A Texas-based pipeline manufacturer is expanding operations to Belle Fourche.
The expansion of Pipeline Plastics, LLC, is expected to bring 25 to 40 full-time jobs to the area.
The plant will service the growing energy market in the Bakken Shale Formation in North Dakota and eastern Montana, as well as energy markets in Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah. It will also service additional markets in those areas, including mining, irrigation and municipal water distribution.
"Pipeline Plastics' decision to invest in South Dakota is a welcome addition to our growing advanced manufacturing industry, and it's something I'm very pleased to see," said Gov. Dennis Daugaard. "I would like to welcome Pipeline Plastics as South Dakota's newest corporate citizen and commend Belle Fourche officials for their persistence and dedication to economic development."
The Belle Fourche location was selected over many other sites in the region for its geographic advantages, including its rail access and proximity to Interstate 90, as well as the positive business environment in South Dakota.
"We have an aggressive growth strategy to position our company as a major player in the HDPE pipe industry on a national level. We are bullish on the industry for both the energy and water sectors," said Monty Fisher, President and CEO of Pipeline Plastics, LLC. "New drilling technology has opened up the United States' oil and gas development, which has created unprecedented growth in that market for HDPE pipe. And, due to its superior performance with leak-proof joints and a lower lifetime cost over other materials, HDPE pipe is positioned to be the product of choice for water distribution."
"This expansion and the presence of such a forward-thinking company will have an enormous economic impact in Belle Fourche, and I am excited to see its benefits," said Belle Fourche Mayor Gary Hendrickson. "Along with the city council, I would like to warmly welcome Pipeline Plastics to Belle Fourche."
The Belle Fourche plant is expected to become operational in the first quarter of 2013.
