Construction complete on Spectro Alloys recycling expansion

Spectro Alloys, the leading Midwest secondary foundry alloy producer, and Opus today announced that first construction of the expansion of Spectro’s Rosemount campus is now complete. The 90,000-square-foot addition enables Spectro Alloys to expand its product offering into billet from post-consumer scrap aluminum. This new capability will improve recycling rates in Minnesota and meet growing demand for recycled aluminum.

“This increase in capacity and capabilities means Spectro will have a greater impact on recycling rates in Minnesota, on meeting the needs of sustainable manufacturers, and on advancing the increasingly vital circular economy,” said Spectro Alloys President Luke Palen.

With phase one now complete, equipment will be assembled and calibrated in the facility over the next several months. With first production expected during the second half of 2025, the new facility creates an estimated 50 new jobs, and adds nearly 120 million pounds per year of additional recycling capacity. Opus was the design-builder and architect of record on the project.

“We applaud Opus for their partnership on this project. Their depth of expertise, the quality of their work, and their ability to meet our compressed timeline were second-to-none,” Palen added.

“We are thrilled that Spectro Alloys found value in our design-build model and trusted us to deliver their facility on time and on budget, both of which we did,” said John Williams, vice president of construction with Opus. “It’s always rewarding to partner with clients who are doing good work, and, in the case of Spectro, to partner on a project that will have tangible, meaningful benefits today and well into the future.” 

Aluminium is infinitely recyclable. Recycling aluminium requires 95 percent less electricity than producing new metal and generates a fraction of the greenhouse gas emissions. Aluminum billet is used as raw material for extruders, which turn it into products like railings, window and door trim, and structural components for cars, boats, airplanes, trailers, docks, and more. Sheet ingot is a high purity slab of aluminum weighing up to 60,000 pounds that serves as feedstock for rolling mills.