In its full-year 2011 financial report Thursday, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada-based Bri-Chem Corp. said that its large diameter steel pipe manufacturing mill is expected to be operating one full shift utilizing two lines early this year and will seek to add an additional shift late in Q2/early Q3 to increase production capacity at the plant. In addition to expanding its new pipe mill's capacity, Bri-Chem is evaluating "North American acquisition opportunities" that could provide the company "geographic diversity."
In 2011, earnings increased 33.4 percent year-on-year to $9.4 million. The steel pipe distribution division recorded sales of $5 million and $26.9 million, respectively, for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2011, down from $9 million and $34 million for the same periods in 2010.