Gerdau to add employees
Expansion almost complete, company to hire 20 workers
Source: Lucas Bechtol, Huntington Herald-Press, 6/12/13
Gerdau’s multi-million dollar expansion in Huntington is almost complete and will not only expand the manufacturing capabilities but will also employ more people in jobs that are already open.
Gerdau broke ground on the expansion in October of 2011 and, according to a press release, is part of a $27 million investment.
“Basically, we’ve added an additional quench and temper line, so it’ll allow us to add to our capacity of processing our special steel bars for customers,” said Lindsey Edwards, external communications specialist for Gerdau.
The expansion will increase the manufacturing capacity from 62,000 tons a year to 80,000 tons. It is set to be complete in late August and will feature a ribbon cutting ceremony.
Edwards said Gerdau is expecting to increase its employment at the Huntington facility by about 10 percent.
“They’re going to be highly industrial jobs,” she said. “We need people to help man the new quench and temper line and help, really, run the additional operations that this expansion has created.”
While the expansion is not yet complete, job openings are currently available for inspection and finishing operators, heat treat line operators and turning operators. People can apply for the jobs online at www.gerdau.com/specialsteel.
According to the tax abatement document approved by the Huntington City Common Council, the expansion will create an addition 20 jobs with average salary for those jobs at $37,000. According to this form, Gerdau employed 46 people in 2011.
Gerdau is a Brazilian-based company that produces long steel and special steel bars for their companies, Edwards said.
“The Huntington facility that we have is a heat treating facility that will take our special steel bars and add additional strength to them for particular applications for the automotive industry,” she said.
Mark Wickersham, the executive director of the Huntington County United Economic Development Corporation, said Gerdau is a good corporate citizen and employer in the community.
“We’re very proud of what they do, proud of their workforce and proud of their products,” he said. “It’s exciting for our community to have an international company such as Gerdau, based in Brazil, and the opportunities that are provided by the employer locally are very, very exciting.”
Wickersham added the economy has impacted the steel industry but it is encouraging to see a local steel facility prosper and grow.
“It makes a tremendous impact on our tax base and our employment and workforce base and, obviously, it is encouraging to the people who work there,” he said.