Stock-Market-Trends

Pipeline Plastics Expands to Service Energy Market in Bakken Shale Formation

May 22, 2014
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, LLC, a Texas-based pipeline manufacturer, announced earlier this week that it is expanding operations with a second High Density Polyethylene Pipe (HDPE) plant to be located in Belle Fourche, South Dakota. 

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.

“We have an aggressive growth strategy to position our company as a major player in the HDPE pipe industry on a national level,” said Monty Fisher, CEO of Pipeline Plastics, LLC. “We are bullish on the industry for both the energy and water sectors.

"New drilling technology has opened up the United States’ oil and gas development, which has created unprecedented growth in that market for HDPE pipe," Fisher added. "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.”

 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, the company said. The expansion, representing a $10 million investment,  is expected to bring 25 to 40 full-time jobs to the Belle Fourche area.

 Pipeline Plastics, LLC started producing HDPE pipe in the fourth quarter of 2011 at a new manufacturing facility in Decatur, Texas, which recently more than doubled its capacity.  The Belle Fourche plant is expected to become operational in the first quarter of 2013.

About the Author

Adrienne Selko | Senior Editor - MH&L, IW, & EHS Today

Adrienne Selko has written about many topics over the 17 years she has been with Endeavor Business Media and currently focuses on workforce development strategies. Previously Adrienne was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank.

She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck? which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list. She is a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics, EHS Today, and IndustryWeek. 

Editorial Mission Statement:

Manufacturing is the enviable position of creating products, processes, and policies that solve the world’s problems. When the industry stepped up to manufacture what was necessary to combat the pandemic, it revealed its true nature. My goal is to showcase the sector’s ability to address a broad range of workforce issues including technology, training, diversity & inclusion, with a goal of enticing future generations to join this amazing sector.

Why I Find Manufacturing Interesting: 

On my first day working for a company that made medical equipment such as MRIs, I toured the plant floor. On every wall was a photo of a person, mostly children. I asked my supervisor why this was the case and he said that the work we do at this company has saved these people’s lives. “We never forget how important our work is and everyone’s contribution to that.” From that moment on I was hooked on manufacturing.

I have talked with many people in this field who have transformed their own career development to assist others. For example, companies are hiring those with disabilities, those previously incarcerated, and other talent pools that have been underutilized. I have talked with leaders who have brought out the best in their workforce, as well as employees doing their best work while doing good for the world.