Schupan Recycling says it has built a stable business where its customers are comfortable with the company's services.

In a market that is forever changing, companies have to be on their toes and open for innovation, says Tom Emmerich, president of Schupan Recycling, one of Schupan & Sons Inc.’s three divisions. Kalamazoo, Mich.-based Schupan & Sons provides aluminum distribution services through Schupan Aluminum Sales (SAS), industrial recycling through Schupan Industrial Recycling Services (SIRS) and beverage container recycling through Schupan Recycling.

“We have built a stable business by providing consistent, efficient services, where people are comfortable with us,” Emmerich says. “At the end of the day, people trust us – that’s why we’ve been successful.”

Schupan Recycling has become one of the largest independent processors and marketers of used beverage containers (UBCs) in the country since its establishment in 1985. It serves more than 80 percent of Michigan’s beverage wholesalers and is the most profitable among the three Schupan divisions. Schupan Recycling employs almost 40 percent of the company’s 225 employees. It handles UBCs that include aluminum cans, plastic and glass bottles for beverage and beer wholesalers throughout the state.

Serving the beverage industry is fast-paced, Emmerich notes. “Materials keep coming,” he continues. “You have to have an efficient operation, so as empties keep coming, you keep processing.”

Schupan Recycling says it transformed the way beverage containers are recycled in Michigan.

“We began by developing an on-site, comprehensive densification program for beverage wholesalers,” it explains. “[Our] facilities are conveniently located for pick-up or delivery of processed aluminum cans. Our customers may deliver processed aluminum cans as frequently as desired, thus increasing cash flow and maximizing warehouse space.”

The division says it also developed a system for processing distributor bags of aluminum cans and plastic bottles. Once performed manually, Schupan Recycling now operates fully automated systems and uses the latest in sorting technologies.

Third -Party Program
In the late 1990s, Schupan & Sons partnered with TOMRA of North America, a division of Norway-based TOMRA, to form UBCR LLC. TOMRA is the world’s largest supplier of reverse vending machines that sort and collect containers for recycling.

According to Emmerich, UBCR further changed how Michigan handled empty containers. “Before, distributors and wholesalers picked up 100 percent of their empties from the retail stores,” he states. “Now, the joint-venture, third-party program picks up more than 50 percent of the states’ empties and takes them to Schupan Recycling processing facilities. We make sure when the materials are dropped off, we get them out as quick as possible.”

“UBCR delivers used beverage containers in high-volume bins to a Schupan facility where they are processed through the use of an automated bin-handling system,” it adds. “The third-party program allows for distributors to concentrate their efforts on the delivery of full good [and] provides retailers the convenience of scheduled pick-ups for all containers by one vendor.”

Teamwork
Emmerich emphasizes that all three divisions contribute to the overall success of Schupan & Sons. “We have an overall company philosophy of say what you mean and do what you say,” he stresses. “People trust us because when we say we are going to do something, we do it.”

SIRS, on the other hand, has been serving the scrap metal industry since 1968. It offers custom-designed scrap-management programs that include scrap removal equipment, oil reclamation, baling, shearing and sorting, crane services, logistics and brokerage. It also purchases a wide range of metals, from aluminum and brass to steel and zinc.

Kicking Back
Schupan Recycling consolidated its four processing facilities into two in the past few years, with its latest consolidation occurring earlier this year.

Aside from its headquarters, it now operates in Wyoming and Milford Township, Mich. It is time for a little break, however, Emmerich says.

“Our master plan five years ago was to consolidate [our facilities] and we completed that this year,” he explains. “Of course, we’re still going to look at other opportunities and tweak things a bit, but we all need to take a deep breath in the next 12 months or so, while making sure things remain under control.”