TMK Ipsco to Upgrade Facility in Wilder, Kentucky
03/09/2011 - TMK Ipsco announced plans for a number of new investments at its facility in Wilder, Ky., including installation of a new thread shop and new 16-inch facing machines.
TMK Ipsco announced plans for a number of new investments at its facility in Wilder, Ky., that will improve operational efficiency and add value for its oil and gas industry customers.
TMK Ipsco's most significant investment in Wilder will be the installation of a thread shop, for which the company will receive economic development support from the state of Kentucky. Thread shop construction will begin in March and is expected to be complete in mid-summer, with startup occurring by fall.
The Wilder facility has two pipe mills, which produce welded pipe ranging from 4 ½ to 16 inches in diameter. These pipes are primarily produced for oil and gas industry usage. Currently, pipe produced at Wilder is sent to other TMK Ipsco facilities in Iowa and Oklahoma for threading, so bringing the process in-house will result in both significant savings and improved efficiency.
"By installing our own threading capabilities, we will be able to go to market faster and save significant freight costs," said David Diederich, Director of Operations for TMK Ipsco's welded pipe division. "This is especially true for our customers located in the Marcellus Shale region, as well as in the north and west. We will be able to respond to our customer needs more effectively than we have in the past."
Another investment for 2011 will include the installation of new 16-inch facing machines, which will start up in April, and will produce a higher-quality bevel on the standard and line pipe produced at Wilder. In addition, TMK Ipsco plans to eliminate an intra-rail system that currently transports pipe out of the 16-inch mill. The plant will maintain its ability to ship directly by rail, barge or truck, but with enhancements to the loading facilities.
TMK Ipsco anticipates that these operational upgrades will lead to increased utilization of the Wilder facility and thus a potential for increased long-term employment opportunities. The Wilder facility currently employs nearly 300 workers. TMK Ipsco has added nearly 250 jobs company-wide in 2010.
TMK Ipsco has owned and operated the Wilder facility since 2008, but the plant's modern-era operations date back to 1981 under various owners. In 2011, more than 100 TMK Ipsco employees will celebrate 30 years of continuous service at the plant.
TMK Ipsco operates in North America as a division of TMK, a global market leader in energy pipe production. TMK operates 23 production facilities around the world, and its product offerings include a wide range of seamless and welded energy tubular products including oil & gas drill pipe, well casing and tubing, line pipe, LD pipe, standard pipe, hollow structural sections and related services. TMK also manufactures premium connections for oil and natural gas drilling and production under the ULTRA™ Premium Connections and TMK Premium brand names.
