About Us

Based in Opa Locka, Florida ACR Coppermill is a secondary copper and aluminum processing mill. By following our rigorous processes, we produce the highest quality granulated copper chops and shredded 60/63 extruded aluminum. These
materials go directly to smelters which melt and reuse the metals to make new products. We at ACR Coppermill believe in what we do, we strive to process old material which would end up in landfills contaminating the planet and bring it back to life thus helping conserve our natural resources. At ACR senior management and employees take great pride in ensuring that our customers get the cleanest and highest quality material in the market starting with the customers that we purchase secondary metals from to the customers that we sell our finished product to.

About Us

Based in Opa Locka, Florida ACR Coppermill is a secondary copper and aluminum processing mill. By following our rigorous processes, we produce the highest quality granulated copper chops and shredded 60/63 extruded aluminum. These
materials go directly to smelters which melt and reuse the metals to make new products. We at ACR Coppermill believe in what we do, we strive to process old material which would end up in landfills contaminating the planet and bring it back to life thus helping conserve our natural resources. At ACR senior management and employees take great pride in ensuring that our customers get the cleanest and highest quality material in the market starting with the customers that we purchase secondary metals from to the customers that we sell our finished product to.

History

The first metal extrusion process was patented by Joseph Bramah in 1797. Bramah was a prominent inventor and locksmith of the Industrial Revolution. He invented the metal extrusion process with the assistance of blacksmith Henry Maudslay. Their original goal was to perfect an impregnable lock. What they came up with was the process of hand driving soft metal through a mold, using a plunger in order to create lock parts.
However, Bramah soon found that he could create other parts this way. In particular, he discovered he could use this method to create make soft metal pipe.

In 1820, Thomas Burr used the hydraulic press, also invented by Bramah, and the extrusion process to form lead pipes and rods. As manufacturers discovered that they could extrude other materials, the use of the process spread and advanced. Still, they shied away from aluminum. This is because, though aluminum is an extremely abundant resource, it is rarely found in its pure form and has to be extracted. Throughout most of the 1800s, raw aluminum extraction was difficult and costly.

History

The first metal extrusion process was patented by Joseph Bramah in 1797. Bramah was a prominent inventor and locksmith of the Industrial Revolution. He invented the metal extrusion process with the assistance of blacksmith Henry Maudslay. Their original goal was to perfect an impregnable lock. What they came up with was the process of hand driving soft metal through a mold, using a plunger in order to create lock parts.
However, Bramah soon found that he could create other parts this way. In particular, he discovered he could use this method to create make soft metal pipe.

In 1820, Thomas Burr used the hydraulic press, also invented by Bramah, and the extrusion process to form lead pipes and rods. As manufacturers discovered that they could extrude other materials, the use of the process spread and advanced. Still, they shied away from aluminum. This is because, though aluminum is an extremely abundant resource, it is rarely found in its pure form and has to be extracted. Throughout most of the 1800s, raw aluminum extraction was difficult and costly.

This changed in the 1886, when Paul Heroult and Charles Martin Hall (independently from one another) developed a smelting process that involves electrolysis. This process, now known as the Hall-Heroult process, made aluminum much easier to extract. As a result, aluminum costs plummeted and it suddenly became a viable extrusion material option. In 1888, Karl Josef Bayer developed the Bayer process, which is a means to refine bauxite ore into alumina (aluminum oxide). This made it even easier to produce aluminum suitable for extrusion. Both methods are still used today.

In 1894, Alexander Dick invented the modern hot extrusion process, which allowed manufacturers to extrude non-ferrous alloys.

This changed in the 1886, when Paul Heroult and Charles Martin Hall (independently from one another) developed a smelting process that involves electrolysis. This process, now known as the Hall-Heroult process, made aluminum much easier to extract. As a result, aluminum costs plummeted and it suddenly became a viable extrusion material option. In 1888, Karl Josef Bayer developed the Bayer process, which is a means to refine bauxite ore into alumina (aluminum oxide). This made it even easier to produce aluminum suitable for extrusion. Both methods are still used today.

In 1894, Alexander Dick invented the modern hot extrusion process, which allowed manufacturers to extrude non-ferrous alloys.

The first extrusion press was built in 1904 in Pennsylvania. This lead to a rapid development of the burgeoning aviation and automotive industries, which found extruded aluminum profiles to be quite useful. Then, in 1910, Robert Victor Neher of Switzerland patented the aluminum rolling machine. The aluminum rolling machine allowed manufacturers to mass produce thin aluminum foil for the first time. The foil proved very useful in the household.

In 1933, the American Congress passed the National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA), which required all industries to establish safety and standard codes and guidelines for fair competition. This led to the development of the Aluminum Association, which held its first meeting in New York in 1935. They were essential in guiding the role aluminum
and aluminum extrusion would play in World War II. During WWII, manufacturers used extruded aluminum to create mess kits, ship hulls and airplane frames. Because aluminum is recyclable, Americans held “Aluminum for Defense” and tinfoil drives in support of the war effort. Often, organizers exchanged movie tickets for balls of used foil.

After WWII, the United States and its Cold War rival, the Soviet Union, turned their eyes towards space. Sputnik I, the first Soviet satellite, which was launched in 1957, was made up of aluminum alloys. Today, manufacturers still extrude aluminum alloys for spacecraft assembly.

Today, aluminum extrusions are as popular as ever. Fortunately, they are 100% recyclable. This fits in with the world’s overall focus on sustainability and environmental stewardship.

The first extrusion press was built in 1904 in Pennsylvania. This lead to a rapid development of the burgeoning aviation and automotive industries, which found extruded aluminum profiles to be quite useful. Then, in 1910, Robert Victor Neher of Switzerland patented the aluminum rolling machine. The aluminum rolling machine allowed manufacturers to mass produce thin aluminum foil for the first time. The foil proved very useful in the household.

In 1933, the American Congress passed the National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA), which required all industries to establish safety and standard codes and guidelines for fair competition. This led to the development of the Aluminum Association, which held its first meeting in New York in 1935. They were essential in guiding the role aluminum and aluminum extrusion would play in World War II. During WWII, manufacturers used extruded aluminum to create mess kits, ship hulls and airplane frames. Because aluminum is recyclable, Americans held “Aluminum for Defense” and tinfoil drives in support of the war effort. Often, organizers exchanged movie tickets for balls of used foil.

After WWII, the United States and its Cold War rival, the Soviet Union, turned their eyes towards space. Sputnik I, the first Soviet satellite, which was launched in 1957, was made up of aluminum alloys. Today, manufacturers still extrude aluminum alloys for spacecraft assembly.

Today, aluminum extrusions are as popular as ever. Fortunately, they are 100% recyclable. This fits in with the world’s overall focus on sustainability and environmental stewardship.