Northwest Pipe Co. and Lone Star Steel Co. have entered into a strategic marketing alliance under which Lone Star Steel will be the exclusive marketing representative for Northwest Pipe's API Products in North America.

"This agreement is another step in our plan to improve our product mix, grow our energy market sales volume and generate stronger returns from our Tubular Products business," said Brian W. Dunham, President and CEO of Northwest Pipe. "This alliance takes advantage of the available, high quality, efficient manufacturing capacity in our Atchison, Kansas division and gives us instant access to energy markets through Lone Star's well developed, extensive distributor network. We are excited about the opportunities we can create for both of our companies by working together."

"We are delighted that Northwest Pipe has selected Lone Star Steel as the exclusive North American marketing representative for its light wall high strength API line pipe products," stated Rhys J. Best, Chairman and CEO of Lone Star Technologies. "We are always looking for ways to add value to our customers, and Northwest Pipe's size range complements our existing product line. Their geographic location is also an excellent fit for us. As their product offering expands over the next several months, we will be even better-positioned to provide our customers with the broadest range of line pipe products available in the marketplace today."

Northwest Pipe Co. manufactures welded steel pipe in two business segments. Its Water Transmission Group is a leading supplier of large diameter, high-pressure, steel pipe products used primarily for water transmission in the United States and Canada. Its Tubular Products Group manufactures smaller diameter steel pipe for a wide range of construction, agricultural, energy, industrial and mechanical applications. The company is headquartered in Portland, Ore., and operates ten manufacturing operations in the United States and Mexico.

Lone Star Steel Co. is a subsidiary of Lone Star Technologies, Inc.

Lone Star Technologies, Inc. is a holding company whose principal operating subsidiaries manufacture and market oilfield casing, tubing, and line pipe, specialty tubing products, including finned tubes used in a variety of heat recovery applications, and flat rolled steel and other tubular products and services.