Gulf Coast Industrial Paint Shop off Sand Bar Ferry Road celebrated its grand reopening, last week, having literally risen from the ashes after a fire last fall.
Gulf Coast is owned by Arizona-based ARSC Industrial, itself a subsidiary of the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation. The Augusta facility specializes in protective, corrosion-inhibiting coatings and linings, such as for fabricated steel, piping, tanks and fireproofing.
In the first weekend of November, last year, a paint spray explosion led to a fire that effectively burned the shop floor to the ground, and took Augusta firefighters about an hour to put out.
No one was hurt in the fire, and no jobs were cut. A month prior to the incident, Gulf Coast had promoted the facility as the largest of its kind serving the Southeast. On May 16, leaders from ARSC, including CEO Steve Ennis, alongside representatives of FabArc Steel Supply, joined the city in commemorating the opening of the rebuilt paint shop.
A recent video produced by the company celebrating the grand reopening for the facility showed images of the past six month’s reconstruction efforts: the 52,000 square foot industrial shop floor, two 70-foot wide overhead cranes with 15-ton capacity, and 30-ton abrasive hoppers — or high-volume storage containers. The site also has a four-acre secured yard for material handling, and a training facility for up to 30 people.
“This is more than a rebuild—it’s an investment in the future of our workforce, our clients, and the industries we serve,” said TW Jackson, vice president of ASRC Industrial. “We’re proud to reintroduce a facility that reflects the strength and resilience of our team and our long-term commitment to operational excellence.”
Gulf Coast Industrial Paint Shop is located at 911 Hayes Drive in Augusta.
Skyler Andrews is a reporter covering business for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
