MS Industries II resumes production with big plans for growth, Smith says

After navigating through financial uncertainty and a multi-million dollar lawsuit, MS Industries II is once again in production at its facility located on Walnut Gate Road in Russellville.

MS Industries II COO John Christmas took Russellville Mayor David Grissom on a tour of the facility last week and gave a status report on his company, which relocated at the former Vulcan Materials site in 2016.

The company produces a variety of industrial silica and other minerals and Smith the resumed operations at the Russellville location are producing 38 tons of a proprietary silica quartz product that exclusively is shipped to two customers.

Smith said the monthly production of 38 tons is just a fraction of what he expects to grow to more than 1,000,000 tons each year. Smith said there are 12 employees at the MS Industries II Russellville facility, again with plans to expand that number significantly.

“It’s good news to see they have resumed operations at their Russellville facility and we hope they see tremendous growth and success, which will also benefit our city,” Grissom said.

The silica is shipped from Russellville in three ways: truck, vessel and rail. Smith paid for the installation of a railroad spur connecting to the Norfolk-Southern rail line when his company purchased the site. Presently, the company is using truck transport exclusively, but he said that will change as production grows.

“We paid for installation of a rail spur and rail switch that will allow immediate on-site shipping from our Russellville facility,” Smith said. “There are a lot of things coming for us and this is going to be big for the area.”

Smith said his company’s contract with the two customers has a confidentiality agreement and, as the product is a proprietary blend, he did not indicate what the specific silica quartz product is used for.

The company has the capability to produce a range of products, from micro proppants used in fracking to glass and roofing products, concrete additives, sports facilities and even some cosmetics.

Resumed operations represent progress for a company which has faced its share of obstacles over the past nine years. Those include a multi-million dollar lawsuit filed by Arkansas businessman and former MSI investor Steven Booth.

Court records show the case was dismissed last year with prejudice, meaning it may not be refilled. Smith said the case, which also included a counterclaim against Booth, was settled under a strict confidentiality agreement and he did not elaborate on its terms.

Regardless of its terms, resolution of that lawsuit and other legal actions have cleared the way for Smith’s company to finally move forward mining and producing high-grade silica products in what he describes will be an ‘ever-growing operation’ at the 58-acre Russellville facility.

To learn more about MS Industries II and its operations in Russellville, visit www.msind.com.