Russian-owned TMK IPSCO has temporarily halted production at its Koppel and Ambridge, Pennsylvania tubular steel mills as of this week, according to union officials, as a result of the economic downturn and an excess of oil pipe supply.
"A lot of the projected drilling for 2009 didn't take place. We have no orders," Dan Skvarla, vice president of United Steelworkers Local 9305, said.
Skvarla told press that all manufacturing staff and approximately 500 of the nearly 700 workers at both facilities have temporarily been laid off.
There is no specific timetable set for when production is expected to begin again at both facilities, but Skvarla said it could be another three to fourth months until the employees are brought back to work.
TMK IPSCO also laid off approximately 75 of its almost 225 employees at its Camanche, Iowa plant earlier this month.