Aleris International: Fell But Rose Again

Aleris International, Inc. was ranked by Forbes as one of the largest private companies in the United States in 2011. Developed in 2004, it is a producer of aluminum rolled and extruded products, as well as recycled aluminum. It also specializes in specification aluminum alloy manufacturing. Headquartered in Beachwood, Ohio, it has access to about 40 production facilities across the world. Aleris is the result of the merger between Commonwealth Industries, Inc. and IMCO Recycling Inc.

In February 2009, the company faced a lawsuit filed by the US Justice Department, which alleged that 15 of its plants had violated the Clean Air Act due to the emission of pollutants. In August of the same year, Aleris was able to settle the suit with the government, agreeing to pay a fine amounting to $46 million and spending $4.2 million more on new pollution control at its facilities.

On February 12, 2009, the company filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy but in May 2010, it announced plans of exiting bankruptcy as a privately held company.