Area Development
A manufacturer that applies protective fusion bond epoxy and abrasion resistant coatings on steel pipe, L.B. Foster Company, plans to expand its pipe coating facility in Birmingham, Alabama, to increase production capacity.

The company said plant expansion was necessitated by major facility improvements underway at AMERICAN Steel Pipe, L.B. Foster's strategic partner. "Our plant upgrade will position L.B. Foster to meet the increased production needs required by AMERICAN," said Merry Brumbaugh, Vice President, L.B. Foster Tubular Products.

L.B. Foster and AMERICAN Steel Pipe, a division of AMERICAN Cast Iron Pipe Company, each maintain state-of-the-art production facilities on the site of AMERICAN'S Birmingham operations.

AMERICAN is increasing production capacity to nearly 700,000 net tons annually and shortening manufacturing lead times for high-quality steel pipe.

"We asked L.B. Foster to increase pipe coating capacity to accommodate the new world class production levels anticipated by AMERICAN's expansion," said Jon Noland, Division Sales Manager, AMERICAN Steel Pipe.