Northwest Pipe to Revitalize Idle Bossier Facility
09/28/2009 - Governor Bobby Jindal and other leaders announce the revitalization of Northwest Pipe's facility in Bossier City, La., that has been idle for three years. The company’s tubular products group is refitting the plant to manufacture OCTG and pipe for the oil and gas industry.
Governor Bobby Jindal recently announced, along with Northwest Pipe Co.'s Tubular Group President Bob Mahoney, Greater Bossier Economic Development Foundation President David Rockett, and several local leaders, the revitalization of Northwest Pipe's facility in Bossier City that has been idle for three years.
Northwest Pipe's tubular products group recently began work on revitalizing the dormant facility. When fully operational, the retooled facility is expected to create up to 120 jobs at an average annual salary of $39,000 plus benefits.
"Working to retain and expand existing companies is our top economic-development priority,” said Governor Jindal. “We've also worked hard to attract companies to revitalize old facilities that were once major employers for different regions in our state. Northwest Pipe's decision to reinvest in our state and revitalize its manufacturing operations in Bossier City will build upon Northwest Louisiana's recent economic momentum."
The company’s tubular products group is refitting the 27-acre plant to manufacture oil country tubular goods and pipe for the oil and gas industry.
"Bossier City is ideally located to serve our energy pipe customers,” said Northwest Pipe Co. CEO Brian Dunham. “Based upon their market demand, we hope to re-commission the plant by mid-2010."
Northwest Pipe's investment in Bossier City will be completed in two phases. Phase I includes relocating a recently modernized existing mill from its Portland, Ore., facility. Once operational, the mill will produce pipe that is 2.375 to 7 inches in diameter with wall thicknesses up to 0.375 inches. When fully operational, Phase I will require 50 permanent and full-time employees to meet the 120,000-ton production capacity.
Currently in the planning stage, Phase II of the project will add further processing and inspection, which will create up to 70 jobs.
The company is expected to utilize the Louisiana Quality Jobs program and the Industrial Tax Exemption Program. It will partially finance the project through Recovery Zone Facility Bonds issued by the Caddo-Bossier Port Commission.
Headquartered in Vancouver, Wash., Northwest Pipe manufactures welded steel pipe and other products in two business segments: water transmission and tubular products. Its water transmission group is a leading supplier of large-diameter, high-pressure steel pipe products that are used primarily for water infrastructure in North America. Its tubular products group manufactures smaller diameter steel pipe for a wide range of construction, agriculture, energy, industrial, and mechanical applications. Northwest Pipe Co. operates 10 manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and Mexico.
