Calhoun industry contracts to provide aluminum to U.S.

A Calhoun County facility has seen its contract to provide aluminum to the U.S. military renewed for another year.

Gaston-based Charleston Aluminum company has received a one-year maximum, $49.4 million contract to provide heat-treated aluminum sheet and plate materials for the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and other federal civilian agencies.

“These are indefinite quantity contracts from the government,” Charleston Aluminum vice president Tarek Whittick said. “There is no specified minimum. I forecast this year will be around $1 million. Quite frankly, these are relative times of peace and we don’t anticipate that it will go over that amount.”

Whittick said the contract total is based on the value of metals shipped. The metals are primarily shipped to military bases for use in the construction of military equipment.

The contract will expire May 31, 2014. The company will have the option to renew the contract for another year at that time.

The contract is part of two-year base contract with three options to renew for one year. This is the second year of the three one-year renewal options.

Whittick said he did not anticipate any new jobs or investment required at the Gaston plant as a result of the contract.

Charleston Aluminum is a master distributor of all types of metals and metal products.

In addition to its warehouse in Charleston, the company has plants in Miami, Fla.; Los Angeles, Calif., and Buffalo, N.Y.