What Reclam does

Reclam Holdings (legally The Reclamation Group (Pty) Ltd) is a privately held South African metal recycling and processing platform founded in 1998 by David Kassel, who began in the metal recycling industry in 1970. The group operates five specialized divisions: Reclam (core ferrous and non-ferrous metal recycling, plus paper, plastic, and electronic waste); The Melt Shop (a Johannesburg-based scrap-fed steel mill producing billets for bar, rod, and wire manufacturers using electric arc furnaces operating above 1,600°C and continuous casting systems); Element 29 (copper smelting and production of finished/semi-finished copper products, established 2018); Element 13 (aluminium smelting and casting in Dunswart, established 2019); and DKL Resources (UK-based scrap processing and international trading from Dagenham with direct Thames River dock access for bulk shipping). The underlying technology backbone includes electric arc furnaces, continuous casting with mold oscillation and cooling, advanced scrap shredders and fragmentisers, automated ultrasonic defect detection for quality assurance, the in-house developed E29 copper process, and high-efficiency aluminium smelting furnaces.

The business model is B2B direct sales of processed metals and finished/semi-finished products (billets, copper products, aluminium products) to downstream manufacturers, steel mills, foundries, and industrial operators across Southern Africa and globally. Revenue is generated through transactional sales of processed raw materials and finished goods; pricing is negotiated bilaterally based on material type, volume, and prevailing market conditions and is not publicly disclosed. Go-to-market is sales-led, relying on direct procurement relationships with mill and manufacturing supply chains domestically and on bulk international trading channels via DKL Resources. The group holds ISO 14001 (environmental management), ISO 45001 (occupational health and safety), and ISO 9002 certifications at its operations and operates from a headquarters in Sandton, Gauteng, with 1,001-5,000 employees across South African and UK sites. Ownership includes a 2003 Black Economic Empowerment transaction in which 25% plus one share was sold to Phamangu Investment Holdings, partly funded by the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa.

Name

Reclam

Legal name

The Reclamation Group (Pty) Ltd

Website

https://reclam.co.za

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Reclam Holdings is a privately held South African metal recycling and processing group operating five divisions across ferrous and non-ferrous recycling, scrap-based steel billet production, copper and aluminium smelting, and UK-based international scrap trading, serving downstream manufacturers, steel mills, and industrial operators in Southern Africa and globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Metal Recycling and Processing

NAICS

Materials Recovery Facilities (562920), Copper Rolling, Drawing, Extruding, and Alloying (331420), Copper Rolling, Drawing, Extruding, and Alloying (33142), Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Smelting and Refining (33141)

SIC

Secondary Smelting & Refining Of Nonferrous Metals (3341), Primary Smelting & Refining Of Nonferrous Metals (3330)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Copper Recycling & Secondary Copper Smelting/Refining (IMAKADAK), E-Waste & Electronics Metal Recovery (ITAD, Circuit Boards, Precious Metal Recovery) (IMAKAMAG), Construction & Demolition (C&D) Metal Recycling (Structural Steel, Rebar, Roofing, Wire) (IMAKAMAF)

Keywords

• Metal recycling services
• Scrap metal processing
• Ferrous metals recovery
• Non-ferrous smelting
• Aluminium copper production

Headquarters

HQ city

Johannesburg

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Metal Recycling and Processing Services: Collection, processing, and sale of recycled ferrous and non-ferrous metals, plastics, paper, and electronic waste. Revenue generated through the sale of processed raw materials to downstream manufacturers.
2. Aluminium Smelting and Production: Element 13 produces finished and semi-finished aluminium products through smelting operations, generating revenue from product sales to manufacturers
3. Copper Smelting and Production: Element 29 produces finished and semi-finished copper products through advanced smelting and casting processes, selling to industrial customers
4. Steel Billet Production: The Melt Shop converts scrap metal into steel billets sold as raw material to metal processors producing bars, rods, and wire
5. International Scrap Metal Trading: DKL Resources facilitates bulk shipping of scrap metal with direct access to Thames River docks, serving international markets

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Reclam is a Southern African metal recycler and processor that collects, beneficiates, and sells recycled ferrous and non-ferrous metals, paper, plastics, and electronic waste to downstream manufacturers. Through its five divisions (Reclam, The Melt Shop, Element 29, Element 13, and DKL Resources), the group converts scrap into steel billets, finished/semi-finished copper products, and finished/semi-finished aluminium products, and trades scrap internationally from its UK facility.

