Heritage Environmental and Zinc Nacional partner to build reclamation facility

Heritage Environmental Services LLC (HES), Indianapolis, and Zinc Nacional (ZN), Monterrey, Mexico, have decided to partner to build a Waelz Kiln facility in the Midwestern United States.

The joint venture company, known as Waelz Sustainable Products LLC (WSP), will service the metals sector by providing a sustainable solution for the growing steel industry, the companies say. Waelz Kiln technology is designed to reclaim zinc oxide from recycled steel dust, a byproduct of the electric arc furnaces operated in steel mills. Zinc oxide is a widely used ingredient in numerous products such as metallic zinc, rubber, ceramics, lubricants, ointments and more, the companies say.

“WSP combines the experience and know-how of Zinc Nacional as a pioneer in Waelz Kiln technology, a proven method for producing high-value zinc products, along with the environmental expertise, stewardship and innovation of Heritage Environmental Services,“ Eduardo Alverde, CEO of Zinc Nacional, says.

Indiana, Ohio and West Virginia are finalists for siting the WSP plant and negotiations are in the final stages, a company spokesperson says. The Midwest has been targeted because of its high concentration of steel mills, which produce the electric arc furnace dust byproduct that will feed the WSP Waelz Kiln.

ZN and HES have planed an initial investment in WSP of $65 million to $70 million, with potential for an additional $60 million in capital investment based on final specifications of the plant, according to a company spokesperson. It is projected that the facility will break ground in late 2018 and commissioned during the first half of 2020. WSP plans to hire up to 60 employees during the initial phase of production and an additional 30 employees after expansions are complete.

“We are thrilled to partner with Zinc Nacional to provide an alternative outlet to our steel customers in the Midwestern U.S.,” Jeff Laborsky, CEO of Heritage Environmental, says. “WSP uses a proven technology to solve an unmet market demand for more competition and we’re confident WSP will deliver with innovative technology and superior customer service while enhancing the partners’ continued commitment to sustainable development.”

Zinc Nacional is a privately held, family-owned business with more than 60 years of experience in zinc compound production. Zinc Nacional operates Waelz Kiln technology in the U.S., Mexico, South Korea and Turkey.