Ormet Corp. (ORMTQ)

[Keystoner]

November 4, 2016
HANNIBAL – New steel billets may soon roll out of the former Ormet Corp. aluminum smelter, according to new property owner Eric J. Spirtas and Monroe County Economic Development Consultant Jason Hamman.

Spirtas, president of Niagara Worldwide, and Hamman said a company plans to start manufacturing steel at the plant, which closed in 2013. With the final contract pending, they declined to name the developer or identify an exact timeframe. However, Spirtas and Hamman said the steel operation would employ 60 workers upon startup, with hopes of growing it to a 300-worker mill.

“We are working with people daily on this. We keep pushing to finish the surgery,” Spirtas said of the efforts to redevelop the site that employed about 1,000 workers before Ormet closed in 2013.

“We are preparing for the commencement of a new steel company that will actually manufacture steel from the site. They are installing the electric now,” Spirtas added.

Driving by the entrance to the plant site, one will immediately notice the once prominent Ormet sign is now gone. In its place is a new illuminated sign recognizing the area as the Center Port Terminal, offering a space for oilfield services, manufacturing, warehousing, transloading, barge and rail.

Spirtas recently auctioned off much of the closed aluminum smelter’s old equipment. Although the plant is closed, multiple trucks carrying various materials entered and left the site throughout the day Wednesday.

“We are getting rid of the age obsolete components,” he said. “We have dozens of prospects. Several are very close to confirming a position.”

Hamman previously said plans were in the works for a small steel mill to open in the Hannibal Industrial Park, which is the property that served as Ormet’s rolling mill until its closure in 2005. However, he said the development slated for the Center Port Terminal is an additional project.

“We have all had meetings with a company that is potentially looking for tax incentives,” Hamman said. “From the county’s standpoint, what makes it particularly attractive is that they can repurpose some of the aluminum smelting equipment.”

Ohio Rep. Jack Cera, D-Bellaire, said he had not heard about the planned steel operation, but would offer any help if Spirtas called him.

“Anything that brings jobs would be beneficial. It certainly is a prime location for something to go in and operate,” Cera said.

Since the closure of the former Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corp. mills, along with most of the former Weirton Steel Corp. operations, the Upper Ohio Valley has lost thousands of steel jobs. Still, Spirtas said his firm is moving forward.

“With such a prime and vital location, the negotiations are the key,” he said. “We have our heads down to push forward.”

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