Released on January 28, 2008

Refractory maker Allied Mineral Products Inc., Columbus, Ohio, purchased 100% of AMETSA, its sales and manufacturing facility in Germiston, South Africa, at the end of 2007, according to a release issued by the company.

The facility began as a joint venture (JV) in 1998 between Allied and Metallurg South Africa Pty Ltd., a company now known as Insimbi Pty Ltd. Insimbi’s portion of the company was sold to Allied in a transaction the purchaser called “amicable” on Dec. 31. Operations at the facility have continued uninterrupted.

AMETSA, which manufactures and sells the line of Allied’s dry refractory products and serves South Africa and surrounding countries, underwent a building expansion in 2004. Allied said in the press released it purchased the company because of its confidence in the South African market.

Allied is a producer of monolithic refractories for the metalcasting industry, among others.