The Federal Metal Company, an industry leader in copper-based cast alloys since 1913, is excited to announce the completion and formal opening of an innovative new facility to recycle post-consumer aluminum copper radiators. A ribbon-cutting celebration took place on Friday, October 27 at 10am at the 1200 Pike Ave. location in North Little Rock. The $17.6 million investment is expected to create more than 40 new jobs within the next four years.

“Major investments in new mill, foundry, and refining capacity are underway in the United States for the first time in generations, and it’s important the scrap industry here keeps pace to assure the domestic supply chain is well fed,” said Peter Nagusky, Federal Metal’s President and CEO. “It is wasteful when valuable scrap like these radiators are exported [to support non-U.S. manufacturing].”

In 2020, Federal Metal developed its proprietary PSA® (pre-melt specification aluminum) products, which offer cost savings to rolling mills that would otherwise be using more expensive prime aluminum or aluminum RSI (remelt secondary ingot). In addition, the company will use the operation to generate high-grade copper to feed its furnaces in Ohio and Pennsylvania and supply other domestic copper product producers. The anticipated demand for copper is expected to double over the next 10 years, due in large part to electrification and sustainability needs.

“Importantly, this strategic location is convenient for our supplier partners and close to several key customers,” continued Nagusky. “We are looking forward to a long partnership with the city of North Little Rock and the state of Arkansas. With their help, and the talent available to us within a mile of downtown Little Rock, this specialized operation will quickly emerge as the most advanced of its kind in the world.”

The team is in place to begin the initial start-up run of primary operations, led by General Manager Kyle Landrum. “Manufacturers of aluminum fin stock, foil, and can sheet, and the manufacturers of copper tube, wire rod, bus bar, and other shapes all have exacting specifications,” shared Landrum. “This facility will help us supply one-of-a-kind solutions to our customers, and in greater volumes, without the chemistry variation often associated with scrap.”

To better position the operation in the marketplace, Federal Metal is rebranding this Arkansas facility as FedMet, and has launched a website that more accurately targets the customers and suppliers served. The site can be reached at FedMet.net.

The company will have the capacity to recycle more than 3,000 metric tons per month of aluminum copper radiators in North Little Rock.

For more information, visit FedMet.net.