Towering into the sky just beyond the railroad tracks in Becker, the Northern Metals Recycling facility is quickly emerging from the shadows of the Sherco Power Plant, just south of University Avenue and west of Hancock Street.

 

Scott Helberg, COO at NMR, noted the project fell behind by a couple weeks in the spring, but lately the crews at the site have made headway towards completion.

 

“With the demand being very high on the construction site, we have seen bids come in higher than expected,” he said. “If all goes well, we will be wrapping up installation of all production equipment by mid-August —  depending on the weather.”

 

Another slowdown in the project came during this area’s harsh winter months, when the project got kick-started.

 

“Pouring over 10,000 yards of concrete in a harsh winter like we just had (record snow fall in February and -30 degree temps) posed a lot of challenges and delays due to weather,” Helberg said. “The other issue we have had is wind while trying to erect such large, tall buildings.”

 

The NMR project — a 242,000-square-foot industrial building on 75-acres — has seen approximately 70 construction workers on-site daily from day one and that number will be going up in July with multiple crews being added to the site. Helberg says the crews have been working seven days a week, 10 hours per day. 

 

“At this time, we currently have crews on-site seven days a week, 24 hours a day welding,” he said.

 

A couple of weeks ago, colossal cranes were used to move a large piece of equipment that came in on rail to the TJ Potter site, then was transported by trailer to the NMR site.

 

The final part of the project is dependent on the city, where they intend to run new utility lines to the facility once main construction phases are completed. That consists of 4,900 feet of street improvements, 3,300 feet of sewer, 4,600 feet of water and 3,800 feet of storm water.

“Working with the city of Becker and Sherburne county has been a great experience,” Helberg said.

 

Northern Metals accepts raw recycling materials, such as steel and aluminum, from a dozen or so collection facilities throughout western Minnesota and North Dakota. Components of the operation include an enclosed metal shredder, an enclosed metal recovery plant, an “end-of-life” process for scrap vehicles, and a recycling center for residents, according to the EAW.

 

Northern Metals expects to create about 80 jobs initially, and eventually increase that number to 140.