Pittsburgh-headquartered HWI, a member of Calderys, one of the leading suppliers of refractory products and services in the United States, said Oct. 31 that it plans to construct a new lightweight monolithics production facility at its Fulton, Mo., Rotary Kiln complex.
“By expanding our lightweight monolithic capacity and leveraging our extensive distribution network, we’re positioning ourselves to better serve our customers across the Americas,” said Ross Wilkin, senior vice president of the Americas region of Calderys Group. “The project is also an opportunity to further strengthen our presence and positive impact in Missouri, where we have been operating for over 100 years.”
The state-of-the-art plant represents an important investment in the growth strategy for France’s Calderys Group in the Americas region and is scheduled to open in mid-2025, according to Michel Cornelissen, president and CEO of Calderys.
“This investment demonstrates our commitment to meeting our customers’ evolving needs and reinforcing our market leadership position,” Cornelissen said.
The new greenfield facility will increase HWI’s lightweight monolithics production capacity by approximately 60 percent, making more products available and improving customer lead times. It will feature cutting-edge technology and process automation advancements, including a new furnace and automated robotic packaging and material handling systems, HWI said in a statement.
Additionally, the new plant will absorb Greenlite aggregate production from HWI’s Minerva facility, which will cease operations in July 2025. The new site provides access to local, high-quality clay reserves, allowing HWI to increase the production of its Greenlite aggregate-containing products.
The products are used in numerous applications, such as petrochemical, power generation, and other heater linings, while their strength-to-density ratios optimize thermal insulation with minimal structural bulk, which reduces energy consumption in support of customers’ ESG goals, said HWI.
The new construction effort is supported by a collaborative partnership between the Fulton Area Development Foundation, Missouri’s Callaway County, the Industrial Development Agency, and the Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED).
“HWI is a valued member of our business community, and we are excited to see the Company’s further expansion in Callaway County,” said Michelle Hataway, director of the Missouri DED. “We look forward to a continued relationship to help this global company grow.”
The expansion is expected to create roughly 11 new jobs in Fulton over the next 12 months, said HWI.