RAVENSWOOD, W.Va. — U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito and other dignitaries joined officials with Constellium Rolled Products Monday and cut the ribbon on a $9.5 Million modernization project at the facility.
“Now the equipment is reliable and will run when we want it to run. We’re able to find spare parts, which we couldn’t do before and it’s made the operators life a whole lot better. He’s now in an air conditioned cabin basically running a video game,” said Plant Manger Buddy Stemple of the upgrades.
The modernization will enable the plant to continue to produce specialized products used in applications like the armor plating for U.S. Military vehicles.
“This plant for decades has served the military and Department of Defense,” Stemple explained. “We’re very proud of that and this just sets us up to do that for decades to come.”
U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito echoed Stemple’s remarks and said manufacturing military equipment in the United States is critical, but making it in West Virginia is that much better. The plan already employs 1,100 workers and will add more. Capito said the plant offers a bright future to Jackson County and the entire state of West Virginia.
“The investment in this plant is going to stay a while. They have 1,100 people here now and are going to be hiring. That’s a great thing to say about teh workforce, but also the foresight the company had in the beginning to create such a great facility to be able to modernize,” Capito said.