Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 30, 1994 TAG: 9403300159
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: B-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By MAG POFF STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
The chemical manufacturing plant at 401 Albemarle Ave. S.E. employs 10 people, according to manager Bryan Jones. It makes mineral products for the mining industry, such as antifreeze for coal, dust suppressants and water treatment compounds, Jones said.
The plant, formerly known as Wen-Don Corp., was sold in November 1992 to Baker Performance Chemicals, a Baker Hughes company based in Houston.
Jones said he had no information about the sale or the impact on the local plant beyond the company's brief announcement. He said he assumed the plant would continue its existing operations under new ownership, regardless of who the new owners are.
Baker Performance Chemicals said it decided to sell the Mineral Handling Group in order to focus on its core specialty chemical business for the oil and gas drilling, production, pipeline and refining industries and industrial water treatment.
The Mineral Handling Group markets dust suppressants and freeze-conditioning agents to the coal mining and mineral transportation industry. The company said increasing industry health concerns about dust are driving tighter environmental controls, benefiting market growth.
Freeze-conditioning agents are particularly important in the transportation and handling of coal in severe weather, the company said.
Texas Commerce Bank will assist in the sale.
The Mineral Handling Group, described by the company as a leader in that market, also has 55 employees based in Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky and Pennsylvania, and another plant in Price, Utah.
by CNB