Over the last three years, Performance Pipe, the largest polyethylene (PE) pressure pipe manufacturer in North America, has invested more than $30 million in major capital improvements across its nine U.S. facilities in order to continue to provide quality products to the gas distribution, industrial, water and energy markets.
Increasingly challenging applications have required the durability provided by high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe, which has led the company to enhance its capabilities across the country.
"The demand for HDPE pressure pipe is strong," said Lawyer Jolley, general manager of Performance Pipe. "The scope of our modernization initiative has been to increase capacity, improve efficiency, utilize the latest technology and provide for better worker safety, all of which will benefit our customers."
Among the changes made, Performance Pipe has added state-of-the-art high speed monitors for measuring the pipe produced in its facilities. Using ultrasonic waves, the monitors can measure the wall thickness and diameter of the pipe, taking action if either falls outside of specifications.
"We take the quality of our products and services very seriously," said Karen Lively, technical manager for Performance Pipe. "Our existing technology was already considered by many to be the best in the industry. The use of the new monitors provides immediate feedback on our processes to help ensure that our customers consistently receive the highest quality products."
By investing in the latest process controls, automation and extrusion technology, Performance Pipe has increased its capacity by more than 30 percent, the equivalent of adding several new manufacturing plants to its portfolio.
"We strongly believe that our capital improvement program further enhances our leadership position in the industry and our ability to meet future customer needs," said Jolley. "And we're not done yet. As we complete the first phase of our modernization plans, we are already looking forward to the next stage of growth which begins in 2013. We are committed to the pipe industry."
Performance Pipe operates facilities across the U.S. in Reno, Nev., Brownwood, Texas, Pryor, Okla., Bloomfield, Iowa, Fairfield, Iowa, Knoxville, Tenn., Williamstown, Ky., Startex, S.C. and Hagerstown, Md.
About Performance Pipe
Performance Pipe is a division of Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP and is the largest polyethylene pressure pipe manufacturer in North America, with nine manufacturing facilities located throughout the United States. Performance Pipe's DriscoPlex™ brand high density polyethylene pipe is regularly sold to customers worldwide. For more information about Performance Pipe visit www.performancepipe.com.
About Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP and its affiliates produce petrochemicals that are essential to manufacturing over 70,000 consumer and industrial products. The company has approximately $9 billion in assets and employs approximately 4,700 people worldwide. For more information about Chevron Phillips Chemical visit www.cpchem.com.
08/08/2019