Waynesboro copper wire plant is close to starting up

The copper wire plant in Waynesboro, Ga., plans to begin production in mid-January.

ASTA Inc., a subsidiary of Malaysia-based Metrod Group, will manufacture a specialized copper product for high-voltage transformers. The product will be distributed throughout North America.

"We are running late by three weeks, so we hope to start our trials for our manufacturing by Jan. 20," said Rakesh Rathi, plant manager.

The plant has hired 35 employees. It expects to have 100 workers by mid-March, when the facility is fully operational, he said.

"We've got really good staff. All of the people that we have hired right now are doing well," Mr. Rathi said. "We want to be here for a long time."

The 200,000-square-foot facility, located in the former Cummins Filtration plant at 770 Mills Road, is ASTA Inc.'s first North American production site.

ASTA Inc. has been awarded a $480,000 EDGE grant to assist with building improvements. The project's total cost is nearly $19.1 million, according to the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

The company is also eligible for job tax credits and worker training assistance through the Quick Start program.

Metrod Group is a leading provider of electrical grade copper wire, rods and strips in Malaysia, Thailand, China and Austria. The products are used in the cable, telecommunication, electrical and power industries.

Several employees attended a 16-week training in Austria to learn the manufacturing process, Mr. Rathi said.

The Burke County facility was built in 1996 for Kwikset, a division of Black & Decker, which moved out in 2003 and sold the facility to Cummins Filtration, then known as Fleetguard. Cummins Filtration closed in July.

Reach LaTina Emerson at (706) 823-3227 or latina.emerson@augustachronicle.com.