TEXARKANA - Tri-State Iron and Metal Co. welcomed brass holders with a week's worth of good deals.
Expended ammunition casings, plumbing fixtures and more have flowed into the recycling center at Tri-State for their Brass Week, a periodic promotion where the plant offers deals all week to encourage customers to bring in their brass.
"Demand is picking up again for brass," said Rick McCloskey, plant manager. "As recovering markets pick up the pace, they are casting about for brass to use. That's driving up demand, and as a result, prices for recycled brass."
Brass Week is done roughly once every two months. Like the Mechanics Week for aluminum auto parts, Copper Week and so forth, Tri-State officials describe these promotions as "thank yous" for their customers, giving them the best they can during that week.
"Once we receive the brass, we collect and box it," McCloskey said. "We then sell it back to manufacturers and end-users. They take it and mold it into new brass products. Though ammunition casings and plumbing fixtures, as well as miscellaneous things like candle holders and what-not are common, surprises are the most fun part of Brass Week.
"For example, disassemble certain motors, you find brass bushings inside them. The person disassembling the engine may have not known those bushings were there and discover a small treasure trove."
Today (Friday) is the last day of this round of Brass Week. Visit Tri-State Iron and Metal's Facebook page for more promotions.