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Industrial Accident Claims Life at SC Manufacturing Plant

The line was down for scheduled maintenance when the accident occurred.

Last week, a 63-year-old man was killed in an industrial accident at DAK Americas, a manufacturing plant in South Carolina.

According to The Times and Democrat, Alton Zeigler was a member of a maintenance crew that was servicing a large industrial pump used for transferring liquid, molten polymers. According to the report, the line was down for scheduled maintenance when it discharged material onto Zeigler who died from asphyxia. It also hit as well as two co-workers who were treated for serious chemical burns. 

In an interview with WIS 10, DAK Americas Public Affairs Director Ricky Lane said the line in question produces a polymer, likely PET, which is the main product produced at the facility, and is used to manufacture plastic bottles. 

According to the company's site, the facility manufactures polyethylene terephthalate, or PET resins, as well as terephthalic acid (PTA), which is one of the main raw materials used to make PET Resin.

According to Lane, this was the worst industrial accident that the company has ever experienced.

DAK Americas has been in operation since 2001, and has operated at this particular facility ever since a $600 million acquisition from Eastman Chemical in 2011

Zeigler had worked at the plant for more than 20 years, services were held for him on Monday.

This is IEN Now with David Mantey.

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