Northwest Pipe announced plans to revitalize its Bossier City, La., facility that has been idle for three years. When fully operational, the retooled plant is expected to create up to 120 new jobs. To strengthen its presence in the energy market, Northwest Pipe’s tubular products group is refitting the 27-acre plant to manufacture oil country tubular goods and pipe for the oil and gas industry. The investment in Bossier City will be completed in two phases. Phase I includes relocating a recently modernized existing mill from its Portland, Ore., facility. Once operational, the mill will produce pipe that is 2.375 inches to 7 inches in diameter with wall thicknesses up to 0.375 inches.

Phase I will require 50 full-time, permanent employees to meet the 120,000-ton production capacity. Currently in the planning stage, Phase II of the project will add further processing and inspection, which will create up to 70 jobs. This project represents Northwest Pipe’s largest internal investment project in its history.