— Our Story

Built in Indianapolis.
Grown with intent.

Trinity Metals is a scaled, domestic critical metals recycling platform — copper, aluminum, nickel-based alloys, magnesium, and allied streams. Founded by Wade Conner, privately held, and run with a long-term, relationship-driven posture, with consistent leadership since inception.

2001 Continuous operation since
R2 R2 / RIOS certified e-scrap facility
ISO 9001 · 14001 · 45001 certified at our Shadeland location
U.S. Domestic critical metals recycling platform
— The Timeline

The Trinity Metals story, year by year.

From a Kelley School accounting degree and a scrap route at Indiana University to a scaled, domestic critical metals recycling platform — with certified management systems and consistent leadership since inception. Every chapter below is the result of steady reinvestment and a long-term posture in the markets we serve.

  1. 1992 Kelley School of Business

    Accounting degree, then Deloitte & Touche in Europe

    After graduating from the Kelley School of Business with a degree in Accounting, Wade Conner worked for Deloitte & Touche in Europe.

  2. 1997 Return to Industry

    US Controller at Dominion Metal & Refining

    Wade returned to the recycling industry in 1997 as the US Controller for Dominion Metal & Refining, based out of Montreal, Canada.

  3. 1997–2001 Credentials

    C.P.A. and M.B.A.

    Between 1997 and 2001 Wade received his C.P.A. certificate in the State of New York and earned his M.B.A. at the State University of New York.

  4. 2001 August 28

    Founded Normet, a Division of TVF, Inc.

    Wade left Dominion Metal and founded Normet, a Division of TVF, Inc. on August 28, 2001 for the late Richard D. Hanzel. He served as the Executive Vice President of TVF, Inc. until May 30, 2008.

  5. 2008 June 3

    Trinity Metals is founded

    Wade founded Trinity Metals on June 3, 2008. On August 28, 2008, Trinity purchased the assets and trade style of Normet from TVF, Inc. All key staff at Normet joined Trinity Metals and the Normet trade style was retired.

  6. 2012 April

    HQ at 6400 English Avenue

    The expansion of Trinity Metals began in earnest with the purchase and build-out of the company’s headquarters, warehouse, and production facility at 6400 English Avenue, Indianapolis.

  7. 2014 & 2018 Footprint Expansion

    Two additional warehouses & production facilities

    Trinity followed the HQ build-out with the purchase of two additional warehouses and production facilities in 2014 and 2018, respectively.

  8. 2021 May · U.S. Patent

    U.S. patent for reduced environmental impact

    In May 2021, Wade received a U.S. patent related to scrap metal processing with reduced environmental impact, and granted Trinity Metals the exclusive production rights without charge.

  9. 2021 September

    Indiana Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence

    In September 2021, Wade received the 2021 Indiana Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence for his U.S. patent and accepted the award on behalf of Trinity Metals.

  10. 2021 December

    Trinity Metals Charitable Foundation

    In December 2021, the ownership group of Trinity Metals founded the Trinity Metals Charitable Foundation.

  11. 2023 Industry Engagement

    Active membership in REMA & International Magnesium Association

    Trinity formalized active membership in REMA (the Recycled Materials Association) and the International Magnesium Association — reinforcing engagement with the industry organizations that govern recycling standards globally.

  12. 2024 Platform Expansion

    Platform expansion across critical metals

    Trinity continued to invest across its critical metals recycling platform — strengthening throughput and counterparty programs across copper, aluminum, nickel-based alloys, magnesium, and allied streams.

  13. 2025 Customer Base

    Expanded customer base across metal families

    Trinity meaningfully broadened its customer footprint over 2024–2025, adding industrial generators, dealers, and downstream producers across multiple critical metal streams — both domestically and internationally.

  14. 2026 Today

    A scaled, domestic critical metals recycler

    Trinity operates as a scaled, domestic critical metals recycling platform — copper, aluminum, nickel-based alloys, magnesium, and allied streams — with R2 / RIOS certified e-scrap and an ISO Certified Plant at our Shadeland location, built over more than two decades.

Wade Conner, Founder & CEO of Trinity Metals
Wade Conner Founder & CEO
— Leadership

An accountant, an operator, and a patent holder — with a lifelong pull toward the recycling industry.

“We built Trinity Metals to do this work the right way — safer, cleaner, and with craftspeople who take pride in what they produce.”

Wade Conner’s path runs from an IU scrap route and a Kelley School accounting degree, through Deloitte & Touche in Europe, to controller and operator roles that culminated in founding Trinity Metals in 2008. Along the way he earned his C.P.A., his M.B.A., and — in 2021 — a U.S. patent for a lower-impact scrap metal process that he granted to Trinity Metals without charge.

C.P.A. · State of New York M.B.A. · SUNY B.S. Accounting · IU Kelley U.S. Patent Holder 2021 Indiana Governor’s Award
— Certifications & Affiliations

A legitimate, scaled, and highly compliant domestic operator.

R2 / RIOS Certified at our Kitley Avenue e-scrap facility; our Shadeland location is our ISO Certified Plant — ISO 9001 (Quality), ISO 14001 (Environmental), and ISO 45001 (Occupational Health & Safety). Active membership in REMA and the International Magnesium Association.

R2 / RIOS ISO 9001 ISO 14001 ISO 45001 REMA Intl. Magnesium Assoc. 2021 Governor's Award

Want to work with us?

Whether you’re placing a shipment, exploring a partnership, or looking for a career — we’d like to hear from you.

Contact Trinity