Schupan & Sons, Inc.

What Schupan & Sons, Inc. does

Schupan & Sons, Inc. is a third-generation, family-owned sustainable materials company headquartered in Kalamazoo, Michigan, founded in 1968 as a scrap metal recycler and now operating across 18 multi-state facilities with more than 550 employees. The company operates four core business divisions: Schupan Aluminum & Plastic Solutions (SAPS), which provides CNC machining (3-, 4-, and 5-axis up to 200 inches), precision cutting, tube bending, MedAccred welding, and custom extrusions for industrial customers; Materials Trading (SMT), a global ferrous and non-ferrous trading operation serving more than 75 industries through a network managing hundreds of containers monthly; Beverage Container Recycling, processing 4 billion bottles and cans annually in Michigan and Iowa through mechanized separation, color sorting, and baling; and Industrial Recycling (SIRS), which builds custom scrap management programs for manufacturers with 24-48 hour pickups and 24/7 online tracking.

The company's underlying technology is industrial rather than digital: the Jim Paternoster (JP) Processing Center produces low-emission recycled aluminum at a capacity of two million pounds per shift per month; a dedicated cleaning facility in Russellville, Kentucky is positioned to deliver the cleanest recycled materials in the market; R2v3/RIOS-certified electronics recycling operations offer NIST 800-88 compliant data destruction via molten metal bath and hard drive shredding; and the MineHub Jules Trade Execution Platform supports both international and (as of May 2026) domestic trading workflows. Schupan sells through three go-to-market motions: B2B enterprise field sales to mills, OEMs, converters, and brand owners (with dedicated divisions and 800-number sales lines); consumer and SMB-facing drive-thru recycling centers in Elkhart, IN and Kalamazoo, MI with transparent published pricing and on-site ATM payment; and direct-to-consumer e-commerce via schupanboneyard.com for surplus materials and schupantech.com for refurbished electronics. Revenue is generated across materials sales (one-time), buy/sell transaction margins in trading, processing and service fees for beverage and industrial recycling, professional services for electronics and event sustainability, and managed services for industrial scrap programs.

Name

Schupan & Sons, Inc.

Legal name

Schupan & Sons, Inc.

Website

https://schupan.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Schupan & Sons is a third-generation, family-owned sustainable materials company founded in 1968, operating across 18 multi-state facilities with 550+ employees to recycle, manufacture, and globally trade aluminum, plastics, and other metals for mills, OEMs, converters, brand owners, and industrial customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Metal Recycling & Sustainable Materials Services

NAICS

Other Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3329), Plate Work and Fabricated Structural Product Manufacturing (33231), Machine Shops (33271)

SIC

Secondary Smelting & Refining Of Nonferrous Metals (3341), Wholesale-Metals Service Centers & Offices (5051), Sheet Metal Work (3444)

akta.pro primary industry

Metals Recycling & Processing (Ferrous/Non-Ferrous) (BPALADAF)

Keywords

• Metal recycling services
• Scrap metal trading
• Beverage container recycling
• Electronics recycling services
• CNC machining services

Headquarters

HQ city

Wixom

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Materials Sales: Sale of recycled and new aluminum, plastics, and other metals. Includes custom manufacturing, CNC machining, cutting, welding, bending, and distribution services. Multi-million dollar inventory transformed into manufactured components.
2. Materials Trading: Global trading of ferrous and non-ferrous metals. Managing hundreds of containers monthly with global network of suppliers. Revenue from buy/sell margins on international and domestic trades.
3. Beverage Container Recycling: Processing billions of containers annually from Michigan and Iowa. Revenue from processing fees and material sales to manufacturers.
4. Industrial Recycling Services: Custom scrap management programs for industrial clients. Revenue from service fees, material processing, and purchase/sale of scrap metals.
5. Electronics Recycling & Data Destruction: R2v3/RIOS certified electronics recycling with secure data destruction. Revenue from service fees and residual asset value recovery.
6. Event Sustainability Services: Full-service event recycling and sustainability services for venues and event producers in the Midwest.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Schupan & Sons is a third-generation family-owned sustainable materials company that recycles, trades, and manufactures metals and plastics. It operates four core divisions: Aluminum & Plastic Solutions (CNC machining, cutting, welding, custom extrusions), Materials Trading (global ferrous and non-ferrous metals), Beverage Container Recycling, and Industrial Recycling. Additional services include Electronics Recycling with secure data destruction, Event Sustainability Services, Drive-Thru Recycling centers, and a refurbished electronics retail store.

