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Magnitude 7 Metals in Marston makes first shipment
MARSTON, Mo. - The workers stood quietly watching as the truck loaded with 45,000 pounds of aluminum rolled through the gate. Then they began to applaud.
Tuesday, August 7, was a day some had feared would never come after Noranda Aluminum Co. declared bankruptcy and closed its doors in 2016. It was a day others had worked hard toward after the aluminum smelter was purchased by Magnitude 7 Metals.
It was a day everyone welcomed.
Don Rone, 149th District state representative, said the reopening of the plant has given Southeast Missouri hope again.
“Seeing these men and woman at work and the families they represent, that is what it is all about. It’s about community, it’s about living here, it’s about earning a good day’s wage for a good day’s work,” Rone said. “This is a a start, hopefully, it is just a start.”
Steve Rusche, chief operating officer with M7M, said the smelter will sell its aluminum to brokers, who in turn will sell it typically to the buyers. But for the first shipment, he knew exactly where it was headed - to Joplin, Mo.
“When the plant started back up, they called and said, ‘We want your first load of metal.’ It’s a Missouri to Missouri thing,” he said.
According to Neil Priggel, technology manager, the shipment represented about eight hours of production. But, he continued, every day production is growing.
“Right now we have got 85 pots operating and we add pots every day,” he said. “By the end of the week we think we will have half of Line 2 started and we are marching forward to Line 1.”
A line contains 174 pots with 170 typically used in production.
After being shut down for so long, it took hard work bringing the plant back online, Rusche said.
“We knew what we were up against. It was an old, undercapitalized smelter that had been down for almost two, two and half years. We could see it kind of deteriorate right before our eyes, like an old ship on the bottom of the ocean,” he said.
“We were just thankful that everything came together when it did because I don’t know how much longer we could have held out with this thing rusting away but it was none to soon,” he said then adding as he surveyed the loaded truck. “It has gone well, very well.”
Rusche explained when fully up and running Lines 1 and 2 will be able to produce about 80,000 metric tons of aluminum apiece. If the company decides to power up the third and final line, it could produce as much as 270,000 metric tons a year.
Since officially reopening earlier this year, M7M now employs 345. Rusche said by Sept. 1, the number could rise to 467.
Don Brittain, the company’s reduction superintendent, noted many of those who joined the new company had worked at Noranda, Some were employed with the company for decades.
On Tuesday he pointed out Mark Allen. According to Brittain, Allen was employed by Noranda and drove the last shipment of aluminum out before the plant closed. Now as an M7M employee, it was Allen who drove the company’s first shipment from the plant.
“We have got a lot of good people out here that are willing to work hard. They take a lot of pride in their work,” he said. “We have a great owner and we have a great management staff but our people are our asset.”
Brittain said the company is also committed to Southeast Missouri. He pointed out they try to purchase as much locally as they can - from ice and popsicles to keep workers cool to gas for its vehicle to the company’s insurance.
“As Mag 7, we want to help Southeast Missouri,” he said. “We want to be a part of it.”
