An Ohio company that’s developed an environmentally friendly process to manufacture chemicals used in paint and plastics is locating a facility in Hancock County that will create about 125 jobs.
WhiteRock Pigments is investing nearly $180 million in a manufacturing operation near Hawesville. The company is renovating the former Alcoa building that has been vacant for nine years.
Leon Polott is president of WhiteRock Pigments. He said one of the company’s products is titanium dioxide, which can be used in paint, plastics, food and toothpaste. Polott said the plant will use an enclosed system.
“It is a chemical process, but our process is such that it does not require remediation. It does not put any additional stuff out in the air or the ground.”
The company will hire employees with variety of skill levels, from warehouse workers to engineers. Polott said the Kentucky location and the Alcoa building proved to be the right mix.
“We actually did a rather thorough search all the way from Texas to Philadelphia. Ultimately our engineers really zeroed in on the site in Hawesville, which is very suitable for what we do and is going to work very well for us.”
WhiteRock Pigments was founded in 2013. It is based in Cleveland.
