PMR
PMR is a Canadian precious-metals recycler providing assay-based toll refining of catalytic converters and copper processing to North American automotive recyclers, scrap yards, and converter dismantlers, settled on measured PGM content rather than per-unit pricing.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersBoisbriand, Canada
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What PMR does
PMR is a privately held Canadian precious-metals recycler, founded in 1995 and headquartered in Boisbriand, Quebec, that provides toll refining and assay-based settlement services to automotive recyclers, scrap yards, and catalytic converter dismantlers across North America. Customers ship end-of-life catalytic converters (minimum 150 per lot) to one of three processing facilities — Boisbriand for ceramic converters, Mirabel for foil processing and R&D, and Gastonia, North Carolina for US suppliers — where the material is decanned, milled, homogenized, and assayed using XRF, ICP, and carbon-analysis instruments in an ISO-accredited laboratory, with settlement based on measured platinum, palladium, and rhodium content rather than per-unit or catalog pricing.
The company's product surface extends beyond refining into the Supplier Services Platform (SSP), an online portal that combines pricing insights, lot tracking, the VIN/TRIM tool, a photo-based grading tool, and the Master Catalog, plus a separate copper recycling and processing line. Revenue is generated almost entirely through transaction fees on assayed toll refining and copper processing, with advance payment and tolling options provided to manage customer cash flow and PGM market exposure; pricing is not publicly disclosed.
In 2024, PMR self-funded a $6 million investment into its Gastonia facility, adding AI-driven process automation intended to triple processing output and support a 5-day turnaround target, and the company celebrated its 30th operating anniversary in 2025. Distribution is direct and sales-led, combining field account management, a Helpdesk team, content marketing (blog, Blue Table Talk video series, Ryan's Converter 101), and a prominent "Book a Free Consultation" call-to-action across digital channels.
PMR firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- PMR
- Legal name
- PMR INC
- Website
- https://pmrcc.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- PMR is a Canadian precious-metals recycler providing assay-based toll refining of catalytic converters and copper processing to North American automotive recyclers, scrap yards, and converter dismantlers, settled on measured PGM content rather than per-unit pricing.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
PMR industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Precious Metal Recycling Services
- akta.pro primary industry
- Catalytic Converter Recycling & Precious Metals Recovery (PGM) (EUAIAJAG)
Keywords
Where PMR is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Boisbriand
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
PMR business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Toll Refining of Catalytic Converters: PMR charges a fee to process and refine catalytic converter material owned by the customer. Settlement is based on actual PGM content measured through assay (XRF/ICP analysis), with payment issued per measured troy ounces of recovered platinum, palladium, and rhodium. This is the primary revenue stream and the core of PMR's business model.
- Copper Recycling and Processing: PMR offers copper recycling and processing services, delivering transparent grading, efficient evaluations, and fast settlements for recyclers. Revenue is generated through processing fees and settlement based on copper purity and weight.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Assay-based toll refining with 150 converter minimum lot |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
PMR product offering
Product offeringCore offering
PMR provides toll refining of catalytic converters and copper recycling services for automotive recyclers, scrap yards, and converter dismantlers across North America. Customers ship material to PMR facilities where it undergoes advanced sampling, ISO-accredited laboratory analysis (XRF and ICP), and assay-based settlement paid based on actual platinum, palladium, and rhodium content measured in troy ounces. The company supplements this core processing service with the Supplier Services Platform, an online portal offering pricing insights, inventory tracking, and lot monitoring tools.
