Pioneering Scrap Solutions

In 2013, Bart Phillips attended the Recycled Materials Association convention in Orlando with a specific goal: to evaluate a portable twin-shaft shredder recently introduced to the market. An incidental encounter with ZB North America’s THOR mobile hammermill led to a demonstration that transformed Dominion Metal Recycling’s scrap-processing approach. The mobile hammermill proved capable of handling motor and transmission streams on-site, delivering processing flexibility and value realization that stationary systems could not match.

From a modest yard to a regional operation

Bart Phillips began in scrap in 1990, scrapping cars, and in 1992 he purchased his first yard in Winter Springs, Florida, 419 Metal & Auto Recycling Center. The operation grew gradually, investing in shears and balers while prioritizing suppliers with strong after-sales service. The 2008 financial crisis prompted a strategic reassessment; the proposed sale did not proceed, and expansion followed. Between 2010 and 2011, three additional locations were added, each outfitted with its own shear and baler, strengthening the company’s regional footprint. The business today operates under Dominion Metal Recycling and remains focused on maximizing the value of material that flows through the yard.

Rethinking shredding economics

Over the years, Bart considered installing a stationary auto shredder in the 3,000–4,000 horsepower range, but the economics did not justify the scale. The company continued to export motor and transmission streams; bringing those materials in-house offered greater value. The 2013 ReMA convention visit and subsequent engagement with ZB culminated in the deployment of the THOR mobile hammermill by Dominion Metal Recycling.

Mobility creates flexibility

After the demonstration, Dominion moved shredding operations from Winter Springs to its DeLand main yard. The hammermill’s mobility enabled a straightforward relocation without the foundations, site preparation, and downtime associated with stationary units. At the new site, Dominion built a streamlined downstream recovery setup around the hammermill, including ferrous separation and eddy current separators, plus manual picking to recover stainless steel and copper wire. This configuration maximizes nonferrous recovery while maintaining efficiency and manageability.

Thirteen years of partnership

For Dominion, equipment performance is complemented by robust support. ZB has provided consistent backing over more than a decade, including spare parts, modifications, and operational assistance as needs evolved. The Atlanta-based aftermarket team has helped minimize downtime and, when required, sourced off-the-shelf components from other vendors.

Maximizing value through mobile shredding

Today, Dominion Metal Recycling processes less than 1,000 gross tons per month through the hammermill, prioritizing high-recovery nonferrous materials over shredding lower-value sheet steel. The THOR remains among the company’s most valuable investments, illustrating how mobile systems can emphasize value recovery over volume. Bart notes that many yards overlook opportunities by discounting shredding due to volume assumptions, and that mobile solutions enable focused recovery of high-value metals.

Looking back

From ZB’s perspective, the collaboration with Bart Phillips and Dominion Metal Recycling marked a milestone: the THOR represented the first mobile hammermill in the world, demonstrating new operational concepts after decades of stationary shredders. ZB’s CEO Lander Arrieta emphasizes the trust and vision involved, while Bart asserts the THOR has exceeded expectations and that ZB has delivered on commitments. He advises recyclers evaluating shredding to consider ZB’s mobile hammermills as a potential shift in shredding strategy.