January 4, 2016

December Mooresboro Update

PITTSBURGH-- January 4, 2016--Horsehead Holding Corp. (NASDAQ: ZINC) today issued an update on operations at its Mooresboro, North Carolina zinc production facility. The Company reported that the facility produced approximately 2,200 tons of zinc in December 2015. This was supplemented with the sale of approximately 12,200 tons of zinc calcine and waelz oxide.

The primary constraint to throughput in December was a significant structural failure on the inner well of the main leaching clarifier. The failure was a result of a design flaw that has now been functionally addressed. The repair required a 10 day shutdown of the facility. During that time we were able to accomplish several improvements which we believe will better position us for increasing production in the New Year. Progress was made in December through a marked improvement in the condition of the anodes in the electrowinning cell-house. We received 950 new or reconditioned anodes during the month, 810 of which were installed. Associated with this progress we observed a current efficiency increase from approximately 70% at the start of the month to approximately 80% by the end of December.

There are several additional projects that are in the engineering phase that are required to address equipment deficiencies and to support the continued ramp up to design capacity. These projects will continue to increase capacity and reliability although we cannot guarantee the timing of these improvements and if they will fully address the operational challenges we have faced, or that additional challenges might not arise.

Our next update will be included in the Fourth Quarter 2015 earnings release.

Horsehead Holding Corporation issued this content on 2016-01-04 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 2016-01-04 22:20:30 UTC

Original Document: http://www.horsehead.net/news/view/december-mooresboro-update1