One of the giant warehouse at American Zinc Products will soon house silvery slabs of zinc awaiting semi trucks to transport the product to its final destinations where it take on new life as everyday household objects.

The plant, located on the outskirts of Mooresboro on Hicks Grove Road, is a beehive of activity as the last of the construction work is completed and the plant prepares to begin production in the spring.

The facility has had a bit of a tumultuous history as first it faced bankruptcy in 2016 and then a devastating fire earlier this year, but leadership at American Zinc hopes to rise from the ashes and become a strong, permanent part of the community in Rutherford County.

Managers are currently in the process of hiring employees from surrounding areas, including Cleveland County.

Rob Williamson, general manager, said they plan to employ a total of around 350 people.

He said the company focuses on safety and “caring for each other.”

They strive to create a family atmosphere and believe in looking after one another. Williamson said there will be a lot of on the job training. Since there is no other plant like it, most people come in at an entry level.

“We’re having to train everybody from the ground up,” he said.

Once the basics are learned, employees learn the specific skills related to their position, which is an ongoing, continual process.

Depending on the position, pay starts at $16.25 with the opportunity for quarterly bonuses and internal promotions. Job openings are listed on the plant’s website at americanzincproducts.com.

Williamson said the plant is unique and the only one of its kind in the world to produce zinc from recycled products. The plant uses a special extraction and refining process to pull the zinc from steel recyclers and turn what would have been industrial waste into a commodity.

“They take this waste from steel mills and convert it into a product,” Williamson said.

He said the plant is not involved in any mining. At full capacity, it is estimated to be capable of producing 12,000 tons of zinc a month.

Williamson said the metal is used in the galvanization and creation of everyday products such as the coating on cars to preventing rust, or on guardrails along highways. It is used to make the base and covers of kitchen-aid mixers, door handles, faucets and even the humble penny. Certain pharmaceuticals, such as diaper rash cream and sunscreen, also contain the mineral. Toy companies, such as Mattel, are among the plant’s consumers as well as companies that make knock-off items.

Williamson said all are hypothetical uses as none of the products are made at American Zinc.

The plant recycles EAF dust from steel recyclers which, through a patented extraction process, is refined into a special high-grade zinc.

The plant originally opened in 2014 under a different name, but Williamson said it was plagued with engineering and poor management issues which ultimately led to the plant declaring bankruptcy in 2016.

When the company emerged from bankruptcy and rebranded, he said American Zinc Recycling, the parent company, invested in fixing the engineering mistakes. In April, the plant sustained heavy damage from a fire, but Williamson said the issues which caused the fire were eliminated and production will start back up in the first quarter of 2020.

Williamson said demand for zinc remains high, and there will never be a time when it is not needed.

“It’s less susceptible to economic swings,” he said.

Beyond being an employer and providing economic benefits to the region, Williamson said they hope to have a strong presence in the community and have a positive impact on their neighbors.