftover strips, punches, and other scrap metal alloys. Recycling companies reject many complex materials as they are not able to handle them. However, Interco has been recycling mixed loads of nonferrous metals and alloys since 1996. The Interco staff has over 150 years of combined experienced in sorting, grading, and processing recycled nonferrous metals. Interco regularly recycles aluminum and segregated alloys from the metal stamping industry, including alloy 5052, 3003, 6061, 6063, and others.

The Importance of Recycling Metal Stamping Industry Scrap

scrap metal recycling

Nearly all metals are recyclable without damage to their original properties. Likewise, nearly all industries use metal stamping in some form or another. For example, the automotive industry uses deep draw metal stamping to create exhaust mufflers, engine mounts, pins, and connectors. Additionally, the medical industry frequently uses deep draw stamping to make syringes, pacemakers, and insulin delivery devices.

Primary production of products uses raw materials or ingots which relies on high energy levels. Secondary production processes use recycled metals to create new products. This process is significantly less-energy intensive. Secondary production is 92% more energy efficient than primary production. Using recycled metal to produce new products also drives down production costs, increasing profit margins. It is much more affordable for companies to use existing scrap metal than to mine new ores.

The Interco Facility is Equipped for Large-Scale Scrap Metal Recycling

metal stamper scrap

Interco recycles metal stamping industry scrap at their the 450,000+ square foot recycling facility. The Interco recycling facility is comprised of seven buildings on more than 45 acres centrally located on the Illinois-side of St. Louis in the shadows of the Gateway Arch. The Interco recycling facility processes over 20 million pounds of material per month. The facility boasts a 145,000 square foot processing plant dedicated to the processing of computers and electronics. The nonferrous metal recycling processes use the remainder of the indoor facility. Some aspects of scrap metal recycling can be dangerous. The staff at Interco is highly qualified to safely recycle high-risk materials. Several certifications demonstrate the company’s commitment to safe and secure recycling practices:

  • R2v3 – Responsible Recycling Standards
  • ISO 14001 – Environmental Management Systems
  • ISO 9001 – Quality Management Systems
  • ISO 45001 – Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series Management Systems

Metal Stampers Worldwide Rely on Interco

Interco recycles nonferrous metals including metal stamping industry scrap. The company specializes in the subsequent placement of smelter-ready materials to end consumers across the globe. The company ships nonferrous scrap that has been sorted, graded, and repackaged worldwide. The Interco commercial department utilizes established partnerships in the United States, Europe, Latin America, and Asia to provide the highest return on investment to their customers. As a result, metal stampers all over the world rely on Interco for scrap metal recycling and the delivery of smelter-ready materials.

Ingot Maker Scrap

Interco Recycles Ingot Maker Scrap

Interco recycles nonferrous metals for a variety of different trades including the automotive, telecom, solar panel, and ingot maker industries. The company specializes in processing nonferrous metals, including ingot maker scrap, into smelter-ready materials. The company sorts, grades, processes, and packages these metals specifically for ingot makers. Recycling scrap from ingot makers and producing smelter-ready materials is important for both bottom lines and the environment. The Interco facility is equipped to handle large-scale scrap metal recycling. The facility and staff cater to both suppliers and consumers around the world.

Interco Recycles Nonferrous Metals for a Variety of Industries

recycle nonferrous metals

Interco processes over 12 million pounds of nonferrous material each month. The company uses several different processes to recycle nonferrous metals:

  1. Firstly, both mechanical separators and hand sorting techniques separate metals according to grade.
  2. Secondly, if necessary, the materials undergo processing in the metallic powder and dust separation plant.
  3. Next, a machine shreds the sorted metals into smaller pieces.
  4. Lastly, the sorted, graded, and processed metals are packaged for shipment to end customers. These customers will refine and smelt the metal into ingots for manufacturers to use to make new products.

