U.S. Pipe to build new iron pipe plant in Bessemer, Ala.

U.S. Pipe announced May 9 that it will build a new, state-of-the-art ductile iron pipe plant adjacent to its existing facility on St. Louis Avenue in Bessemer, Ala. The company expects that the $40 million to $45 million expansion project will be the first of its kind in the nation, as well as the first new ductile iron pipe plant built in the U.S. in more than 55 years. The new plant will create as many as 100 new highly skilled jobs, bolster U.S. Pipe's competitive manufacturing position, and provide the most up-to-date environmental protections for the local community.

"After months of review, we decided Bessemer is the best location to expand," said U.S. Pipe president Ray Torok. "Bessemer's commitment to economic development, the site's convenient location to I-20/59 and U.S. Pipe's strong 100-year history with the community made it the ideal choice for us."

Before deciding on Bessemer, U.S. Pipe considered a site adjacent to its North Birmingham, Ala., facility as well as locations in other parts of the country.

U.S. Pipe's new plant will be an efficiency-based, streamlined, flow-through process facility. Manual pipe-making jobs performed for more than a century will become computer-controlled, automated processes. And for the first time in the U.S., state-of-the-art machinery and transport systems will be used.

"Employees will work together as a team to get jobs done instead of individually focusing on only one task during their work shift," said Torok. "They will also receive team incentives for the way they perform together."

The new plant will utilize technologically advanced environmental safeguards, including new low-emissions manufacturing techniques like water-based paints and low nitrous oxide annealing oven burners. The new plant also will feature a powerful emission control system that will filter dust and particles from the air before it leaves the plant.

The Alabama Industrial Development Training Agency will screen and train employees for the nearly 100 jobs created by U.S. Pipe's new plant.

U.S. Pipe officials expect to break ground on the new plant in June. The new facility is expected to be on-line in 18 months.