Globe Specialty Metals reopens Alabama facility

Globe Specialty Metals Inc., New York, has reopened its Selma, Ala., silicon metal and ferrosilicon alloys facility, which it had idled during the economic downturn. The company restarted the first of two furnaces at the plant in early January and restarted the second furnace in early February, rehiring 90 workers in the process. At full capacity, this plant produces about 27,000 tons of silicon metal and ferrosilicon alloys annually.

CEO Jeff Bradley said, "Improvement in our end markets, including aluminum, chemicals, electronics, and solar panels, has enabled us to restart this operation to meet our domestic and export customer needs."

In November the company reopened its Niagara Falls, N.Y., plant, which had been closed for more than five years, after investing about $25 million to restart the facility. The reopening brought online two furnaces capable of producing about 30,000 tons of metallurgical-grade silicon annually, creating more than 100 new jobs.