Pipelife Jet Stream Expanding to Increase Production Capacity

by Paul Gatling ([email protected]) 377 views 

A global manufacturer of plastic pipe systems is expanding its operations in western Benton County.

Pipelife Jet Stream Inc. of Siloam Springs recently closed on a $1.9 million acquisition of an empty 104,876-SF storage warehouse at 1750 S. Lincoln St.

Ozark Management Co. LLC, led by Jonathan Barnett, was the seller. The warehouse was previously used by Siloam Springs-headquartered DaySpring Cards, a manufacturer and distributor of Christian greeting cards.

The property sits just south of PJS’s existing operation. PJS was formed in 2000, when Pipelife International purchased Jet Stream Plastic Pipe Co. of Siloam Springs from Winrock Enterprises Inc.

Pipelife International, a manufacturer of plastic pipe systems, is based in Vienna, Austria, and has 27 facilities in 26 countries worldwide. The Siloam Springs plant is the only one in the United States.

PJS president and CEO Alain R. Storet said the new building will improve production capacity, which is limited in the current location.

Once retrofitted, it will house some of the company’s existing production lines. The first two should be moved by October.

“For most of the lines that we will move, we’ll end up with an output increase of about 30 percent,” Storet said. He added the plan is also to add new lines to the building when needed, which could come as early as 2015 and bring additional jobs to Siloam Springs. At the end of June, the company had 124 full-time employees.

Ozark Management acquired the Lincoln Street property in July 2002 for $1.1 million. David C. Cook Publishing Co., through CCM Properties LLC, was the seller.