The Foote Mineral Company, later purchased by Highlander Alloys, LLC., closed in February of 2003 due to labor disputes. Although the plant north of New Haven, West Virginia reopened, it’s future was once uncertain.
History
The Foote Mineral Company Graham Plant, located on 140 acres north of New Haven, West Virginia, was constructed between 1951 and 1952.() The factory produced ferroalloys, producing 120,000 tons per year, which were used by automotive manufacturers, iron foundries and steel producers.
In 2001, the American Alloys Graham Plant was purchased by Boris Bannai, an Israeli industrialist, for $2 million.(2) American Alloys had declared bankruptcy a year prior. Bannai renamed the Graham Plant to Highlander Alloys in 2002.
Shortly after the plant was reopened, it was shut down after Appalachian Power discontinued electrical service for non-payment of its electric bill.(2) Another shutdown occurred in February 2003 when workers staged an informational picket to protest unfair labor practices. One of the primary concerns voiced was failing to meet payroll.
On December 11, the Department of Environmental Protection filed suit against Highlanders for failure to comply with an October 2002 cease-and-desist order.(2)
In May 2005, Highlanders Alloy, which was operated under the name Global Industrial Group, declared for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.(2) In November, Highlander shut down the Graham Plant after a fire damaged the Number One furnace.(2)
Early in 2006, Felman, a Delaware-based company, purchased the plant from Highlanders Alloys for $20 million.(2) It committed an additional $12 million for the plant’s refurbishing.
On September 12, 2006, Governor Manchin III and over 150 people, rededicated the new Felman Production alloy plant.(2)
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