Pure Aluminum, a fast-growing aluminum processor based in Saranac, Michigan, is forming a joint venture with Traxys, a global leader in the physical trading of metals and natural resources, and Consortium Metals, a sales and marketing specialist in the secondary aluminum industry. This strategic partnership will enable recycling of aluminum scrap and manufacture value-added aluminum products, supplying critical materials to a variety of sectors.
“Pure Aluminum was conceived by my desire to build a state-of-the-art secondary aluminum plant that incorporates the latest ultra-efficient furnaces and automation to enhance efficiencies and safety,” stated Mark Clark, CEO and owner of Pure Aluminum and Franklin Metals. “It was also really important to me that our greenfield plant’s sustainability platform is an industry leader ensuring the highest environmental standards and carbon footprint reduction initiatives, so our customers do not have to worry about legacy issues.”
Traxys is a physical commodity trader and merchant in the metals and natural resources sectors. Its logistics, marketing, distribution, supply chain management, and trading activities are conducted by over 450 employees in more than 20 offices worldwide. The company is engaged in the global sourcing, marketing, and distribution of non-ferrous metals, ferro-alloys, minerals, industrial raw materials, and energy.
Consortium Metals, headed by Eric Henkelman, has over 30 years of experience in the marketing and sale of value-added aluminum products. The company has supported the commercial initiatives for Fortune 500 companies and most recently Franklin Metals, the sister plant to Pure Aluminum.
Under the terms of the partnership between these three companies, Pure Aluminum will operate and expand its state-of-the-art production facility in Saranac, and Traxys will manage global sourcing and finance, marketing, logistics, and customer relationships. Both Pure Aluminum and Traxys are aligned in their commitment to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles, and the partnership is structured to ensure full transparency across sourcing, production, and delivery.
“This partnership supports our mission to serve the circular economy and deliver critical metals to our global customer base,” said Mark Kristoff, CEO of Traxys. “We’re proud to combine Traxys’ market reach and financing capabilities with Pure Aluminum’s operational strength and decades of experience in the secondary markets, to scale up a domestic and sustainable aluminum production.”
Utilizing the latest technology and an experienced manufacturing team, Pure Aluminum is positioned to rapidly expand its footprint in North America. The company’s Saranac plant is currently undergoing a multi-phase capacity expansion, with installations including rotary and reverberatory furnaces.
At full capacity, the facility is expected to process over 30 million pounds of aluminum scrap per month, including secondary aluminum spec alloys, recycled secondary ingot (RSI), wrought alloys, and aluminum deoxidizers. This capacity will serve growing demand for recycled and specialty aluminum products, driven by increasing regulatory pressure for low-carbon materials and rising consumption across North America’s manufacturing base. All products will be customized to meet tight chemical and dimensional specifications and delivered through a streamlined, customer-focused supply chain.