First Ala. biz gets Thyssen Krupp contract
From Staff Reports

Contracts from the ThyssenKrupp project are starting to land in the laps of Alabama businesses and local officials are hopeful they'll be able to land some of the bounty.

ThyssenKrupp Steel and Stainless USA, LLC announced this week that Thompson Engineering, Inc. of Mobile, was awarded a contract to conduct geotechnical testing in the site area of its $3.7 billion steel and stainless steel processing facility planned for Calvert.

Under the terms of the contract, Thompson Engineering will conduct numerous soil tests in the future site of the facility and the marine terminal that will be constructed to allow for the loading and unloading of barges traveling on the Tombigbee River. A major component of the contract calls for the drilling of 148 soil test borings on the facility site and 26 soil test borings in the marine terminal area to depths ranging from 20 to 150 feet. These tests will help determine the number and types of foundation systems required for the facility and terminal. Thompson Engineering's testing will begin in July.

"We're very excited to announce that this first contract was awarded to an Alabamabased company," Bob Soulliere, CEO of ThyssenKrupp Steel USA, LLC, said. "We are committed to using local contractors and suppliers to the extent possible."

Uli Albrecht-Frueh, CEO of ThyssenKrupp Stainless USA, LLC, added, "The tests that will be conducted over the coming months will allow us to construct our state-of-the-art facility at the high standards that we insist upon. We are confident that Thompson Engineering is the right firm to lead this work."

Thomasville Mayor Sheldon Day was happy to hear the news of Alabama companies starting to land business related to the project.

"Naturally, that's a huge project that will be ramping up very quickly," he said. "This is just the first of what we expect to see of many contracts reaching local businesses. They have a very tight time frame, so you'll start seeing it ramp up very quickly."

"Thompson Tractor here is seeing the impact of all the projects in the area - it's even beating metro stores around Alabama, so that shows you the Alabama, so that shows you the type of activity going on here," Day said.

Day has spent recent weeks talking to the other mayors in Clarke county about how to capitalize on the ThyssenKrupp plant, including trying to be the provider of natural gas to the plant.

"We're also seeing a lot of interest from third parties we believe are connected to the plant. We've got to be vigilant and work hard to make sure we're staying in the loop on what's going on, and try to seize opportunities as they come along."

Also working on the economic development end is the new Twin Rivers Economic Development Partnership. Working in conjunction with the Coastal Gateway Economic Development Agency, the groups will be courting high ranking political and business figures from the state during special meetings at the Economic Development Association of Alabama conference being held next week in Point Clear.

ThyssenKrupp's new plant complex, which will process carbon steel and stainless steel for high- value applications, is scheduled to begin operations in 2010. Construction is expected to begin by the end of the year. Throughout the process, ThyssenKrupp will post updates on its website, www.ThyssenKruppNewUSPla nt.com, about employment and vendor opportunities.

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