NAICS 331410 - Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Smelting and Refining
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What is NAICS 331410
NAICS code 331410 covers establishments primarily engaged in smelting ores into nonferrous metals, excluding aluminum, and the primary refining of these metals using electrolytic or other processes. This sector includes businesses that convert raw ores into usable metals such as copper, lead, zinc, nickel, and precious metals, which serve as critical raw materials for manufacturing, construction, and defense industries. These companies operate large-scale industrial facilities equipped with specialized smelting and refining technologies to produce high-purity nonferrous metals essential for various applications. Government agencies contract with these businesses to secure a reliable supply of strategic and critical metals necessary for national security, infrastructure projects, and technological advancements. The industry plays a vital role in supporting defense manufacturing, aerospace, energy, and transportation sectors by providing foundational materials.
Industry Classification for NAICS 331410
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in (1) smelting ores into nonferrous metals and/or (2) the primary refining of nonferrous metals (except aluminum) by electrolytic methods or other processes.
Breakdown for NAICS 331410
- Includes smelting ores into nonferrous metals excluding aluminum.
- Primary refining of nonferrous metals by electrolytic or alternative processes.
- Focuses on metals such as copper, nickel, lead, zinc, and precious metals.
- Covers both raw metal production and purified metal supply.
- Subject to environmental and safety regulations due to industrial processes.
- Small business size standard generally set at 500 employees.
Included Activities for NAICS 331410
- Smelting raw ores to extract nonferrous metals.
- Electrolytic refining to purify nonferrous metals.
- Processing metals such as copper, lead, zinc, and nickel.
- Producing high-purity metals for industrial and defense use.
- Managing waste and environmental compliance in refining processes.
- Supplying refined metals for government contracts.
- Conducting quality control and metallurgical testing.
- Maintaining smelting and refining facility operations.
Business Types for NAICS 331410
- Nonferrous metal smelting companies
- Primary metal refining establishments
- Industrial metal processing plants
- Metal supply contractors for government
- Specialized electrolytic refining businesses
- Environmental compliance and waste management firms
Subcategories for NAICS 331410
- Antimony refining, primary
- Bars made in primary copper smelting and refining mills
- Beryllium refining, primary
- Bismuth refining, primary
- Blister copper manufacturing
- Cadmium refining, primary
- Chromium refining, primary
- Cobalt refining, primary
- Copper alloys made in primary copper smelting and refining mills
- Copper concentrate refining
- Copper shapes (e.g., bar, billet, ingot, plate, sheet) made in primary copper smelting and refining mills
- Copper smelting and refining, primary
- Germanium refining, primary
- Gold bullion or dore bar produced at primary metal refineries
- Gold refining, primary
- Ingot, primary, nonferrous metals (except aluminum), manufacturing
- Iridium refining, primary
- Lead smelting and refining, primary
- Magnesium refining, primary
- Nickel refining, primary
- Niobium refining, primary
- Nonferrous metal (except aluminum) shapes made in primary nonferrous metal smelting and refining mills
- Nonferrous metals (except aluminum) made in primary nonferrous metal smelting and refining mills
- Nonferrous metals (except aluminum) smelting and refining, primary
- Platinum refining, primary
- Precious metals refining, primary
- Primary refining of copper
- Primary refining of nonferrous metals (except aluminum)
- Primary smelting of copper
- Primary smelting of nonferrous metals (except aluminum)
- Refining copper, primary
- Refining nonferrous metals and alloys (except aluminum), primary
- Rhenium refining, primary
- Selenium refining, primary
- Silver bullion or dore bar produced at primary metal refineries
- Silver refining, primary
- Slab, nonferrous metals (except aluminum) primary
- Smelting of nonferrous metals (except aluminum), primary
- Tantalum refining, primary
- Tellurium refining, primary
- Tin base alloys made in primary tin smelting and refining mills
- Tin refining, primary
- Titanium refining, primary
- Uranium refining, primary
- Zinc refining, primary
- Zirconium refining, primary
Government Buyers for NAICS 331410
Government agencies that typically procure products and services under NAICS 331410 include the Department of Defense (DoD), Department of Energy (DoE), and the General Services Administration (GSA). These agencies require nonferrous metals for manufacturing military equipment, electronic components, energy infrastructure, and critical technology systems. The DoD, in particular, relies on secure and sustainable supplies of copper, nickel, and other nonferrous metals for weapon systems, aerospace components, and advanced electronics. Additionally, agencies involved in national infrastructure and energy projects contract these services to ensure the availability of metals vital for electrical wiring, pipelines, and renewable energy installations.
Contract Types & Procurement for NAICS 331410
Contracts awarded under NAICS 331410 typically include firm-fixed-price contracts for metal supply, long-term supply agreements, and cost-reimbursement contracts for specialized refining services. Procurement methods often involve competitive bidding, negotiated contracts, and indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contracts to provide flexibility in supply volume and timing. Contract values can range from hundreds of thousands to multimillion-dollar agreements, depending on the scale and complexity of the metals required. Government agencies also sometimes utilize small business set-asides or 8(a) contracting to support qualified small entities within the smelting and refining sector.
Details for NAICS 331410
Explore the hierarchy and related codes for this industry
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