Metro Metals is a giant in the metal recycling business across the American West. Co-owners, Victor Winkler and Steve Zusman started the company in 1991 in Portland, Oregon where it has grown to become one of the nation’s top 20 processors of ferrous metal.  

SENNEBOGEN is proud to have helped power that success with our equipment. Our material handlers can be found throughout Metro’s facilities, supporting everything from customer unloading and material processing to shredder operations, railcar loading, and vessel exports. 

Built for High-Volume Recycling

At Metro’s Vancouver, WA facility, five SENNEBOGEN material handlers support one of the company’s busiest locations. The site processes between 1,500 and 2,000 tons of scrap metal each day, feeding a shredder that prepares material for mills worldwide.  

Operations Manager, Patrick McMurtry explains: “two machines support the shredder infeed, another works the shear, while additional units handle railcars, trucks, and ship-loading operations.”

At Metro’s Portland location, an 821, 825, and 830 support daily operations. General Manager, Juan Estraviz explains, “The 821 is a workhorse in the yard, unloading for customers, cleaning material, and powering all kinds of our processing operations.” The larger 830 handles high-piling and loading duties, while the 825 supports material movement inside the facility.

Together, the machines help Metro process metals arriving from across the American West before they ship to mills worldwide.

Reliability That Keeps Material Moving

For Metro Metals, uptime is one of the biggest reasons the company continues investing in SENNEBOGEN equipment.

As a top 20 recycler, reliable equipment is essential to Metro’s operational success.  

“We don’t want any downtime that could impact production, shipping schedules, or customer service,” says CEO & Co-Owner Victor Winkler. “That’s why we keep choosing SENNEBOGEN. They are the best, most reliable machines on the market.”

Environment, Health and Safety Director, Kyle Crebar, explains that the company evaluates equipment based on overall operating costs, reliability, parts availability, and service support.

“When we needed parts, when we needed service, we were able to get it very quickly,” Crebar said. “SENNEBOGEN checked all the boxes.”

That same sentiment is shared by Metro’s maintenance team. They appreciate that parts are readily available and that the machines have proven dependable throughout years of operation.

“With the SENNEBOGENs, the breakdowns have been far less,” says Maintenance Manager, Tyler MacDonald. “They’re workhorses that we can trust.”

Designed Around the Operator

While reliability drives purchasing decisions, operator comfort has played a major role in Metro’s continued use of SENNEBOGEN machines.

Having operated a variety of equipment brands throughout his career, McMurtry said the difference is immediately noticeable from the cab.

“Sitting in the cockpit of a SENNEBOGEN, it’s smooth and steady,” McMurtry said. “The controls are fluid.”

He added that the machines reduce operator fatigue during long shifts while providing the control and precision needed for demanding recycling applications.

Vancouver General Manager, Jason Kime echoed those comments, explaining that comfortable operators are more productive operators.

“I need an operator to be comfortably sitting there all day long,” Kime said.

From the operator’s seat to the executive office, Metro’s team consistently points to the same combination of comfort, reliability, and productivity as key reasons for continuing to expand their SENNEBOGEN fleet.

More Than Equipment

For Metro Metals, the relationship with SENNEBOGEN extends beyond the machines themselves.

Crebar pointed to the personal involvement of Erich Sennebogen and Constantino Lannes, President of SENNEBOGEN’s North American division, as part of what sets the company apart.

“SENNBOGEN leaders don’t just visit our yards…they know our maintenance managers by name, shake our hands, and ask what our issues are,” says Crebar. SENNEBOGEN genuinely wants to learn about Metro’s experience with the equipment and ensure the company gets the support it needs.

That combination of dedicated service, accessibility, and direct involvement from leadership has helped build the long-term confidence that Metro Metals clearly has in SENNEBOGEN.

Looking Ahead

As Metro Metals continues to grow its operations, the company expects SENNEBOGEN equipment to remain a key part of its future.

“We love them,” McMurtry said. “We’ve got nothing but good experiences to report.”

Backed by strong uptime, operator-focused design, and a long-standing relationship with the company behind the machines, Metro Metals plans to continue growing its SENNEBOGEN fleet for years to come.