"Standing with a tall, bright, metallic gleam, the Rayco Industrial Castlerock Biodiesel Feedstock Plant is the first of its kind in central Alabama. Designed to be a state-of-the-art facility, the plant will use a new technology in which chicken and pig fat are refined, then sent to Europe to be processed into diesel fuel. 

Having specified many projects to be hot-dip galvanized in the past, Rayco Industrial knew the only answer to protect their new investment from the ravages of corrosion was to once again utilize the durable, metallurgically bonded zinc coating for corrosion protection. The facility, which is visible from the AL 41 highway, will constantly be exposed to the harsh sun and damaging rain. Hot-dip galvanized steel will keep this structure standing strong and stable for 50+ maintenance-free years - meaning no costly and interruptive routine maintenance to slow production. The owners wanted to protect the new facility from the rough industrial environment. With other corrosion protection systems, such as paint, small scratches can expose the base steel to damaging corrosion that will spread unchecked, like wildfire. 

Thanks to the dual barrier and cathodic protection of hot-dip galvanized steel, nicks and abrasions will not compromise the stability of the entire structure. Cathodic protection means the zinc will sacrificially corrode to protect the areas around small scratches ionically. Such a potentially rugged environment requires the protection of the most durable corrosion protection system available - hot-dip galvanized steel. Quick turnaround was also crucial to meet the projects aggressive schedule for completion. Because the hot-dip galvanizing process is a factory-controlled process independent of limitations caused by weather or humidity, the quick turnaround of galvanized steel made it the most viable choice. All 300 tons of structural beams, columns, angles, channels, plates, stair stringers, and handrails were galvanized and delivered to the site as fast as possible. With the strong protection of the zinc coating, this facility will remain productive, unburdened by maintenance or corrosion-related repairs, for decades to come."