Sustainable Innovation: Rome Rotary Tours Ball Corp. Facility

Combining innovation with sustainability, Ball Corporation’s facility in Floyd County has become the largest manufacturer of aluminum cups in the world.

During a Rotary Club of Rome tour, Operations Manager Zach Dixon explained a bit about Ball’s process for creating aluminum cups — a sustainable product created in a safe manner.

The plant has now more than 800,000 hours with no lost-time accidents, he said, an enviable safety achievement. Dixon credited the family atmosphere at Ball, and noted that many employees have been with the company since this location opened. He also noted that several graduates of Georgia Northwestern Technical College are employees at the plant.

But no product reaches the level Ball’s aluminum cups have without marketing.

Ball team member Jedd Lovel explained about his role in the Integrated Business Planning area. Working closely with retailers and sports organizations, Lovell is very involved with one of Ball’s largest customers — the Atlanta Braves.

In March, Truist Park named Ball their official aluminum cup, and noted in a statement by Braves Senior Vice President Jim Allen that they chose Ball because their cups deliver a colder feel to fans, are sustainable and recyclable, and are based in Rome, part of the state the Braves call home.

The company fosters a family atmosphere and is proud of its history.

Human Resources Manager Larissa Morris pointed to a photo on the wall at the plant and told Rotarians that the company started in 1880 when Frank C. and Edmund B. Ball — two of the five Ball brothers — borrowed $200 from their uncle to buy the Wooden Jacket Can Company, a small manufacturing business in Buffalo, New York. Soon, the three other brothers — William, Lucius, and George — joined in.

The company also makes sure to contribute to the community.

Morris and Dixon explained that the company encourages employees to be active locally. They’ve been especially involved in Northwest Georgia Hunger Ministries, which is dedicated to reducing food insecurity in our area, the Davies Shelter and the Ruth and Naomi Home Shelter and also with Keep Rome-Floyd Beautiful.

“One of the purposes of Rotary International is to foster the idea of service as the basis of a successful business, and another is to spotlight different types of work and the wide variety of professions. When we have our weekly meeting at a great local business like Ball we are fulfilling both,” said Michele Rikard of Hardy Realty, the Rotarian who organized the visit.