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| Charleston Aluminum
a challenge formany industries, but Blakeney
says their relationships have been reasonably
stable. “We do things like pay them a little
higher than average for the industry, and we
also give them things like cash advances so
they’re not out of pocket for things like road
tolls – we also buy them three meals a day,
which is not always the practice in the indus-
try.”
Maintaining close relationships is im-
portant in every facet of the business, and
their drivers and logistics team is no excep-
tion. Those people are key to their business
success, because one of Charleston’s main
points of difference is their ability to deliver.
ORGANIC GROWTH
In recent years, Charleston has developed
new and stronger relationships with mills
like mills like Alcoa, Constellium, Aleris and
Novelis. They have also strengthened their
relationship with existing customers, and