Mason County Alloys Plant Back In Operation

A Ukraine-based company is about to resume production at an alloys plant in Mason County, a year after fire knocked it out of service. Felman Production has hired 135 people to rebuild the plant and electric arc furnaces, which were damaged in the October fire. Gov. Joe Manchin said Tuesday that the company plans to employ 220 people by the end of 2007. The furnace was restarted in early September and the plant is expected to begin shipments to customers by the end of the month. The New Haven-area plant, which produces ferroalloys used to make steel, is Felman’s first U.S. operation. Felman, a subsidiary of the Privat Group, bought the former Highlander Alloys plant for about $20 million in January.