C&D News

Providing a Demolition-To-Scrap Link

In a market like the one that scrap dealers are experiencing in 2004, new sources of scrap are always welcome. The Investment Recovery Association, Kansas City, Mo., may be able to provide a few.

Barry Stein of Ansam Metals Corp., Baltimore, says his company has been an associate member of the organization for more than a decade and has found the relationship beneficial. "We get a good deal of our scrap from association members," says Stein, noting that Investment Recovery Association members can include manufacturing firms and utility providers who occasionally shut down obsolete plants.

Ansam Metals specializes in dismantling large, complicated obsolete equipment for its scrap value, but Stein says other scrap firms can also benefit from linking up with the association.

Although Ansam enjoys being among the few scrap dealer companies involved with the Investment Recovery Association, Stein says there is "absolutely" room for other scrap companies to get involved. Scrap companies can benefit from association membership by learning about other local members whose activities are generating scrap metal.

In fact, Stein says his company would be pleased to work in cooperation with regional scrap companies that may also be plugged in to investment recovery projects in their operating areas.

Stein says the relationship can be a positive one from all sides. "The association has been a very good place for us to meet people and find sources of scrap from all over the country. For a local scrap company, it might be a way to get to know more people in their area who might have an organized method of selling material, and they can get involved in that process. And for the manufacturers and utility companies, scrap dealers can help them simplify the selling of scrap."