Hanson Pipe
& Precast today announced the opening of their new, state-of-the-art,
fully automated Houston facility. Some of the technology at the 100,000-square-foot
Houston facility will be used for the very first time in the world. The facility
is designed to produce considerable amounts of concrete pipe products, including
those used for storm water drainage systems, sewers and water treatment, for
the growing Houston market. The facility will be fully operational in March
and a grand opening gala is planned to benefit the Houston Museum of Natural
Science.
Houston is one of Hanson's largest markets in North America. Due to the city's
flat topography, proximity to the Gulf and the fact that it's only about 40
feet above sea level, Houston is prone to hurricanes and this fuels demand for
Hanson's water control products.
Hanson Pipe & Precast is a division of Hanson PLC, a world leader in providing
heavy building materials to the construction industry. Hanson Pipe & Precast
is North America's largest manufacturer of concrete pipe and precast products,
including residential and commercial building components, bridges, manholes
and retaining walls; as well as being a premier producer of steel and pressurized
pipe.
"With the ability to produce, on average, one pipe per minute, the technology
in this facility greatly increases our production efficiency while maintaining
an environmentally friendly and safe workplace and providing the highest quality
concrete pipe," said Clifford Hahne, Hanson's South Central region president.
"We are proud to produce the infrastructure of much of the Houston area's
systems that keep the community safe and water clean."
A grand opening celebration on March 22 with Houston area community leaders
and Hanson customers will mark the official opening of the new facility. Attendees
will take part in a tour of the new facility and an evening of festivities.
Hanson's growth in Houston mirrors the manufacturing industry overall growth
in Texas. According to a survey conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas,
the production index for manufacturing activity in January rose to 13.8; a marked
increase from -5.2 in December. Positive index readings denote expansion while
negative numbers signify contraction.
The new facility, located at 11201 F.M. 529, and managed by Mike Cline, adds
production capability to Hanson's site in Jersey Village. The three facilities
on that site currently employ approximately 250 people. Hanson also has a facility
at 6800 Helmers Street in Houston that produces reinforced concrete pipe, pressure
pipe and corrugated steel pipe.
The innovations in technology in this facility make it possible to produce
500 tons of product per production shift. Pipe is produced on the three- station
rotary turntable automated Hawkeye PipePro96 Machine; this machine also includes
modules for creating varying diameters of pipe. This means that multiples of
varying diameter pipe can be produced at the same time, as long as the total
diameter of the pipes being made are 96 -- for instance, the machine can manufacture
six 24" pipe at one time, two 48" pipe or one 96" pipe. Hanson's
new Houston facility is one the first concrete pipe facilities in the U.S to
use a fully automated curing system that controls heat and humidity independently
and is designed for any length or continuous productions shifts.
Houston is part of Hanson's South Central operating region based in Grand Prairie,
Texas. The South Central region services Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas.
The region's 27 facilities produce product used for community and roadway development
such as reinforced concrete pipe, drainage structures, modular bridges and pressure
pipe.