Georgia Steel Wire Plant to be Rebuilt After Fire

The manager of a Georgia steel wire manufacturing plant that was burned in a large industrial fire says the company will rebuild and is planning technology upgrades for the new plant.

Bekaert plant manager Gary Downey tells the Rome News-Tribune engineers are designing a new section to replace part of a the plant that was destroyed in a mid-November fire. Demolition of the damaged portion is underway. The company’s human resources manager has said the fire began with a piece of machinery and eventually spread to the ceiling.

Rex Rains, president of a local union that represents hourly employees at Bekaert says about five of the plant’s employees are still out of work.

Downey says he expects the new section of the plant to be completed by March.