Industrial manufacturer moves operations to Hart County

ATLANTA, August 6, 2007– Pennsylvania industrial manufacturer Milbro Refractories, Inc. plans to relocate operations from an Alabama plant to a new site in Hart County. The company will invest approximately $800,000 in a 20,000 square-foot facility in Hartwell. The company plans to move operations from its Alabama site to the new facility by early fall, including approximately five jobs. 'For us to attract a growing industrial operation such as Milbro Refractories shows that Georgia continues to be business-friendly,' said Ken Stewart, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. 'Our strong workforce and logistical advantages drive investment and job creation here.' The facility in Hartwell will use specially formulated mixes and/or castable refractories to produce pre-cast shapes to meet Milbro customers' specifications. These shapes will vary in size from 10 lbs. to shapes that weigh approx 10,000 lbs. Refractory products are used in high temperature, molten metal, and abrasive environments. 'Hart County is the perfect place for us to grow our pre-cast shape business,' said Milbro President Damon Miller. 'The new location will better enable us to meet the needs of our customers in cost, quality and reliability.' Hart County officials welcomed Milbro to the area. 'Attracting a company like as Milbro is a testament to the business climate of Hart County,' said Dwayne Dye, director of economic development for Hart County. 'They are helping to bring a better quality of life for the citizens of Hart County.' Since 1979, Milbro Refractories has strived to develop and market the highest quality and most cost effective refractories in the industry. Milbro is a family-owned and operated business. The company's success has been built on the principles of quality, service, and reliability. Milbro also manufactures castables, plastics, mortars, shotcretes, ramming and gunite materials. Their primary customer base includes aluminum, copper, power generation, cement and lime, heat treating, boilers, iron and steel operations. Milbro Refractories has a reputation for manufacturing high quality products while keeping economic and customer considerations in focus. Highly qualified ceramic engineers at their sales offices and plant locations assist with customer needs. All SPC/ quality control procedures and development testing at Milbro's fully equipped laboratory are conducted by ceramic engineers. Milbro manufactures all products upon request to ensure shelf life and workability. The company can manufacture product in an array of sizes to meet customer expectations, whether small and easy to handle or in bulk sizes for larger mixers and gunning/shotcrete operations. The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) is the state's sales and marketing arm, the lead agency for attracting new business investment, encouraging the expansion of existing industry and small businesses, locating new markets for Georgia products, attracting tourists to Georgia, and promoting the state as a location for film, video and music projects, as well as planning and mobilizing state resources for economic development. For more information, visit www.georgia.org.