Product overview

Schupan & Sons, Inc. is a third-generation family-owned sustainable materials company founded in 1968, headquartered in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The company operates a multi-unit business with four core divisions: Aluminum & Plastic Solutions (SAPS), Materials Trading, Beverage Recycling, and Industrial Recycling. SAPS provides CNC machining, precision cutting, welding, and custom extrusions for aluminum and plastics. Beverage Container Recycling processes billions of containers annually in Michigan and Iowa. Materials Trading operates globally, serving over 75 industries with ferrous and non-ferrous metals. Industrial Recycling offers custom programs with on-site services and pickup scheduling. Additional services include Electronics Recycling (R2v3/RIOS certified with data destruction), Event Sustainability Services, Drive-Thru Recycling centers, and the Schupan Tech refurbished electronics store. The company also operates processing facilities including the Jim Paternoster (JP) Processing Center in Kalamazoo and a cleaning facility in Russellville, Kentucky.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SchupanTech: Refurbished electronics store offering tested and certified laptops and electronics.
• Jim Paternoster (JP) Processing Center

Products and services

• Aluminum & Plastic Solutions (SAPS) CNC machining, precision cutting, welding, custom extrusions, and distribution of aluminum and plastics for industrial customers. Offers 3-, 4-, and 5-axis machining for parts up to 200 inches long, volume cutting for plate and extrusions up to 244 inches, tube bending, and MedAccred welding services.
• Beverage Container Recycling Processes billions of beverage containers annually from Michigan and Iowa, providing manufacturers with clean recycled materials. Includes mechanized separation, color sorting, crushing, shredding, and baling operations.
• Drive-Thru Recycling Consumer-facing drive-thru recycling centers in Elkhart, IN and Kalamazoo, MI that accept scrap metals and pay customers cash on the spot. Accepts copper, aluminum, car batteries, and appliances.
• Electronics Recycling R2v3/RIOS certified electronics recycling with secure data destruction. Services include hard drive shredding, NIST 800-88 compliant wiping, asset value recovery, and white-glove device collection.
• Industrial Recycling (SIRS) Custom industrial recycling programs for ferrous and non-ferrous metals. Includes on-site training, custom container design, 24-48 hour pickup scheduling, and 24/7 online tracking. Helps companies reduce labor, space, and transportation costs.
• Materials Trading Global trading of ferrous and non-ferrous metals serving over 75 industries. Manages hundreds of containers monthly with a focus on sustainable materials sourcing and supply chain optimization.
• Event Sustainability Services Full-service event recycling company for the Midwest. Provides on-site staffing, equipment rental, food waste composting, custom branding, and carbon calculations. Has diverted over 3.1 million pounds from landfills since 2008.
• New Aluminum & Plastics Manufacturing Multi-million dollar inventory of new aluminum and plastics transformed into manufactured components. Services include raw material cutting to length and fully machined components.
• Schupan Tech (Refurbished Electronics Store) Online and in-person retail store selling refurbished laptops and electronics. All items are fully tested and certified for key functionality.
• Schupan Boneyard Discounted materials marketplace selling surplus metals and plastics inventory. Available for purchase through the Boneyard website.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2.7 million tonnes of CO2e emissions avoided annually through recycling
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MineHub TechnologiescoreTechnology or Integration · 20 May 2026Expanded Jules Trade Execution Platform from international trading operations to include domestic trading activities. Schupan leverages the Jules platform across a broader range of its trading operations, augmenting its existing software lineup. The expansion signals Jules' continued penetration into the domestic trade segment of the North American brokerage market.
• TOMRAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreated UBCR (Underground Beverage Container Recycling) joint venture to handle logistics of bottle returns for distributors and Michigan's largest retailers. Partnership enables comprehensive bottle deposit return logistics for Michigan.
• Glass Packaging InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partnership supporting sustainable packaging and recycling initiatives.
• ReloopminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit organization focused on advancing deposit return systems and circular economy solutions.
• Mountain Equipment Company (MEC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partner collaborating on sustainability and recycling initiatives.
