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The Horsehead Corporation Prepares 193 Acres For Construction
When I spoke to Bill Utterback, a reporter for the Beaver County Times, he told me that the move by Horsehead Corporation to another site was not a complete surprise to both the employees and people of Beaver County. Beaver County is where Horsehead’s present Monica Plant is located. It is about 26 miles outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Mr. Utterback said: “they have been talking about it for quite a while - a move somewhere was expected.” As he reported there was “eight months of uncertainty concerning the future of its Beaver County zinc plant.” A new state of the art zinc and diversified metals facility would replace much, if not all of its production in Potter Township. The Potter Township was in the mix for the new facility, but was rejected. The announcement made on September 19 at the Foundation in Spindale is a win-win for Rutherford County.
One must consider that the Horsehead Corporation reviewed more than 100 sites for its new state of the art zinc plant. Selection of Rutherford County was a major achievement. Resident, and now Lieutenant Governor, Walter Dalton, was a big player in getting Horsehead to come our way.
The big story is not just that we beat out with over 100 to 1 odds, but the selection of Rutherford County should have a ripple effect with other major companies. These companies may soon be considering our county for a business site. It is almost a certainty that with Horsehead coming, others will soon follow. First Facebook and now Horsehead! Don’t be surprised if other positive announcements will be made in the near future.
The exposure and focus on Rutherford County throughout the United States and Canada spotlights this area for other corporations to consider. However, the major achievement that you must recognize is that we are getting diversified. After all, at one time it was all about mills and only mills. The answer to a secure future is obviously diversification. It is a must!
Construction of the new Horsehead plant has not yet started. Presently Clary Hood, Incorporated of Spartanburg has been given the job of leveling and preparing the site for construction. Clary Hood Project Manger, Tom Addley has 10 trucks, 6 excavators, 5 dozers and support equipment on site working 10 hour days, six days a week. Mr. Addley said: “We measure dirt in cubic yards and we will be moving at least 800,000 square yards to prepare for construction. We also have to move the present road (Hicks Grove Church Road) and do the grading for some new rail lines.”
The new Horsehead plant when completed will cover 50 to 60 acres of their 193 acre site in Rutherford County. Construction is scheduled to begin as soon as Clary Hood has the site ready. Once begun, the estimated completion date of “third quarter 2013”. That target date could possibly be moved up according to Horsehead Vice-President Ali Alavi. The new plant will be environmentally friendly with very low air and green house emissions. Alavi said “We are very pleased that we are coming to Rutherford County and look forward to building a good relationship the local community. The type jobs needed will require a wide variety of skills and talents.” Three engineering positions have already been posted. President and CEO Jim Hesner said “Horsehead anticipates capital costs for the new plant to be more than $350 million and that the new plants operating level should be in excess of 150,000 tons per year of zinc. We are excited to begin the project and pleased with the support we have received in North Carolina.”
Let us hope that other businesses follow suit and realize the great workforce and advantage they having in coming to Rutherford County.
