Arq: Granular Activated Carbon Expansion Turns Into Disaster

Activated carbon products supplier Arq reported mixed fourth-quarter results with a small top-line beat more than offset by weaker-than-expected profitability. ARQ management blamed ramp-up costs for the company's Granular Activated Carbon ("GAC") operations which have turned from a long-standing headache into a full-blown disaster. A combination of feedstock issues and design flaws has resulted in delays and cost overruns. As a result, management has halted GAC production in order to conduct a comprehensive review.