In Salt Lake City, Utah, Utah Metal Works has been processing scrap across the Intermountain West since the 1950s. Now a third-generation, family-owned business, the company handles both ferrous and non-ferrous materials, with a strong focus on insulated wire and downstream copper and aluminum recovery.
Vice President Chris Lewon oversees daily operations across the yard, where nearly 50 employees manage a steady flow of inbound material from industrial accounts and the general public.
“Day to day… we’ve got a lot of folks bringing in material across the scale and from our industrial accounts,” Lewon said. “We’re processing that material and getting it out to our customers.”
To keep that flow consistent, Utah Metal Works recently added a new SENNEBOGEN 825, building on a relationship with the company that spans nearly two decades.
“The Sennebogen is one of our favorite machines. It’s one of our workhorses,” Lewon said.
Built for Scrap Processing
At Utah Metal Works, insulated wire moves through a multi-stage process, from sorting and granulation to density separation, producing clean copper and aluminum ready for market.
Keeping that system fed requires machines that can handle constant cycles, varied material, and demanding yard conditions. SENNEBOGEN material handlers are used throughout the yard to move and manage both ferrous and non-ferrous scrap, feeding processing equipment and maintaining steady throughput.
Designed with the Operator in Mind
At Utah Metal Works, the next generation is already part of daily operations in the yard.
Chris Lewon’s son, Austin, operates one of the SENNEBOGEN machines, moving between the cab and the ground throughout the day, keeping material flowing.
“I’m probably in the machine about six hours a day… but I’m also in and out constantly,” Austin said.
“They’re very user friendly… very comfortable. There’s no machine that does it better when it comes to unloading trucks and having that visibility.”
“Everything’s labeled… fuses, solenoids, switches. It’s very operator friendly and mechanic friendly as well,” he added.
That operator-focused design is something the company sees across its fleet.
“Our operators are really happy with the machines… UMWthey’ve got great visibility and can sit in them for hours without fatigue,” Lewon said.
Uptime That Matters
With material constantly moving through the yard, uptime is critical to maintaining production. SENNEBOGEN’s focus on serviceability, parts availability, and dealer support helps ensure machines stay running.
“They do a really good job getting parts into this country… and making sure we can keep equipment running,” Lewon said. “That uptime on this equipment is so important.”
Support from Rasmussen Equipment, along with direct communication with SENNEBOGEN and strong parts availability, allows issues to be addressed quickly and keep operations moving.
A Long-Term Partnership
Utah Metal Works’ relationship with SENNEBOGEN goes back nearly two decades, built on consistent performance and support.
“We wouldn’t be a customer for 17 years without having a real belief in their system,” Lewon said.
As a multi-generational business, the Lewon family values long-term relationships, something they see reflected in SENNEBOGEN’s approach as a family-owned manufacturer.
“SENNEBOGEN being a family-owned company as well… we like the relationship and the partnership we’ve formed,” he added.
That connection extends beyond equipment.
“We had the pleasure of having Erich Sennebogen come out and visit us… that kind of relationship is hard to find,” Lewon said.
Looking Ahead
With the recent addition of the SENNEBOGEN 825, Utah Metal Works continues to rely on equipment and support that keep their operation running day in and day out, backed by a relationship built on performance and support.