Welspun expands Little Rock plant, adds 230 jobs

International pipe manufacturer Welspun Corp. will add 230 jobs and invest $30 million in its Little Rock plant, according to a press release from the Arkansas Economic Development Commission.

Company and state officials made the announcement Monday (May 3) at an event marking the Welspun’s first full year in Little Rock. Based in India, Welspun opened in Little Rock its first large-diameter pipe manufacturing location in North America. With this expansion, Welspun will employ more than 600 people, more than doubling the workforce at the plant since its opening in 2009, the AEDC statement noted.

The pipes are primarily used in the transport of natural gas and other energy products. The AEDC release said Welspun has won major orders from El Paso Corporation and TransCanada Pipeline and is exploring opportunities to export pipes for many large projects underway in Mexico.

“One year ago, Governor Mike Beebe and I celebrated the inauguration of our Little Rock facility,” B.K. Goenka, chairman and managing director of Welspun, said in the statement. “I had promised we would build one of the finest mills in the world. This facility has achieved success which is much ahead of any other mill in the industry.  Recent significant pipe orders will further boost the progress of this facility, positioning Welspun to serve the energy industry for years to come.”

Welspun pipes were used in the world’s deepest pipeline project in the Gulf of Mexico. Company officials tell Talk Business that production at the Little Rock plant is increasing to 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

“When we wished Welspun success one year ago, we didn’t realize just how quickly we would be back here to celebrate that success,” Gov. Beebe said in the statement. “Welspun originally committed to creating 300 jobs in Arkansas, and today’s announcements will take the company’s workforce to more than twice that number.”