Established in 1896, Strategic Materials Inc. (SMI) is one of the largest glass and plastics processors in North America. The company serves a wide range of industries, such as abrasives, container, fiberglass, bead, additive and ceramic. It collects scrap from various sources ranging from residential collection programs to bottle and plate glass manufacturers. Various customers utilize the company's products in foundry cores, refractory products and as ingredients in ceramic floor tiles, bricks and pots. Situated in Houston, Texas, Strategic Materials Inc. operates a network of 31 processing plants and aggregation depots across the United States, Canada, and Mexico under the name Strategic Materials.