Spectro Alloys opens distribution center

Aluminum recycler Spectro Alloys, headquartered in Rosemount, Minnesota, has opened a 70,000-square-foot distribution center in Rosemount. Spectro Alloys says it invested $6 million in the distribution center.

Luke Palen, president of Spectro Alloys, tells Recycling Today that the company began to conceptualize the idea for the distribution center three years ago. He says construction on the distribution center began in late 2021.

He adds that the idea for the distribution center came from the company's employees, who wanted to find a way to reduce truck traffic and improve the atmosphere of its Rosemount recycling plant. The company currently has 140 employees.

“It’s part of our ongoing efforts to become the aluminum recycling plant of the future,” Palen says. “Before the distribution center was constructed, most of our finished product was stored off-site, which added extra handling before being shipped to our customers. Now, thanks to this new 70,000-square-foot state-of-the-art building, we are able to cut handling of finished product nearly in half.”

Spectro Alloys says it plans to use the distribution center to streamline production, shipping and receiving processes. The company provides recycled aluminum ingots to regional die casters and foundries to be made into new aluminum products. In addition, Palen says the new distribution center improves truck flow for the facility.

“Most importantly, it improves safety, efficiency and the work environment for employees,” he says. “Due to the process changes enabled by the new cooling building, work areas in the plant are now quieter, cleaner, more comfortable and more efficient.

He continues, “One of our favorite things about the new distribution center is that it helps employees, truck drivers and visitors experience products containing Spectro aluminum in cool new ways. From the LED lights to kitchen knives and appliances to the Polaris Ranger tour vehicle to the grill on the patio and even the golf ball washer and cast aluminum golf cups on the new putting green, employees and visitors can experience recycled aluminum through our customers’ products. The distribution center also includes a new training and education room, conference rooms and new office space.”

The company hosted a grand opening celebration for the distribution center Oct. 26. The new distribution center features a 145-foot mural that was designed by local artist Adam Turman. The mural showcases the aluminum recycling process.

“We commissioned Minnesota’s best muralist, Adam Turman, to create a 145-foot mural that tells the Spectro Alloys story and beautifully conveys the full process of aluminum recycling,” Palen says. “Located in the cooling building and replicated in smaller scale in the training room and offices, the mural helps tell the story of aluminum recycling at Spectro Alloys in an exciting, new way.”

Spectro Alloys adds that it has “invested significantly in its operations over the past year.” In the past year, the company upgraded its air filtration and pollution control systems along with adding a new business office. In 2023, the company will celebrate 50 years of operations in Rosemount.