The ingot making process produces skimmings, sludges, dross, and dust. The manufacturing processes also produces occasional off-spec scrap pieces. Many of these by-products of ingot maker scrap contain nonferrous metals such as aluminum, copper, nickel, brass, and zinc.

Interco Produces Smelter-Ready Materials

ingot maker scrap

Interco specializes in producing smelter-ready materials for ingot makers, smelter, foundries, and mills worldwide. The staff at Interco has over 150 years of combined experience in sorting and grading nonferrous metals. The commercial trading department at Interco has established contracts with suppliers and end consumers around the globe. End consumers such as smelters, refineries, and mills often require inbound loads weigh at least 40,000 pounds. Many recycling companies cannot generate this much, but Interco can by using contracting partners. These end consumers rely on Interco to provide a recurring stream of material. These contracts allow Interco to pay higher prices than other recycling companies who must search for an end consumer.

The ingot making industry contributes to both sides of the of the recycling process. Interco receives the byproducts of the ingot making process in mixed or straight loads. Interco then uses various procedures to separate, sort, grade, clean, and repackage materials. Consumers, including ingot makers, buy the repackaged, smelter-ready materials.

The Importance of Recycling Ingot Maker Scrap

scrap metal recycling

Nearly all metals can be easily recycled without damaging their original properties. The process of reusing metals rather than mining for new ones is called urban mining. Primary production of products uses raw materials or ingots which relies on high energy levels. Secondary production processes use recycled metals to create new products. This process is significantly less-energy intensive. Secondary production is 92% more energy efficient than primary production. The reduction of recyclable metals entering the waste stream also lowers the impact of potentially toxic materials entering the environment. Therefore, when using urban mining the overall strain on landfills and the environment is reduced.

The urban mining process offers economical benefits as well. It is much more affordable for companies to use existing scrap metal than to mine for new ores. Therefore, using recycled metal in manufacturing drives down production costs, increasing profit margins.

Large-Scale Scrap Metal Recycling at Interco

smelter-ready materials

Interco recycles ingot maker scrap at their the 450,000+ square foot recycling facility. The Interco recycling facility consists of seven buildings on more than 45 acres centrally located on the Illinois-side of St. Louis in the shadows of the Gateway Arch. The Interco recycling facility processes over 20 million pounds of material per month. The facility boasts a 145,000 square foot processing plant dedicated to the processing of computers and electronics. The remainder of the indoor facility is used to recycle nonferrous metals. Some aspects of scrap metal recycling can be dangerous. The staff at Interco is highly qualified to safely recycle high-risk materials. Several certifications demonstrate the company’s commitment to safe and secure recycling practices:

  • R2v3 – Responsible Recycling Standards
  • ISO 14001 – Environmental Management Systems
  • ISO 9001 – Quality Management Systems
  • ISO 45001 – Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series Management Systems

Ingot Makers Worldwide Rely on Interco

Interco recycles nonferrous metals including ingot maker scrap. The company specializes in the subsequent placement of smelter-ready materials to end consumers across the globe. The company ships sorted, graded, and repackaged nonferrous scrap to customers worldwide. The Interco commercial department utilizes established partnerships with end consumers in the United States, Europe, Latin America, and Asia to provide the highest return on investment to their customers. As a result, ingot makers all over the world rely on Interco for scrap metal recycling and the delivery of smelter-ready materials.

Interco Recycles Foundries & Die Casters Scrap

Interco Recycles Foundries & Die Casters

As one of the largest indoor, nonferrous metal recycling facilities in North America, Interco works closely with the metal casting industry including foundries and die casters. Interco contributes to the vast world of manufacturing recycling by recycling metal scrap, including aluminum, zinc, brass, and bronze. Interco’s experience and extensive partnerships allow them to maximize the return on investment when recycling nonferrous metals. Foundries and die casters around the world rely on Interco for scrap metal recycling.

