Jun 5 2007
Using innovations in technology, Hanson Pipe & Precast's new Longview facility produces advanced products such as concrete box culverts and precast products, for the growing Longview and Tyler communities. The new products manufactured in the 60,000-square-foot facility support economic growth in the area and in East Texas. The facility is fully operational and a grand opening event June 5 will benefit the Harvest Festival and Livestock Show Scholarship Program.
"Hanson has a proud tradition of supporting the Longview community, and we are very happy to continue and expand upon the tradition in our new facility," said Richard Manning, president of Hanson Building Products North America. "East Texas communities are coming into their own economically and Hanson is growing to support those needs."
Longview and the surrounding area is a community with growing infrastructure needs due to a surge in commercial construction. In fact, Longview was recently voted by Expansion Management as one of the top 50 cities in the United States for business expansion. Hanson's storm water control projects for the Target Center, Longview Town Center and Tyler Broadway Square are emblematic of Longview's progress and development.
"This new facility allows us to offer a range of products to our customers all under one roof," said Clifford Hahne, Hanson's South Central region president. "Hanson is proud to serve this community and produce products that sustain Longview's and Tyler's infrastructure."
The new facility, located at 40 FRJ Drive, and managed by Ronnie McKinney, adds new product lines and production capability and employs approximately 18 people. The innovations in technology in this facility make it possible to triple production capacity. Pipe is produced on the three-station rotary turntable Hawkeye PipePlusPlus Machine which includes modules for creating varying diameters of pipe at the same time.
Box products are produced on a three-station Hawkeye Auto Feeder. The machine is designed to feed concrete to three 144-inch capacity production stations and produce box culvert and pipe with diameters greater than 72 inches. The system allows three different sizes of product to be made with lengths from 4 feet to 10 feet. Wetcast, or precast, products including Safety End Treatments, manhole risers and cones are also produced in the new facility.
Longview is part of Hanson's South Central region based in Grand Prairie, Texas. The South Central region services Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas. The region's 31 facilities produce products used for community and roadway development such as reinforced concrete pipe, drainage structures, modular bridges and pressure pipe. The South Central Region's six pressure pipe facilities, in Texas and throughout the Midwest, service the entire nation.