Spectro Alloys breaks ground on $71 million recycling expansion at Rosemount facility

Spectro aims to boost recycling rates and meet growing demand for recycled building materials

Rosemount, Minn. – March 28, 2024 – Spectro Alloys and The Opus Group®, joined by Gov. Tim Walz and Rosemount Mayor Jeff Weisensel, broke ground Wednesday on a $71 million expansion to add new aluminum recycling capabilities to Spectro’s Rosemount campus. Spectro Alloys, the leading Midwest-based aluminum recycler, plans to recycle more end-of-life scrap aluminum to improve recycling rates in Minnesota and meet a growing demand for recycled aluminum sheet ingot and extrusion billet. Click here to download photos from the groundbreaking event.

Spectro Alloys will produce recycled billet and sheet ingot in a new 90,000-square-foot building along Highway 55. The first phase of the project will result in nearly 120 million pounds per year of additional recycling capacity and create up to 50 new full-time jobs. The facility will include state-of-the-art equipment for sorting, melting, casting, sawing, homogenizing and packaging with industry-leading automation and the best available pollution control technology. Spectro’s plant will also provide energy use and carbon emission reductions of 95% when compared to new aluminum production.

“We are excited to celebrate the future of aluminum recycling right here in Minnesota. This expansion will meet the growing demand for high quality recycled aluminum products while providing value that supports recycling across Minnesota and beyond. It’s a win-win for our company, our customers and our community,” said Spectro Alloys President Luke Palen.

Aluminum billet is used as raw material for the extrusion process, and is turned into products like railings, window and door trim, and structural components for cars, boats, airplanes, trailers, docks and more. Spectro will also have the ability to recycle used beverage containers into sheet ingot – slabs of aluminum weighing up to 60,000 pounds each – a feedstock for rolling mills. In Minnesota, only 45 percent of aluminum beverage containers are currently being recycled, according to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

"We're building a strong and sustainable economy in Minnesota,” Walz said. “And it’s businesses like Spectro Alloys that are creating jobs and valuable products and communities like Rosemount, where businesses have the support they need to be successful. This is a win for Rosemount and a win for Minnesota.”

Construction will continue through 2024, and the facility is expected to begin production in mid-2025.

“We’re excited to be part of the Spectro Alloys’ project team and help build their vision for the future,” said John Williams vice president at The Opus Group. “We look forward to delivering a new modern industrial facility through our integrated design-build delivery model.”

Spectro Alloys donates $100K to 13 Minnesota nonprofits

Rosemount-based recycling company’s 2023 “Giving Together” program supports charities with an emphasis on food security and children’s services

Rosemount, Minn. – December 28, 2023 – Spectro Alloys, the leading Midwest-based recycler of aluminum, today announced it has donated $100,000 to 13 Minnesota nonprofits as part of its annual “Giving Together” program. Nonprofits both big and small were selected by Spectro Alloys team members to support causes ranging from food security to youth programs. Many Spectro employees also made personal donations or volunteered with these organizations this holiday season.

“We wouldn’t be here without the support of our community,” said Spectro Alloys President Luke Palen. “That’s why it’s important to us that we end our 50th anniversary year by giving back. These organizations are doing incredible work, and we’re proud to donate to causes that our team members care so deeply about.”

Spectro’s contributions this year include a marquee donation of $40,000 to United Way of Hastings, which will support community members who are struggling with mental health challenges, fentanyl poisoning, student hunger and loss of hope, among other issues. Click here to download a photo Spectro and United Way team members.

“Our partnership with Spectro Alloys will help those most vulnerable in the Hastings area,” said Mari E. Mellick, Executive Director of United Way of Hastings. “We’re thrilled to collaborate with Spectro Alloys on this project that will warm hearts, save lives and strengthen our community.”

Here are the 13 nonprofits receiving donations from Spectro Alloys this holiday season:

Nonprofits

1. United Way of Hastings

2. Feed My Starving Children

3. Second Harvest Heartland

4. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

5. Every Meal

6. Diaper Bank of Minnesota

7. TLC Parenting Hastings

8. John Birch Park Supporters

9. Metro Hope Ministries

10. All In Ministries

11. Crescent Cove

12. American Wild Horse Campaign

13. United Heroes in Hastings

About Spectro Alloys

Spectro Alloys operates one of the highest efficiency aluminum recycling plants in the United States.  Since 1973, Spectro Alloys has been providing high-quality recycled aluminum alloys to regional die casters and foundries, where they are made into new products for the automotive, power sports, home, turf and snow maintenance, and other industries.  Recycling at Spectro Alloys involves shredding, sorting and processing aluminum with the most advanced technology used in the industry today. Aluminum recycling at Spectro generates more than 90% in CO2 and energy savings compared to creating new aluminum. Spectro’s direct CO2 savings is equivalent to removing more than 80,000 cars from the road, and Spectro’s direct energy savings could power more than 200,000 homes. Learn more at spectroalloys.com/.

The Cast: 2023 Edition

Check out this year’s edition of The Cast, our community newsletter about the people and products behind Spectro Alloys!

Our 2023 highlights included celebrating our 50th anniversary, making significant upgrades to our facilities, and announcing a new, $70 million expansion project that will add a first-of-its-kind aluminum extrusion and sheet recycling facility to our Rosemount campus. The first phase of the project will result in up to 120 million pounds per year of additional recycling capacity and create over 50 new full-time jobs!

In this issue, you’ll learn about the investments we’re making in our employees and communities and why aluminum is the world’s greatest recycling success story.