The Interco Facility is Equipped to Recycle Metal Scrap on a Large-Scale

Interco recycles foundries and die casters scrap at their the 450,000+ square foot recycling facility. The Interco recycling facility is comprised of seven buildings on more than 45 acres centrally located on the Illinois-side of St. Louis in the shadows of the Gateway Arch. The Interco recycling facility processes over 20 million pounds of material per month. The facility boasts a 145,000 square foot processing plant dedicated to the processing of computers and electronics. The remainder of the indoor facility is used to recycle nonferrous metals.

Some aspects of scrap metal recycling can be dangerous. The staff at Interco is highly qualified to safely recycle high-risk materials. Several certifications demonstrate the company’s commitment to safe and secure recycling practices:

  • R2v3 – Responsible Recycling Standards
  • ISO 14001 – Environmental Management Systems
  • ISO 9001 – Quality Management Systems
  • ISO 45001 – Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series Management Systems

Interco Recycles Nonferrous Metals

metal scrap recycling

Interco processes over 12 million pounds of nonferrous material each month. The company uses several different processes to recycle nonferrous metals:

  1. Firstly, both mechanical separators and hand sorting techniques separate metals according to grade.
  2. Secondly, if necessary, the materials undergo processing in the metallic powder and dust separation plant.
  3. Next, a machine shreds the the sorted metals into smaller pieces.
  4. Lastly, the sorted, graded, and processed metals are packaged for shipment to end customers. These customers will refine and smelt the metal into ingots for manufacturers to use to make new products.

Foundries and die casters scrap contributes to both sides of the recycling process. The metal casting processes produces slag, dusts, dross, and off-spec alloys. Nonferrous metals such as, aluminum, copper, lead, nickel, brass, bronze, and zinc make up the majority of these metals. Interco buys these items containing nonferrous metals and processes them into smelter-ready materials. On the other hand, many foundries and die casters use the recycled metal scrap to metal cast new goods.

Maximizing ROI for Foundries and Die Casters Scrap

recycle nonferrous metals

Unlike many recyclers, Interco has many years of experience in mixed load recycling of nonferrous metals and electronic scrap. The company receives approximately 50 mixed loads each day equaling one load every nine minutes. Additionally, Interco understands that many suppliers are unable to obtain the necessary inbound load minimum required by smelters, refineries, and manufacturers. When a supplier recycles metal scrap with Interco, a mixed load can contain five to ten different items. Items could include slag, fume collector dusts, dross, and off-specification parts, among others.

The Interco commercial department has established contracts with smelters, refineries, manufacturers, and mills across the world. Interco sorts, grades, and processes materials into smelter-ready metals, therefore, the need for a middleman or broker is eliminated. As a result, smelters and refineries rely on Interco as a supplier to provide a recurring stream of material. Additionally, the contracts with these companies allow Interco to pay top dollar to their sellers. Therefore, the company is typically able to buy at higher prices than other recyclers who must search for an end consumer.

The Importance of Scrap Metal Recycling

recycle metal scrap

Foundries and die casters are some of the largest contributors to the manufacturing recycling movement. They melt and recast millions of tons of scrap metal every year to create new goods. Foundries and die casters rely on metal recycling for a sustainable source of material. Manufacturers use 15-20 million tons of scrap metal each year in the remake of new metal casting. Otherwise, these scrap metals would go to landfills. Consequently, without recycling, the price of die casting would increase by 20-40%.

Making castings from recycled metals also saves energy and conserves natural resources. Compared to the process of raw materials, castings made from recycled metals use 95% less energy to make. Through recycling, materials do not enter the waste stream. The reduction of recyclable metals entering the waste stream lowers the impact of potentially toxic materials entering the environment. Therefore, the overall strain on landfills and the environment is reduced.

