Company
Built by industry veterans. Driven by purpose. Focused on solving aluminum’s waste challenge.
Aluminz was founded by industry veterans who saw an urgent need and decided to act. Richard Mayenknecht and Larry Harmon have led trading desk, run cast houses, scaled global operations, and built plants across continents. Their insight: the last mile of aluminum recycling—dross and salt cake—was being ignored.
They built Aluminz to solve that problem. With a team of engineers, technologists, and sustainability strategists, the company blends execution with purpose.
We don’t chase hype. We solve for results. That’s why Aluminz will be the first zero-waste aluminum recovery platform in North America.
From our founding vision to our goal to scale to meet the entire need of the industry, we’re building a durable platform for impact—led by people who know what it takes to get things done.
Leadership
Richard Mayenknecht
CEO and Co-founder
Richard Mayenknecht is the CEO and Co-founder of Aluminz, a Texas-based company pioneering sustainable aluminum recovery technologies. With over 20 years of experience in the aluminum industry, Richard has held leadership roles across major global firms. He served as Vice President of Non-Ferrous at EMR Group USA, part of the UK-based European Metal Recycling, and was Global Director of Aluminum at Nemak Automotive Castings in Monterrey, Mexico. Earlier, he held senior roles at Rusal Americas, Alcoa, and Ma’aden Aluminum Recycling in Saudi Arabia, beginning his career at David J. Joseph Company.
Richard holds an MBA from the University of Cincinnati, a Bachelor’s in Environmental Science from Brock University, and a Chemical Technology diploma from Sheridan College. He is certified in supply chain management (ISM) and holds a black belt in procurement game theory. His expertise spans global aluminum markets, metal trading, alloy strategy, and end-use demand dynamics.
Larry Harmon is the COO and Co-founder of Aluminz, a Texas-based leader in sustainable aluminum recovery technology. With over 25 years in the aluminum industry, Larry has led operations across primary smelting, casting, rolling, and recycling, known for driving performance, safety, and workplace excellence across global facilities.
He began his career as a journeyman machinist at Boeing Aerospace in Oak Ridge, TN, and advanced through Alcoa in roles spanning front-line supervision, smelting operations, and international greenfield projects. He later led casting operations at Ma’aden in Saudi Arabia before serving as Business Development Director for Alizent, a Montreal-based systems company.
Larry went on to advise major aluminum producers through his consulting firm, which merged with The Chosen Excellence Company in 2022. His deep operational expertise, combined with a people-first leadership style, positions him as a key architect of Aluminz’s world-class performance and growth.
Larry Harmon
COO and Co-founder
Our partners from 1V1sion Capital
Patrick Yeghnazar
Strategic Partner
Patrick Yeghnazar is a founding partner at 1V1sion Capital and brings decades of experience investing in industrial transformation. His expertise lies in scaling emerging technologies into durable enterprises. For Aluminz, Patrick provides strategic counsel on capital formation, governance, and industrial growth.
Andrew Yeghnazar
Strategic Partner
Andrew Yeghnazar focuses on operational turnarounds, clean energy, and supply chain innovation. At 1V1sion Capital, he has helped steer early-stage companies into category leadership. He brings a practical, hands-on leadership philosophy that aligns with Aluminz’s mission and execution style.