Businessweek

Northwest Pipe Company manufactures and markets large-diameter, high-pressure steel pipeline systems for use in water infrastructure applications, primarily related to drinking water systems. The company also manufactures other welded steel pipe products for use in a range of applications, energy, construction, agriculture, and industrial uses. The company’s pipeline systems are also used for hydroelectric power systems, wastewater systems and other applications. In addition, it offers products for industrial plant piping systems and certain structural applications. Products Water Transmission: Water transmission pipe is used for high-pressure applications, typically requiring pipe to withstand pressures of approximately 150 pounds per square inch. Other uses include pipe for piling and hydroelectric projects, wastewater transmission, treatment plants, and other applications. The company’s primary manufacturing process has the capability to manufacture water transmission pipe in diameters ranging from 4.5 inches to 156 inches with wall thickness of 0.135 inches to 1.00 inch. It also has the ability to manufacture larger and heavier pipe with other processes. The company can coat and/or line these products with cement mortar, polyethylene tape, polyurethane paints, epoxies, Pritec, and coal tar enamel according to its customers’ specifications. It maintains fabrication facilities that provide installation contractors with custom fabricated sections, as well as straight pipe sections. Tubular Products: The company manufactures an array of small-diameter, electric resistance welded (ERW) steel pipe and other welded steel pipe products. Its tubular products range in size from 1.5 inches to 16 inches in diameter with wall thickness from 0.035 inches to 0.375 inches. These products are typically sold to distributors or original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and are used for various applications, including energy, construction, industrial, agriculture, traffic signpost systems, and other commercial and industrial uses. Sales and Marketing Water Transmission: The primary customers for water transmission products are installation contractors for projects funded by public water agencies. Its plant locations in Oregon, Colorado, California, West Virginia, Texas, Utah and Mexico allow to serve customers throughout the United States, as well as Canada and Mexico. Tubular Products: Tubular products are primarily sold to distributors, although to a lesser extent are also sold to OEMs. Suppliers The company’s domestic suppliers include Nucor Corporation, Severstal, ArcelorMittal, California Steel Industries, Gallatin Steel Company, Steel Dynamics Inc., New Process Steel and AK Steel. Its foreign suppliers include Ternium and BlueScope Steel. Competition Water Transmission: The company’s primary competitors in the water transmission business in the western United States and southwestern Canada are National Oilwell Varco, Inc, which acquired Ameron International Corporation during 2011, and Mueller Water Products. It also competes with American Cast Iron Pipe Company and Mueller Water Products, both of which manufacture ductile iron pipe; American Spiral Weld Pipe Company, which manufactures spiral welded steel pipe; and Hanson Pipe & Precast, which manufactures concrete pressure pipe and spiral welded steel pipe. Tubular Products: The company competes with U.S. Steel, TMK Ipsco, Boomerang, Lakeside Steel, Tex Tube, Tenaris, Evraz, California Steel Industries, and JMC Steel Group. History Northwest Pipe Company was founded in 1966.