Hodgdon closes GOEX Black Powder Production Facility in Louisiana

September 28, 2021 Hodgdon Powder Company announced on 9/27/2021 that it would close down the GOEX Black Powder production facility at Camp Minden, Louisiana. This was the last black powder factory left in the United States. This could spell trouble for traditional muzzleloading and BPCR shooting (source: NAMLhunt.com). Here’s the official announcement from Hodgdon Powder Company, Inc.: “Effectively, Hodgdon Powder Company, Inc. decided to stop manufacturing operations at its Camp Minden, Louisiana location while evaluating strategic alternatives for the black powder business. While an evaluation of the future of the black-powder business takes place, the business will cease operations. The business may be sold to explore strategic options for the Olde Eynsford and GOEX brands of black powder. All employees affected will be retained until December 31, 2021 to help with the orderly closure of the site. They will also receive severance commensurate to their years of service to company. The Hodgdon Powder Co., Inc is proud to have been a part the GOEX Powder heritage and has a fond appreciation of sporting customers who have shot GOEX powders. Ironically, the GOEX logo says “The Tradition Continues”.
GOEX may be extinct with this announcement. Here’s a related report from the NRA’s American Rifleman. The closure effectively eliminates the United States’ only domestic source for blackpowder. According to a company press release Hodgdon will assess “strategic options” for the black powder business, including the possibility of selling the company. GOEX Powder has a long and rich history. It all began in 1802 when E.I. built a blackpowder factory on the Brandywine River in Delaware. Du Pont de Nemours. The Belin plant was built in Moosic (Penn.) in 1912. It supplied military blackpowder for both world wars. The Belin plant was incorporated in the GOEX family in the 1970s. Production moved to Minden, LA in 1997. GOEX was bought by Hodgdon Powder Company in 1969. They spent many years improving equipment at the Minden facility to improve employee safety and blackpowder production quality. Despite Hodgdon’s efforts, Camp Minden’s GOEX facility has a history in manufacturing accidents dating back to 1998. This includes a June 2011 explosion that resulted in the loss of 1,000 pounds of blackpowder. GOEX’s most recent incident was June 18, 2021 when 15 employees were evacuated from the building after an explosion. The plant maintained a waiting period of 24-48 hours to ensure that no other fires were started at the facility. Similar Posts: Tags: Black Powder, Camp Minden, Goex, Hodgdon