Downers Grove, Illinois-based steel energy pipe manufacturer TMK IPSCO announced Tuesday that it will invest in the installation of a thread shop at its Wilder, Kentucky facility. Construction of the thread shop is expected to begin this month and be completed in mid-summer, with startup beginning by fall. 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 significant savings for the company, as well as improve efficiency.
The Wilder facility has two pipe mills, which produce welded pipe ranging from 4 1/2 to 16 inches in diameter. However, an additional investment TMK IPSCO is making in 2011 will include the installation of new 16-inch facing machines, which will start up in April, and produce a higher-quality bevel on the standard and line pipe produced at Wilder.
Additionally, TMK IPSCO plans to eliminate an intra-rail system that currently transports pipe out of the 16-inch mill. Nevertheless, the plant will maintain its ability to ship directly by rail, barge or truck, but with enhancements to the loading facilities.