Fast Turnaround

For more than 80 years, the Highiet family and Modesto Junk Co. have provided scrap recycling services to Modesto, Calif., and the surrounding Stanislaus County/San Joaquin Valley region.

Founded by Alex Highiet in 1920, the company has remained at its original downtown location for 85 years, occasionally adding small parcels of adjacent land to grow to its current size of more than two acres. In 1995, the company built a new two-story office structure (replacing the old barn-like structure that was in place since 1920) and compatible warehouse space and redesigned its outdoor area for a more efficient layout.

But any additional land has been more than outpaced by increasing volume growth over the years, meaning the company must always manage its production and shipping processes wisely to prevent bottlenecks.

Current company President Harvey Highiet and Director of Operations Jeff Highiet, Harvey’s son, credit their three high-production baling lines for keeping the Modesto Junk Co. efficient and competitive.

MULTIPLE MARKETS. A remarkable facet of Modesto Junk Co.’s business is that it provides an array of scrap metals services for ferrous and nonferrous markets while also acting as an authorized handler of California Refund Value (CRV) beverage containers.

"We buy all types of non-hazardous ferrous and nonferrous metals, including copper, aluminum, brass, radiators and stainless steel, plus the popular and typical ferrous items, such as appliances (hazmat must be removed prior), black iron, structural steel and automotive scrap," says Jeff.

The small location hosts a 35,000-square-foot CRV service station with five buyback scales that can handle 500 or more daily customers bringing in their CRV bottles and cans.

The CRV business has helped familiarize the public with Modesto Junk Co. as a buyer of other materials. "We don’t just take cans and bottles from the public; they bring in siding and other types of scrap," notes Jeff.

Jeff’s father Harvey admits he had to be convinced the equipment would pay off for the firm. "It was absolutely a difficult step for me; there was a lot of money involved," he says. "But there is no question it was absolutely a necessary and vital thing to do. It made us more efficient and allowed us to increase our production."

The systems have also allowed fourth-generation family member Keith Highiet to concentrate on the trading and management aspects of the business. "You have plenty of other skills to learn in the scrap business, so having this automation helps take away from some of the attention to processing," he notes

Jeff’s daughter Alexis works at the company providing phone support and assistance to the cashiers. His daughter Janine is attending law school.

To handle the high-volume and diverse stream of materials, the Highiets have set up the three baling lines in three different sections of their property.

WINNING TRIFECTA. Jeff says the company operated for its first 75 years with little automation. "We really didn’t start to move into the 20th century until around 1995, when we got our first baler-conveyor system," he says.