Welland, Ontario-based pipe and tube manufacturer Lakeside Steel Inc. has announced that its Board of Directors approved plans to build a new end-finishing and heat treatment facility in Welland.
Construction of the facility is expected to begin in the next three months, and will cost approximately US$12-$15 million.
The new plant will also process tubing manufacturing at Lakeside's Welland facility for upsetting, heat treatment and threading, as well as provide threading and casing products to be manufactured at Lakeside's new OCTG casing facility currently under construction in Thomasville, Alabama.
The new plant will enable Lakeside Steel to produce high value-added American Petroleum Institute-certified J, L, N and P grades of OCTG products required throughout the majority of drilling operations in North America.
The new facility is expected to begin supplying commercial products by February 2012.