Cleaning up scrap on his father’s farm leads to full-time endeavor for Kansas entrepreneur who now runs two facilities

This year marks the 30th anniversary of Wes Ungeheuer’s initial start in the scrap metal industry. It wasn’t something he necessarily sought out, but when he started cleaning up his father’s farm, he realized that it could be a lucrative business.

“It was May of 1993; I took a load of metal to Kansas City to a shredder, and they paid me for it,” recalled Wes. “I just kept hauling stuff up there on the weekends. Next thing I know, a neighbor called and asked about cleaning up his place. So, I did that.”

Four years later, Wes bought an 8-acre farm near Centerville, Kan., and turned it into a scrap recycling center. He incorporated Wes’ Recycling in 1998 and added a scale in 2001. Wes’ wife, Jessica, has helped with the business since the beginning and became the vice president and a co-owner. They have five kids, and their son Justin is now a full-time employee of Wes’ Recycling and performs a variety of tasks such as dispatching trucks and working with vendors.

“When we got married in 2000, it was basically just me, Jessica and a guy that helped out part time,” said Wes. “Jessica ran the scale, and I went out, processed scrap, and drove the truck we had. As time went on, we built up a good customer list, and more and more people started bringing scrap to us as well. We kept adding on, and now we’re up to about 25 employees, and some of them have been here for about 18 years. The employees have really built the business up and helped us out. With their expertise, we have the capability to handle hundreds of thousands of pounds of ferrous and non-ferrous metal per month.”

The largest portion is processed at the company’s 24-acre facility in Prescott, Kan., which opened in 2020. In addition to the two facilities, the business offers roll-off services; Wes’ Recycling provides 20-yard to 60-yard containers for customers to load themselves and then Wes’ Recycling picks the containers up and performs the service. Wes’ Recycling also sells new and used pipe and steel, vehicles, equipment, and fencing supplies. The company typically stays within a 150-mile radius of its two locations.

“I still like to go out and do on-site farm cleanups,” added Wes. “We also offer house, commercial building and water tower demolitions as well as concrete removal.”

A solid investment

About a year ago, Wes was looking for a new machine and checked out an Atlas 350 MH material handler at a trade show in Las Vegas. An Atlas representative said one was available at Kirby-Smith Machinery Inc.’s (KSM) Kansas City branch. Wes met with KSM Territory Manager Jason Woods and KSM Material Handling Specialist Ralph Faulkner to discuss purchasing the machine.

“It was my first time dealing with Kirby-Smith, and I was highly impressed,” said Wes. “Ralph and Jason took the time to get to know my business and what I wanted to accomplish with the machine to make sure it was the right fit. Once we had the Atlas 350 MH on-site, they came down, set it up, and have offered ongoing support since. I want a dealer that I can depend on, and Kirby-Smith does a great job.”

Wes’ Recycling utilizes the Atlas 350 MH, equipped with a grapple, for multiple tasks such as unloading customers’ scrap, sorting and moving materials, and loading processed metal onto trucks at its Centerville facility. The 350 MH has a reach of 53 feet and a transport height of nearly 11 feet. The cab can be elevated 13 feet, 5 inches above the ground to give operators a better view of their work surroundings. With a length of 18 feet, 9 inches and a width of 14 feet, 8 inches with the riggers out, Wes said it’s just the right size.

“I considered smaller ones, but the 350 gives us the reach and height we need, and we really didn’t want to go bigger because larger machines are just too much for our yard size,” Wes explained. “They also tend to be slower and burn more fuel. The 350 is a great fit, and it’s giving us good production.”

Wes added, “I generally run machines with wheels, and that’s another reason why I liked the 350 material handler. It maneuvers easily, and it has a good-sized working range, so the operator can sit in one spot and get a lot done before it needs to be moved. We see it as a solid investment. I’m really happy with the purchase.”

Ample opportunities

Wes noted that both facilities continue to grow, and he hopes more of his children will join the family business in the future.

“Justin is the only one working here full-time right now, but that may change,” said Wes. “They have ample opportunities with all the different aspects we have. We keep adapting as we go.”