Product overview
PMR is a specialized precious metal recycling company focused on catalytic converter recycling and processing. The company operates a unified service platform centered on converter recycling, toll refining, copper processing, and the Supplier Services Platform (SSP). The core offering combines converter recycling and toll refining services, which use advanced sampling, ISO-accredited laboratory analysis, XRF, ICP, and carbon analysis technologies. The SSP serves as the overarching platform providing pricing tools (VIN/TRIM, Photo Grading, Master Catalog), inventory tracking, and evaluation intelligence. PMR Advantages offers additional tools and expertise for maximizing converter value. The company recently expanded with copper recycling services and a $6M AI-powered processing facility in North Carolina.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Supplier Services Platform (SSP): An online platform with pricing insights, referencing tools, and tracking to support smarter converter decisions
- PMR Processing
- PMR Lab
Quantifiable outcome
- 10-15 business day turnaround (5-day target)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use PMR
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
PMR technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability1 record
Feature6 records
PMR partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators6 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
PMR competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Sabin Metal Corp: U.S.-based precious metals refinery that processes catalytic converter scrap and other industrial PGM-bearing materials for toll refining customers. Directly comparable to PMR in serving automotive recyclers with assay-based settlement.
Broad incumbents
- Heraeus Precious Metals: Global precious metals refiner with a PGM recycling business serving automotive and industrial customers. Operates at much greater scale and geographic breadth than PMR, but competes in catalytic converter toll refining.
- Johnson Matthey: Major PGM refiner and catalyst manufacturer with significant precious metals recycling operations, including converter processing. Broad incumbent with deeper capital and global reach than PMR.
- Umicore: Belgian materials technology group with a large precious metals recycling and refining arm that recovers PGMs from spent automotive catalysts. Comparable service offering to PMR within a much larger diversified portfolio.
- Sibanye-Stillwater: Major PGM producer and refiner with a recycling segment recovering PGMs from spent catalysts and scrap. Larger and more vertically integrated than PMR, with global operations across the PGM value chain.
- Tanaka Precious Metals: Japanese precious metals refiner with global operations recovering PGMs and other precious metals from industrial scrap, including catalytic converters. Larger incumbent with broader product portfolio than PMR.
- Asahi Refining: North American precious metals refiner with capabilities spanning PGM recovery and refining for industrial and recycling customers. A regional incumbent whose catalytic converter processing overlaps with PMR's service.
- Metalor Technologies: Swiss precious metals refiner with industrial and recycling customers, including PGM-bearing scrap streams. Comparable toll refining activity to PMR within a broader global precious metals business.
- BASF Catalysts: Major chemical company whose catalysts division includes precious metals refining and recycling for automotive and industrial applications. Overlaps with PMR in PGM recovery from spent catalysts at much greater scale.
Regional players
- Dowa Holdings: Japanese environmental management and metals recycling group with PGM recovery operations from automotive catalysts and electronics scrap. Comparable refining capability to PMR but primarily serves the Japanese and Asian markets.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
PMR social profiles
Digital presencePMR compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
PMR financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
PMR leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
PMR funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
PMR M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about PMR
What does PMR do?
PMR provides toll refining of catalytic converters and copper recycling services for automotive recyclers, scrap yards, and converter dismantlers across North America. Customers ship material to PMR facilities where it undergoes advanced sampling, ISO-accredited laboratory analysis (XRF and ICP), and assay-based settlement paid based on actual platinum, palladium, and rhodium content measured in troy ounces. The company supplements this core processing service with the Supplier Services Platform, an online portal offering pricing insights, inventory tracking, and lot monitoring tools.
Is PMR a public or private company?
PMR is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was PMR founded?
PMR was founded in 1995. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is PMR based?
PMR is headquartered in Boisbriand, Canada, in the North America region.
How does PMR make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Toll Refining of Catalytic Converters are the primary driver. The others are copper Recycling and Processing.
Who are PMR's main competitors?
Sabin Metal Corp is listed as a direct peer. Broad incumbents are Heraeus Precious Metals, Johnson Matthey, Umicore, Sibanye-Stillwater, Tanaka Precious Metals, Asahi Refining, Metalor Technologies and BASF Catalysts. Dowa Holdings is listed as a regional player.
Does PMR have an API?
No public API is recorded for PMR.
What industry is PMR in?
PMR's product category is Precious Metal Recycling Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAIAJAG, Catalytic Converter Recycling & Precious Metals Recovery (PGM).