Scrap Industry News

OPTIMISTIC NOTES SOUNDED IN LAS VEGAS

More than 2,100 attendees gathered in Las Vegas in March for the Annual Convention of the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI). Although that figure is lower than the average figure of the past several years, many of those who did attend and exhibit were encouraged by the more optimistic attitude beginning to take hold in the metals industry.

One ISRI member remarked that if the convention had been held just a few weeks later, attendance might have enjoyed a significant boost, as the Section 201 steel tariffs and more upbeat manufacturing index numbers have combined to make metals traders hopeful that the worst is over. This year’s convention attendance was also harmed because it was missing its paper industry component, as the American Forest & Paper Association’s Paper Week event in New York coincided with the ISRI Convention.

Nonetheless, 180 booth spaces worth of exhibit area at the Bellagio Resort (pictured above) was rented by exhibitors displaying products and services to scrap recyclers, and most exhibitors were pleased with the number of serious inquiries they received from attendees.

At commodity-focused sessions, attendees heard hopeful news regarding a rebound in ferrous scrap and aluminum prices, while copper prices may continue to be held down by an overcapacity of mined material. (See this month’s Ferrous and Nonferrous departments for more on these presentations.) Lead may enjoy an overdue price revival, while the market may remain difficult for zinc.

In organizational news, ISRI installed its new officers, with Charles "Cricket" Williams Jr. of Charles Williams & Son Inc., Richmond, Va., replacing Sam W. Hummelstein of Hummelstein Iron & Metal Co., Little Rock, Ark., as chair of the organization for the next two years.

Additionally, two new scrap specifications for nonferrous shredder residue material were approved by the ISRI board. "Zeppelin" is the name for "light density nonferrous metals produced by media separation technology and [containing] thin gauge aluminum and magnesium."

"Zebra" is the name designated for nonferrous metals produced by media separation technology that also contains brass, copper, zinc, non-magnetic stainless steel and copper wire.

The 2003 ISRI Annual Convention has been scheduled for April 8 through 12 at the Marriott World Center in Orlando, Fla. The hotel complex has served as home to the convention several times in the past, most recently in April of 1999.