Mervis Industries acquires Levitated Metals

Mervis Industries, a family-owned scrap processing and brokerage company based in Danville, Illinois, has acquired Levitated Metals, a heavy-media flotation plant in New Caney, Texas, about 35 miles northeast of Houston. Mervis says the strategic move strengthens its position as a leader in the recycled metal industry and reinforces its commitment to providing innovative solutions to its customers, aligning with its core values of innovation and exceptional service.

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Photo courtesy of Levitated Metals

Levitated Metals, which was founded by President Ronak Shah in 2019, has built a reputation for its density flotation metal separation and recovery technology, Mervis says. Its process allows for the separation of aluminum from mixed-metal products. The company supplies aluminum smelters with high-quality, low-magnesium twitch that it produces from zorba and other shredded metal products.

Mervis Recycling, a division of Mervis Industries, is a regional leader with more than 90 years of experience in the recycling, brokerage, transportation and management of iron and metals across North America and the Pacific Rim.

Shah tells Recycling Today that Levitated will continue to operate under that name as a wholly owned subsidiary of Mervis. He says the two companies were familiar with one another and had done some brokerage transactions together prior to the purchase and that he has long known Adam Mervis, president of Mervis Industries. Talks about the purchase began in February, he adds, saying that the transaction represents growth opportunities for both firms. 

"We see a lot of opportunity in processing recycled aluminum into the alloys of the future," he says. 

Adam Mervis says in the news release about the transaction, "We are thrilled to welcome Levitated Metals to the Mervis Industries family. Their cutting-edge technology and expertise in metal separation and recovery perfectly complement our existing operations. This acquisition enhances our ability to deliver high-quality products to our customers. We are confident that this collaboration will drive significant value for both Mervis Industries and Levitated Metals."

Shah says, "Joining forces with Mervis Industries marks an important milestone for Levitated Metals. We are proud to have perfected this unique metal processing technology, and this acquisition will provide us with the resources and support to further accelerate our growth. Mervis Industries' commitment to innovation and service aligns perfectly with our mission, and we look forward to the opportunities this partnership will create."

The purchase represents a significant step forward in the expansion of both companies' capabilities, Mervis says in the news release about the transaction. The combination of Mervis Industries' extensive industry expertise and Levitated Metals' advanced technology positions the newly formed partnership to lead the way in the evolving metal processing landscape.

Shah says the purchase gives Levitated the backing of a "very mature and successful metals recycling company as we execute a substantial growth plan over the next three to five years."

He adds that Levitated is working to further separate the twitch it's producing into its constituent alloys, which is the focus of other companies such as Sortera Alloys and Novelis. Shah adds that he's certain that "as a team, Mervis and Levitated will ultimately be successful."