Kataman Metals is one of the world's leading merchants of primary and secondary non-ferrous metals. Based in St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A., Kataman works in all areas of the non-ferrous industry including trading, distribution and price risk management. Our expertise, financial strength and reach in global markets allows us to offer outstanding execution across all of our products and services.

At the center of our business model is trading, which involves the buying and selling of both primary and secondary Copper, Brass, Zinc and Aluminum. This function spans commodity and market-driven industries, such as producers, traders, consumers, manufacturers and government entities.

Our strength for both seller and buyer clients lies in understanding complex products and markets on a global basis, looking at issues from all angles and coming up with alternatives while considering client needs and overall market issues. Our business is underpinned by a strong commitment to financial discipline and a tradition of integrity.

We compete on the basis of our financial and intellectual capital, which is personified by our team of highly skilled professionals. We cultivate long-term, senior-level relationships with clients through deep roots in local markets and link together these relationships to create a global network of industry expertise.

Kataman's growing Risk Management capability employs our knowledge and experience in the fast moving and volatile metals markets to help identify, monitor and manage price risks for our counterparts. Every month we manage thousands of tons of price risk with utilization of all of the terminal hedge markets.

Our Inventory Management expertise enables Kataman to manage the complexities of supply-chain management and the variables of the manufacturing cycle to minimize your risk and exposure and maximize your production efficiencies as well as profit potential.

We utilize a network of clean, modern warehouses around the world. We receive, store and repackage materials to the specifications of customers; we ship locally, nationally and internationally. Our warehouses are secure and our rates are cost competitive.

Our expertise, financial strength and reach in global markets allow us to offer outstanding execution across all of our product lines and services.

Kataman is a member of ISRI, the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries; The National Association of Recyclers; the Institute of Secondary Recyclers; American Copper Council; and Copper Club of New York.

History

Our origins date back to 1993, when our founders Shig Katayama and Ben Fixman combined the first four letters of Mr. Katayama's name and the last three letters of Mr. Fixman's name to form Kataman Metals as a non-ferrous metals trading firm in St. Louis, Missouri. The partners brought with them a combined 75+ years experience in the non-ferrous metals industry.

Mr. Fixman was already a fixture in the industry, having formed Fischer-Fixman Metals, which later became known as Diversified Metals Corp. and Diversified Industries, Inc. Diversified pioneered the successful development of a mechanical method for processing insulated scrap wire and cable, which revolutionized the scrap metal recycling industry. As a result of this innovation, Mr. Fixman was named "Man of the Century" by Iron Age Magazine in 1969.

Seeking to expand operations, Kataman Metals moved to offices in Clayton, the center of St. Louis County.

Under the direction of President Warren Gelman, a seasoned copper trader with unmatched expertise worldwide, Kataman Metals continued to grow the operations, trading both primary and secondary non-ferrous metals to an expanding national and international network of suppliers, producers and industrial end-users. John DePetro Jr. joined Kataman Metals in 1993 as Executive Vice President in charge of the primary trading and merchant business.

Beginning the twenty-first century with a more global focus, Kataman expanded its international trading enabling Kataman to offer its clients expanded access to global markets, while preserving the advantages of our local roots.

In 2007, industry veteran Joseph P. Reinmann joined Kataman as the Chief Executive Officer replacing Mr. Fixman upon his retirement. Mr. Gelman and Mr. DePetro continue as President and Executive Vice President respectively, maintaining the expertise, innovation and traditions expected by our clients.

Kataman's history as a preeminent non-ferrous firm has contributed to its ability to secure key advisory roles for some of the most important, complex and recognizable copper businesses in the world. Throughout the years, Kataman has advised numerous Fortune 100 companies on the utilization of hedging and price risk management.

Kataman Metals has progressively become involved in risk management and inventory controls. The firm services a diverse client base, ranging from producers, consumers, traders, manufacturers and investors enabling Kataman to efficiently price, execute and risk manage all sides of a non-ferrous transaction.

Our Team

Kataman Metals has assembled a premier team from top to bottom. Our entrepreneurial spirit creates an energetic organization which recognizes and rewards talent and innovation while still emphasizing teamwork and a collaborative approach. We have a flat, simple organization which encourages cooperation, invites intellectual challenges and fosters open discussion. Most importantly, we enjoy our work.For more information about a member of the Kataman executive team, click on their name to the left.