Choose Interco to Recycle Foundries and Die Casters Scrap

Interco specializes in the placement of smelter-ready materials catering to a broad array of industrial, dealer, and government organizations. The company ships nonferrous scrap worldwide utilizing established partnerships with end consumers in the United States, Europe, Latin America, and Asia. As a result, foundries and die casters all over the world rely on Interco to recycle metal scrap.

scrap metal recycling
Recycling Aerospace Metal Alloys

Interco Recycles Aerospace Metal Alloys

Interco Recycles Aerospace Metal Alloys

Recycling Aerospace Metal Alloys
Recycling Aerospace Metal Alloys

Interco operates one of the largest indoor nonferrous recycling facilities in North America. The company specializes in recycling complex metal alloys, including those from the aerospace industry. Workers process more than 400 different metals alloys, computers, aerospace, and electronics parts at any given time. The company works with industrial consumers and suppliers of nonferrous scrap metals, computers, and electronics worldwide. The 400,000 square foot Interco facility is located on a 45-acre compound on the Illinois side of St. Louis in Madison, Illinois. Interco has been recycling nonferrous metals, including those found in advanced aerospace technologies, since 1996. The company buys a wide variety of metals, processing close to a quarter-billion pounds each year.

Interco Maximizes the ROI on Aerospace Metal

Scrap 2024 and 6061 Aluminum
Scrap 2024 and 6061 Aluminum

Interco sorts and separates 800-1,000 parts of various construction. This includes unusual and complex parts metal alloys that come from recycling aerospace metal alloys. The Interco team has years of experience sorting and dismantling these parts to generate the highest recoverable scrap value and maximize return for the company’s supplier clients. Many recycling facilities operate as brokers or middlemen for the more complex items from the aerospace industry. Unlike them, Interco sorts, grades, processes, and packages these metals specifically for smelters, ingot makers, refineries, and mills around the world.
Interco guarantees the highest value for recycling aluminum alloys, scrap 2024 and 6061 aluminum, and recycle scrap titanium. Aircraft manufacturers, part factories, and airlines count on Interco to offer this service every time.
The company matches specific metallurgical chemistries with the ideal end consumers. Interco often pays higher than market price for scrap metal because of this. These are consumers who typically convert the metals back into raw materials. The process often requires shredding the various aluminum or titanium items into smaller pieces melted into rod or ingot. Interco uses both hand sorting techniques and mechanical separators to ensure all contaminants have been removed. The experienced Interco metals traders sell the material in truckload quantities to ingot makers, refineries, and secondary smelting facilities globally.

Recycling Scrap 2024 and 6061 Aluminums

Scrap 2024 and 6061 Aluminum
Scrap 2024 and 6061 Aluminum

Most recycling companies cannot process certain metal alloys, especially those from the aerospace industry. Many of the metals used to build aircrafts are more durable and expensive than those for other industries. Many recycling companies find it difficult to sell this material to end consumers due to their relative rarity. In addition, most smelters, refineries, ingot makers, and mills require that inbound loads weigh at least 40,000 pounds. Moreover, the same companies rely on suppliers like Interco to provide a recurring stream of material. Smaller recyclers simply cannot generate enough material or have the financial wherewithal to accumulate large amounts to satisfy the needs of the global smelting and refining market.
On the other hand, Interco has the facility size, expertise, and financial security that it takes to accumulate and recycle aerospace metal alloys, including scrap 2024 and 6061 aluminums. Aluminum alloy 2024 is not used in many items outside of the aerospace industry. Many recycling companies refuse to recycle this material which is not the case at Interco. The Interco team processes more than 10,000 metric tons of nonferrous metals monthly including scrap 2024 and 6061 aluminums and other rare metal alloys. In fact, teams of Interco metals processors grade, sort, and package aluminum scrap in two of the seven buildings on the Interco campus. Interco recycles aluminum alloys which may include wire, small parts, foil, wheels, and screens from smaller aerospace parts. Workers recycle these materials together with the materials from other industrial sources.

