Area Development
Horsehead Holding Corp. started production at its new zinc manufacturing facility in Mooresboro, North Carolina. The facility, which started construction in September 2011, is expected to have initial capacity to produce 155,000 tons of zinc per year. Ramp up to the initial capacity is expected to take up to six months.

The company said “the cell house has been loaded with electrolyte, the rectifiers have been switched on and plating of zinc metal is underway. We expect to harvest the initial cathode later this week and begin melting and casting final product for shipment shortly thereafter."

“We are excited to have reached this critical milestone. We look forward to beginning to support our customers’ needs from this new facility,” said Jim Hensler, Chairman/President/CEO.

Construction of the co-product recovery circuit at the plant is expected to be completed mid-year and its ramp up is expected to occur over a twelve month period.

Horsehead Holding Corp. is the parent company of Horsehead Corporation, a leading U.S. producer of specialty zinc and zinc-based products and a leading recycler of electric arc furnace dust; The International Metals Reclamation Company, a leading recycler of metals-bearing wastes and a leading processor of nickel-cadmium batteries in North America; and Zochem Inc., a zinc oxide producer located in Brampton, Ontario. Horsehead, headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, employs approximately 700 people and has seven facilities throughout the United States and Canada.