Publish Date: Monday, December 12, 2005

Michael S. Hildreth, President, and James V. Young, Vice President of Sterling Metal Products, Inc., have announced the opening of a manufacturing plant in Opp, Alabama.  The new facility will manufacture metal hurricane protection products.  The products are installed on windows and doors of all types of buildings, including commercial, industrial and residential for storm protection. The panels are roll-formed from high-strength aluminum alloys and tempers in order to provide the customer with the finest hurricane panel on the market.  Other products, such as Bahama, Accordion and Roll Down shutters are made from extruded aluminum products.  The shutters come in various colors and finishes.  The market area for the storm panels is the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts of the United States where tropical storms and hurricanes are more prevalent.  The fact that Opp is at mid-point to the market areas was a deciding factor in locating the new facilities here.  Most of the products will be sold to distributors of storm shutters and related products and services and to large installers of storm shutters. 

The new facility will be located in the former Covington Industries Laundry Building on 203 College Street in Opp.  They will occupy approximately 50,000 sq. ft.  The Company will hire 5-10 employees immediately with plans to employ 60 by the end of the second year of business.

Contacts: 
Mike Hildreth, 334-493-4050, Sterling Metals
Tucson Roberts, 334-222-7040, Covington County EDC