The process of Recycling Aerospace Metal Alloys begins with the following steps:

  1. Removing the metallic parts from the decommissioned aircraft or unused parts stockpile.
  2. Sorting ferrous metals from nonferrous metals – usually as easy as using a sorting line with a magnetic shaker table, conveyors, and trained recycling technicians.
  3. Using a handheld metal analyzer or spectrometer to determine the specific metal alloy of the nonferrous metals before they can be processed. This can be tricky with aerospace alloys because of the false reads and having more than one metal in many parts.
  4. Decontaminating and removing any other parts, attachments, or appendages that do not match the core alloy. This can be done through hand separation, mechanical separation, or by utilizing a shredder or pre-shredder.
  5. Aggregating like metal alloys and packaging them in bags or boxes or by baling the material (depending on the requirement of the end-consumer.

Interco Recycles Scrap Aluminum

Recycle Aluminum Alloys
Recycle Aluminum Alloys

Interco Recycles Aluminum Alloys – up to 3,000 metric tons or 6.5 million pounds per month – at the company facility in Madison, Illinois. Depending on the business cycle, much of this material comes from scrap 2024 and 6061 Aluminum and Titanium. These metals have become staples of the aerospace industry. Much of this material can be combined with more traditional items made of the same metal alloy. These items include gears and shafts, bolts, computer parts, couplings, fuse parts, and hydraulic valve bodies. The 6061 alloy is much more common and is regularly used in extruded parts, sheet, plate, bar, and aluminum. Interco combines the 6061 aluminums from the aerospace industry with the same aluminum from boats, furniture, and even structural applications.

Since the metal alloys market constantly fluctuates, it is important that the Interco commercial trading department has contracts with smelters and refineries worldwide to hedge against a quickly changing marketplace. Having contracts in place to provide large quantities of these metals allows Interco to pay top dollar, oftentimes higher than others in the market who might have to look for a customer.

Interco Recycles Scrap Titanium

Recycle Scrap Titanium
Recycle Scrap Titanium

In addition to recycling scrap aluminum from the aerospace industry, Interco recycles scrap titanium that comes from prosthetics, athletic equipment, cutting devise, bicycle frames, surgical tools, and other high-performance devices. The company recycles all six grades of pure titanium (grades 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 11) and the four variations of titanium alloys, even if they are mixed. The Interco team has experience sorting the different scrap titanium, including the following alloy variations:

  • Ti 6AL-4V
  • Ti 6AL-ELI
  • Ti 3AL-2.5
  • Ti 5AL-2.5Sn

Why Choose Interco to Recycle Aerospace Metal Alloys

Interco has specialized in recycling metal alloys, including those used in aerospace technology, since 1996. Effective aircraft recycling comes from safe and precise extraction processes and Interco has perfected these processes. The company buys many variations of aerospace metal alloys including scrap 2024 and 6061 Aluminum, in mixed and straight loads. Interco is not a broker or “middle-man”. On the contrary, the company takes delivery of material at its 400,000+ square foot facility located in the heart of the Midwest where Interstates 64, 70, 55, and 44 meet the Union Pacific and BNSF Railway.

Recycle Scrap Titanium

Complex Alloy Recycling

Complex Alloy Scrap Recycling

Interco buys and recycles complex alloys and specializes in the placement of smelter-ready materials catering to commercial, industrial, dealer, and government organizations nationwide. Interco ships nonferrous and electronics scrap worldwide utilizing established partnerships with end consumers in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America, South America, Europe, and Asia.

Steel Recycling

Recycling Steel Scrap

Interco buys and recycles steel scrap and specializes in the placement of smelter-ready materials catering to commercial, industrial, dealer, and government organizations nationwide. Interco ships nonferrous and electronics scrap worldwide utilizing established partnerships with end consumers in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America, South America, Europe, and Asia.

Metallic Powder & Dust Recycling

Recycling Scrap Metallic Powders Dust

Interco buys and recycles metallic powder & dust and specializes in the placement of smelter-ready materials catering to commercial, industrial, dealer, and government organizations nationwide. Interco ships nonferrous and electronics scrap worldwide utilizing established partnerships with end consumers in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America, South America, Europe, and Asia.