Jackson County’s Constellium Rolled Products has restarted its 114-inch cold rolling mill with some major upgrades. There is still work to be done, but for now, the team can celebrate some forward momentum brought about by important federal partnerships.
“This achievement was made possible by our partnership with the (Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment) program and the Department of Defense,” said Buddy Stemple, CEO of Constellium Rolled Products Ravenswood. “It will enable us to produce higher performance and higher quality plate in the volumes needed by the DOD over the next decade.”
It is an important reminder that West Virginia aluminum is still vital to the defense industry’s supply chain, and that the folks in Washington, D.C., know they can depend on our workforce when it comes to matters of national and economic security.
Upgrades and the chance for innovation mean Constellium should remain an important part of that supply chain for many years to come.
“The Constellium plant here in Jackson County is more than just a prominent employer, it’s a point of pride,” said U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va.
Indeed, it is. Bravo to those who put in the work not only to gain funding for these upgrades, but to accomplish them during a most unusual and uncertain couple of years.