• Aluminum Stewardship InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal certification program for responsible aluminum production. Schupan aligned with ASI standards for sustainable aluminum processing.
• Association of Plastics Recyclers (APR)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association working to advance plastics recycling through standards and best practices.
• International Festival & Events AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association for sustainable event management standards and practices.
• Metal Service Center InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association for metal service centers promoting best practices and standards.
• MRC (Materials Research Council)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry organization advancing materials recycling research and development.
• ReMA (Recycling Manufacturers Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrade association representing recycling industry manufacturers and suppliers.
• Container Recycling InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit research organization focused on beverage container recycling and deposit systems.
• Michigan Urban Conservation ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal conservation organization supporting community sustainability initiatives.
• Aluminum AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrade association representing the North American aluminum industry.
• MUSE (Meeting Professionals Sustainable Events)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization promoting sustainable practices in the meetings and events industry.
• Western Michigan Sustainable Business ForumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional business organization promoting sustainability practices in Western Michigan.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Kuusakoski: Finland-headquartered metals recycling group with North American operations, including electronics recycling and certified data destruction. Comparable in combining industrial scrap, e-waste, and secure IT asset disposition services.
• ERI (Electronic Recyclers International): Largest U.S. electronics recycler with R2v3 certification and secure data destruction services. Directly comparable to Schupan's electronics recycling and ITAD business, with similar enterprise customer base and certified destruction capabilities.
• OmniSource Corporation: Major Midwest-based metal recycler with multiple facilities across the U.S., acquired by Steel Dynamics. Direct competitor to Schupan's industrial recycling and scrap processing operations in overlapping geographies.
• Radius Recycling (formerly Schnitzer Steel Industries): One of the largest metal recycling companies in North America, operating ferrous and non-ferrous scrap yards, processing facilities, and a global trading platform. Directly comparable as a multi-state metal recycler with mill relationships and trading exposure; larger scale but similar business model.
• EMR Group: UK-headquartered global metal recycling and materials trading group with significant U.S. operations. Comparable in operating integrated recycling and trading across ferrous, non-ferrous, and specialty metals, serving industrial customers globally.
• Sims Limited: Global metals recycling and electronics recycling company operating in North America, Australia, and the UK. Comparable in combining scrap metal recycling with IT asset disposition services, and competing with Schupan in U.S. ferrous and non-ferrous markets.
• MetalX: Indiana-based non-ferrous metals recycler and processor, recently acquired by Radius Recycling. Direct Midwest competitor in aluminum and specialty metals recycling; overlap with Schupan's JP Processing Center and materials trading operations.

Broad incumbents

• David J. Joseph Company (Nucor subsidiary): One of the largest U.S. ferrous scrap processors and brokers, owned by Nucor (largest U.S. steelmaker). Competes with Schupan's industrial scrap management and trading, but benefits from Nucor's downstream mill integration.
• Novelis: Global leader in aluminum rolling and recycling, and one of the largest buyers of recycled aluminum scrap. Not a direct competitor in collection but a key downstream customer and benchmark for recycled-content demand that drives Schupan's beverage and aluminum recycling economics.

Emerging players

• Heritage Crystal Clean: U.S. environmental services company providing waste collection, recycling, and sustainability services to industrial customers. Comparable in offering managed industrial recycling and sustainability services, though focused more on fluids and parts cleaning than metals.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/schupan.sons
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/818368

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Schupan & Sons, Inc.