Dyno Nobel Americas President Gary Kubera reports that ammonium nitrate production at Dyno Nobel’s Donora, Penn., plant will be discontinued effective May 1, 2015. The plant will remain in idle status while the company continues to pursue opportunities in the market.
Dyno said while manufacturing will be idled, the Donora site will remain operational and continue to serve as an integral component of the company’s supply chain providing AN to customers located along the East Coast. The company will periodically evaluate whether market and commercial conditions warrant the resumption of AN production at the plant.
Dyno said its commercial decision is based on a number of factors including an evaluation of customer volumes and the steady decline in production of Appalachian coal. Donora produces industrial grade AN for the explosives market. Dyno said the decision enables it to best align production with demand while still pursuing new opportunities that may arise in the marketplace. “This business decision will allow us to remain flexible to new opportunities and market changes,” Kubera noted.
The Donora plant will continue to remain operational with a reduced staff dedicated to the fulfillment of customer orders while the manufacturing operation remains idle. Layoffs are expected. “We understand the impact that this decision has on our employees and their families and we will do all we can to support them through this transition over the coming weeks,” said Kubera. Dyno has a team to work closely with employees and representatives to assist employees displaced by the idling of the plant.