SPARKS, MD — Active Minerals International (AMI), a supplier of gel-grade attapulgite and air-floated kaolins, had all three manufacturing plants — located over a 300-mile area spanning Florida, Georgia and South Carolina — in the path of the biggest hurricane to hit the Florida Panhandle in the last 150 years.
The kaolin plants in Gordon, Georgia, and Aiken, South Carolina, have resumed full plant operations to meet the supply and service needs of its customers. The full force of the Category 4 storm hit the Quincy, Florida, and Climax, Georgia, attapulgite operations, the largest producers of high-quality gel grade attapulgite products. There was no material damage to the plants, and they stand ready to resume full production once power is restored and employees are able to mobilize, which is contingent on basic services reestablished in local communities and roadways are cleared. Active Minerals’ strategic planning combined with Michael’s weakening strength as it traveled across all of AMI’s mining and mineral processing operations, contributed to AMI’s prompt return to full functionality once public utilities restored electric power.
“Despite the short notice with the quickly developing storm, we activated controlled shutdowns to secure our operations and ensure our employees could be safe at home with their families,” said Dennis C. Parker, AMI President. “Our thoughts continue to be with all the people who suffered severe damage.”
The company put its Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Plan into effect. This included filling all clay sheds to full capacity, maximizing production and securing inventory of finished goods, securing sites to minimize damage from rain and wind, accelerating open orders to move them out before the storm, accelerating transfer of export orders to ports in time for shipment before the storm, and notifying customers about the intended effects of AMI’s preparedness plans.
Parker further expressed gratitude to the local communities in and around Quincy, Gordon and Aiken for their efforts to prepare for the storm and their readiness to assist people in need. The three plants ship products to overseas customers primarily through the Savannah, Georgia, port, which was unaffected by the storm. However inland freight faces some difficult road conditions. “Our Quincy and Aiken plants supply Min-U-Gel® and Acti-Min® products, which are key ingredients for the production of a wide range of construction materials — tape joint compound for gypsum dry wall, paint coatings, asphalt roof coatings, adhesives and sealants — which will be in high demand locally for rebuilding areas affected by Hurricane Michael and last month’s Hurricane Florence,” said Donna Kidd, AMI’s Vice President of Sales. “Active Minerals stands ready to immediately meet all our customers’ requirements — domestically and internationally — through this period of increased demand in the U.S.”
Customers with any concerns should contact Active Minerals International at 410/825.2920 or info@activeminerals.com.
