North American
pipe and tube maker IPSCO Inc. has announced that it will proceed with a US$52.5 million expansion of its existing large diameter
pipe making facility in Regina, Saskatchewan,
Canada.
The expansion will include an additional
pipe forming mill and related finishing equipment, which the company expects to increase the capacity and productivity of the existing facility in order to capitalize on the tight North American energy
pipe market.
IPSCO says that the expansion will increase the company's large diameter spiral
pipe capacity by two thirds to 500,000 net tons per year by early 2008.
"IPSCO will continue to invest in
pipe and steel technology and appropriate capacity to keep the company at the forefront of the large diameter line
pipe industry on a globally competitive basis," said IPSCO president and CEO David Sutherland. "Our footprint in
North America and relationships with key oil and natural gas transmission companies give IPSCO an unparalleled opportunity to continue to be the leader in this business," Mr. Sutherland continued.
IPSCO operates four steel mills, eleven
pipe mills, nine product finishing facilities and nine
scrap processing centers in 25 geographic locations across the US and
Canada. The company's main products include: a wide range of seamless and welded energy
tubular products including oil & gas
pipe, standard
pipe and hollow structurals, as well as connections for oil and natural gas drilling and
production.