HarbisonWalker International to refurbish Alabama facility into steel hub

Pittsburgh-based HarbisonWalker International, a supplier of refractory products and services, recently announced it will invest approximately $25 million in its closed Fairfield, Ala., plant to convert it into a manufacturing, service, and distribution hub for steel customers in the southern United States.

“After considering several location options, we are pleased to become a part of the Fairfield – Birmingham business community in Jefferson County again and bring jobs to the region,” HarbisonWalker Chairwoman and CEO Carol Jackson said. “The location is ideal for delivering quality refractory products and high-value services to our customers’ growing steel operations in the southern U.S.”

The 200,000-square-feet plant was closed in 2019 when the company exited its Carbon Bake brick products business in response to the aluminum carbon bake market declining in North America and an increase in product production costs.

The converted facility will produce magnesia-carbon brick refractories specifically engineered to maximize efficiency and performance in critical steel-making applications.

It is expected that production will be approximately 15,000 metric tons annually. By 2023, it is expected to reach up to 30,000 metric tons.

The facility is expected to open before the end of the year. The company plans to hire 50 highly trained technicians and staff.