Product overview

Reclam Holdings operates as a platform of specialized divisions focused on metal recovery, recycling, and resource sustainability. The core offering consists of five divisions: Reclam (metal recycling of ferrous, non-ferrous, paper, e-waste, and plastics), The Melt Shop (scrap-based steel mill producing billets), Element 13 (aluminium smelting and casting), Element 29 (copper smelting and production), and DKL Resources (UK-based scrap metal processing with international shipping). These divisions work together to deliver circular economy solutions, transforming scrap materials into high-quality resources for downstream manufacturers worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Reclam Metal Recycling Metal recycling division specialising in raw material processing and beneficiation of ferrous metals, non-ferrous metals, paper, electronic waste, and plastics across Southern Africa, supplying downstream manufacturers with high-quality recycled resources.
• The Melt Shop Steel Billets Johannesburg-based steel mill that converts scrap metal into steel billets for manufacturers of bars, rods, and wire, using electric furnaces operating above 1,600°C, ladle metallurgy stations, and continuous casting systems with automated ultrasonic defect testing.
• Element 29 Copper Products Copper smelting and production division producing finished and semi-finished copper products for industrial customers using proprietary E29 smelting technology developed in-house for efficiency, reliability, and safety.
• Element 13 Aluminium Products Aluminium smelting and casting facility in Dunswart, South Africa, producing finished and semi-finished aluminium products using high-efficiency smelting furnaces that enhance process reliability, safety, and energy efficiency.
• DKL Resources Scrap Trading and Site Services UK-based scrap metal buyer and processor in Dagenham handling ferrous and non-ferrous metals including copper, brass, aluminium, lead, and stainless steel, with direct access to Thames River docks for international bulk shipping and on-site demolition and site-clearance services for tradespeople, demolition contractors, and industrial operators.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduces demand for mined ores through above-ground mining principle
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Boliden: Swedish metals company with integrated mining, smelting, and recycling operations across copper, zinc, lead, and aluminium. Comparable to Reclam's multi-metal recycling and smelting platform though at significantly larger scale and with primary mining exposure.
• Glencore: Global diversified mining and commodities trader with significant scrap metal trading and recycling exposure through its marketing business. Comparable to Reclam in international scrap trading and as a multi-metal participant, though at vastly different scale and with primary mining integration.

Regional players

• Murray & Roberts Metals: South African metals processing and engineering group with regional presence in industrial services and metals. Adjacent regional comparable operating in the same Southern African industrial customer ecosystem.
• ArcelorMittal South Africa: South Africa's largest steel producer and a key downstream customer for scrap metal, with steelmaking operations in Vanderbijlpark, Newcastle, and Saldanha. Regional peer serving the same Southern African market and consuming scrap inputs comparable to those processed by The Melt Shop.

Direct peers

• Aurubis: European copper smelter and recycler producing cathodes, rod, and other semi-finished copper products from primary and secondary feedstocks. Closest direct comp to Element 29's copper smelting operations and finished/semi-finished copper product sales.
• Sims Metal Management: Global scrap metal recycler operating collection, processing, and trading of ferrous and non-ferrous metals with significant ANZ and US presence. Comparable to Reclam across business model, customer base (mills and foundries), and multi-metal recycling strategy.
• EMR Group: UK-headquartered global scrap metal recycler with operations across ferrous and non-ferrous metals and processing facilities in Europe and the Americas. Directly comparable to Reclam/DKL Resources given overlap in international scrap trading, ferrous and non-ferrous processing, and integrated downstream operations.
• Metalico: North American scrap metal recycler operating collection yards, shredders, and processing facilities for ferrous and non-ferrous metals including copper, aluminium, and lead. Comparable mid-cap recycling model to Reclam's core recycling division.
• Schnitzer Steel Industries: US-based scrap metal recycler and finished steel products manufacturer operating shredders, electric arc furnace steel mill, and recycled metal trading. Closely matches Reclam's vertical integration from scrap intake through steel billet production.

Emerging players

• SA Recyclage / Recylex: European specialist in recycling of lead, plastics, and non-ferrous metals with secondary smelting operations. Comparable emerging player to Reclam's non-ferrous smelting division in scale and recycling-from-scrap model.

Market position

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/268256003506751
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Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Reclam