Spectro Alloys plans to invest $71 million to add new aluminum recycling equipment to its campus in Rosemount, MN. The investment will allow the Midwest-based recycler to expand its capabilities to sort and melt post-consumer aluminum scrap and cast it into various sheet ingot and billet alloys. This is in response to the need for improved recycling rates in Minnesota, and a growing market for recycled aluminum sheet and extrusion driven by consumer demand for sustainable products to meet green building standards. It also supports a stable domestic supply chain and will provide cost savings associated with recycled material.
This announcement is in line with Spectro Alloys’ 50th anniversary celebrations. “As we celebrate 50 years of responsible aluminum recycling this month, we’re looking toward the future and the opportunity to improve recycling in Minnesota,” said Luke Palen, president of Spectro Alloys.

As part of the expansion project, the company is expanding its Rosemount campus to approximately 42 acres and will build a new 90,000 sq ft building. The facility will include industry-leading automation and state-of-the-art equipment for sorting, melting, casting, and homogenizing aluminum scrap, as well as the best available technology for pollution control. The first phase of the project will result in up to 120 million lbs per year of additional recycling capacity and will create up to 50 new full-time jobs.
Aluminum billet is used as raw material for extruders, who turn it into products like railings, window and door trim, and structural components for cars, boats, airplanes, trailers, docks, and more. Spectro will also recycle used beverage containers and other end of life aluminum products to produce sheet ingot — high purity slabs of aluminum weighing up to 60,000 lbs each — a feedstock for rolling mills.
The billet project is the latest of several investments at Spectro Alloys. The company recently debuted a new 70,000 sq ft distribution center for shipping and processing finished products, air filtration and pollution control system upgrades, and a new business office and internal facilities for its team of 140 employees.
Spectro Alloys plans to break ground on the recycling expansion project in 2024, and it is expected to be operational in 2025.
Closing the Loop in Minnesota
In Minnesota, only 45% of aluminum beverage containers are currently being recycled, according to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Spectro’s investment will promote more recycling by unlocking greater value through reuse while providing large direct environmental benefits. Spectro’s recycling process uses 95% less energy and releases 95% less CO2 than new aluminum production. With this expansion, aluminum recycling at Spectro Alloys will save enough energy to power every home in Minneapolis and St. Paul combined.
“This investment isn’t just about adding jobs and producing more, it’s about helping Minnesota as a whole become better at recycling by creating an extremely valuable type of aluminum that manufacturers need,” said Palen. “It is about closing the loop for locally sourced materials – ensuring the value in aluminum products we use every day supports responsible recycling of aluminum right here in Minnesota.”