October 12, 2008

Felman to start production from third silicomanganese furnace

Platts reported that Felman Production Inc will see the first metal from its third furnace at its LeTart in West Virginia silicomanganese plant. As per report, Felman is in the process of warming up the largest furnace at its plant, after receiving a repaired transformer from Magnatech Industries of at Southbend in Indiana.

The report cited a source as saying that "The transformer is back and the furnace is under the warm up process and they will be starting production from the furnace very shortly by the end of April 10.”

Initial production from the third furnace is pegged at about 20 tonne of silicomanganese a day, with daily output to increase gradually to 120 tonne per day by April 21. Previously the third furnace was expected to pump out between 180 tonne and 200 tonne a day.

Production at the plant's two other furnaces continues to run smoothly, with daily output of silicomanganese averaging between 170 and 180 tonne per day. The third furnace was initially slated to restart in mid February but was pushed back due to a delay in repairs of the transformer.