7/23/2010
NEWS BRIEFS
Positioned with access to road, rail and river transportation 28 miles north of Pittsburgh, Horsehead�s Monaca plant operates as the country�s largest zinc smelter.
Two workers were killed and at least two more sustained injuries from a July 22 explosion at a zinc oxide refinery in Pennsylvania.
Horsehead Holding Corp. reported that the explosion occurred around 4:30 p.m. at its refinery in Monaca, PA. Horsehead CEO Jim Hensler did not release the names of the deceased, but said the injured employees had been treated and released from local hospitals.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of our co-workers and most concerned about our employees and their families; our initial efforts are directed to helping them,” Hensler stated.
The exact cause of the explosion is unknown and is currently under investigation by federal and state authorities. The zinc refinery, which produces zinc oxide used to protect fasteners and other metal components from corrosion, has been shut down pending an accident investigation.
The Monaca plant employs about 600 workers to produce zinc metal at its electrothermic zinc smelting operations and refined zinc metal and zinc oxide at its refining operation.
“The smelter will continue to produce zinc metal during this period,” the company added.
Horsehead Corp. was formed in 2003, but its predecessor companies, the New Jersey Zinc Co. and St. Joe Resources Co., each having been in the zinc production business dating back to the mid-1800’s.
Pittsburgh-based Horsehead Holding Corp. is the parent company of Horsehead Corp., a U.S. producer of specialty zinc and zinc-based products, and The International Metals Reclamation Co. (“INMETCO”), a recycler of metals-bearing wastes. Horsehead employes about 1,000 people at seven U.S. facilities. ©2010 GlobalFastenerNews.com
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