Koppers closing Clairton chemical plant
CLAIRTON – Koppers Holdings Inc. said it is closing a Western Pennsylvania chemical plant where 52 employees will lose their jobs.
The Pittsburgh-based company makes chemicals used in aluminum manufacturing, as well as wood preservers and vinyl, from waste products from the steel industry.
Koppers said Wednesday it will close the Clairton plant in the next six months because the aluminum industry is cutting production in the United States.
Alcoa Inc. earlier this week announced major cuts to its aluminum production on the heels of a $500 million fourth-quarter loss and falling prices because of a global abundance of aluminum.
Koppers said closing the Clairton plant will save the company about $14 million annually by 2017.