Fukutomi Gazette: A New Chapter in Alabama 26 April 2026

The shift from global scrap trading to “Recycle at Source” is more than a change in business logic. For me, it has become a personal migration. Nearly eight years ago, a Wall Street investor posed a question that challenged my decades of experience in the Far East. Why not build a recycling industry within the United States? It was not simply a financial proposal, but a call to address environmental challenges at their origin. Today, that vision is taking shape in Alabama, a state that is steadily becoming both my professional focus and a second home, as I oversee the development of our new facilities.

Our entry into Alabama was made possible through the strong support of government partners and the academic community. We were introduced to the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), where I established a close collaboration with Professor Selvum Brian Pillay. Our work focuses on high value composite materials, particularly the integration of recycled carbon fiber into nylon composite fibers. This material is beginning to reshape the automotive and aerospace industries. It combines exceptional strength with reduced weight, while offering important properties such as non-conductivity, anti-static performance, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding. By transforming waste into high performance materials, we are demonstrating that sustainability and advanced engineering can move forward together.

As I spend more time here, I have come to appreciate that Alabama is a land shaped by deep geological and industrial history. Since childhood, I had heard about the great rivers that run through this region. The Alabama River, formed by the meeting of the Coosa and Tallapoosa rivers, has served as a vital artery for centuries, linking cities such as Montgomery and Selma to the Gulf of Mexico. Long before the interstate highway system, this waterway functioned as the state’s original commercial route.

From a geological perspective, Alabama is equally remarkable. Much of the land was once covered by an ancient sea during the Cretaceous period. This history gave rise to the fertile Black Belt Region and left behind abundant deposits of limestone and iron ore. The close proximity of iron ore, coal, and limestone enabled Birmingham to rise rapidly as an industrial center in the late nineteenth century, earning its reputation as the “Magic City.”

That industrial legacy continues today through a diverse economic foundation. Alabama is home to one of the largest areas of commercial forestland in the United States, supporting a significant pulp and paper industry. Traditional iron foundries have evolved into advanced metal manufacturing, supplying steel for applications ranging from shipbuilding to high rise construction. Beyond natural resources, the state has become a major hub for the global automotive industry. With Mercedes Benz establishing its first major United States plant in Vance, alongside Honda, Hyundai, and Mazda Toyota, Alabama has developed into a leading exporter of vehicles. In addition, Birmingham has emerged as a major center for healthcare and research. UAB Medicine is one of the largest academic medical centers in the country, and the city’s growing biotechnology sector is at the forefront of genomic research and cancer treatment.

As we complete the final stages of documentation for our facility in Aliceville, anticipation continues to build. Our collaboration with the Department of Commerce and the Industrial Development Board has felt less like a business transaction and more like an invitation to become part of the community. Local leaders have made it clear that they are not only welcoming a recycling facility, but also seeking a long term partner that contributes to the fabric of the region.

At this point, I see clearly that “Recycle at Source” is not only about logistics. It is about building a sense of belonging. By working with local downstream recyclers and drawing on the academic strength of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, we are contributing to the next phase of industrial transformation in the state. I am proud to call Alabama home and to take part in building a future that protects the environment while creating meaningful local value. The construction of our facility represents more than the beginning of a business. It signals the start of a long term commitment rooted in a place whose foundations were formed by an ancient sea.