Once completed, the new US facility will be one of the most modern pipe manufacturing operations in North America and will significantly expand the company's production footprint.
The construction phase is expected to be substantially completed by April 2011, at which time the installation and commissioning of manufacturing equipment is expected to begin. The new mill is anticipated to be in production by December 2011. Once operational, the new facility will produce casing and line pipe products for use in the OCTG sector in sizes from four and a half inches to ten and three quarter inches in lengths of up to sixty feet.
The Thomasville facility will be operated by Lakeside Steel Alabama Inc., an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the company.
Lakeside, located in Welland, Ontario, is a diversified steel pipe and tubing manufacturer whose customers include large oil and gas, mining, automotive and commercial and industrial supply companies.