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Sortera Alloys to open recycling facility capable of processing 150 million pounds of scrap alloy

Aluminum recycling facility in Markle, Indiana, opens in 2022

A pile of scrap metal
Sortera's technology sorts, captures, and recycles aluminum from existing streams of mixed alloy scrap that are typically shipped abroad for processing or downgraded into lower-quality secondary materials.

Sortera Alloys, Inc. has expanded into a new 200,000 sq. ft. processing facility in Markle, I.N. A formal groundbreaking of the new facility will take place in Q4 of 2022, with processing starting to ramp up in Q1 2023. 

Sortera's technology sorts, captures, and recycles aluminum from existing streams of mixed alloy scrap that are typically shipped abroad for processing or downgraded into lower-quality secondary materials. The resulting aluminum scrap created by Sortera's sorting process is recirculated back into the manufacturing industry to be used in applications, such as automotive; cast and flat-rolled products; and building, construction, and aerospace extrusions.

"The new facility represents a significant milestone for Sortera as we look to scale our operations and capture a large chunk of the four billion pounds of scrap alloy that is currently sent overseas. This will allow us to fill the increased demand for high-quality recycled alloys in the domestic market, specifically with automotive customers," says Michael Siemer, CEO of Sortera Alloys. "We are immensely grateful to the town of Markle and The Zacher Company for helping us to bring this vision to reality with the new facility, and we look forward to being a contributor to the local economy and community."

The new facility has the option to expand to 400,000 sq. ft. It is located just outside of Markle, Indiana (roughly 25 miles southwest of Fort Wayne), off Interstate 69. Sortera plans to move its existing operations from Fort Wayne to the new facility with initial processing operations starting in Q1 2023.

"Sortera's low-cost, scalable sorting process enables aluminum manufacturers to use roughly five percent of the energy required to manufacture aluminum from virgin material, enabling customers to reduce their CO2 footprint and pursue sustainability and circular production goals. Our new facility is a perfect fit for our first mass production location. We are excited that Markle has the right workforce and is a special place that is proactively looking for partners to enhance their community," says Ben Pope, vice president of commercialization at Sortera Alloys.

The new facility follows Sortera in July 2022 of having raised $10M in funding to advance end-of-life recycling for automotive metals. The funding round was led by Assembly Ventures with additional funding from Breakthrough Energy Ventures and Novelis, Inc. In addition to the recent funding round, Sortera announced a commercial agreement with Novelis Corporation that enables Sortera to deliver high-quality aluminum feedstock directly to Novelis to be reused for automotive manufacturing components.

Company info

909 North Coliseum Blvd
Fort Wayne, IN
US, 46805

Website:
sorteraalloys.com

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