Wichita company grows again with acquisition that expands its reach in Kansas

Wichita’s Allmetal Recycling is expanding again, this time with a broader reach west and northwest of Wichita.

Cousins Clint and Kolby Cornejo acquired Heavy Metal Recyclers, which has sites in Pratt, Great Bend and Kingman.

“These three locations give us . . . a new market that we haven’t really reached out to because of the Heavy Metal business, so we’re excited about that,” Clint Cornejo said.

Abe Peters started Heavy Metal Recyclers 12 years ago, but he said the industry is changing, and it’s becoming more corporate.

“It’s time for the bigger people to take over, and we’re happy to give it to a wonderful, reputable company,” he said. “We want to see them grow, also.”

This makes 10 Allmetal sites, and Cornejo said there will be a couple more coming this year.

Peters said he didn’t name his business after music, but he said the Heavy Metal name “just was catchy enough . . . for the industry, it got people’s attention.”

Cornejo said he’s sticking with the Allmetal name, but he acknowledged Heavy Metal “is a good name.”