Star Pipe Products, a Houston-based supplier and distributor of pipe products for water works and construction and municipal use, has acquired the assets of Jensen International – giving Star Pipe its first domestic metalcasting capacity with the Jencast operation in South Coffeyville, OK. The value of the acquisition was not announced.
According to a statement issued by the office of Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin, Star Pipe Products will retain the Jencast foundry’s current 88 workers, and intends to carry out more than $40 million worth of improvements over five years. The expanded foundry would create approximately 260 new jobs over that time, the governor’s statement indicated.
Jensen International has four operating divisions. In addition to the iron foundry, it operates Jensen Truck Equipment, a fabricator of various components and subassemblies; JenTech, a fabricating, welding, painting, and assembly business; and a full-service CNC and manual machine shop with an API certified gear line.
“Today’s announcement is another great example that our pro-growth, pro-business policies are working and are making Oklahoma an even better place to do business,” the governor stated.
Jencast is a green-sand foundry casting gray and ductile iron, as well as ADI and CGI parts up to 2,000 lbs., with induction melting, two molding lines, in-house coremaking, and full finish machining capabilities.
The scope of the capital investment has not been detailed.
“We are proud to own and operate our first foundry in the United States, and look forward to expanding our workforce in northeastern Oklahoma,” stated Dan McCutcheon, president of Star Pipe Products. “This project represents a substantial component of our long-term growth plan, and we are excited to start making it a reality. We want to thank the state of Oklahoma, the town of South Coffeyville, Nowata County, and the Cherokee Nation for their assistance in making this project happen.”
According to information released by the Native American governing authority based in northeastern Oklahoma, “collaborative efforts between the municipal, state and Cherokee Nation governments played a role in making the expansion possible.”
The Cherokee Nation’s career services department is expected to help recruit and train new workers for the foundry.
“This is a big win for a strong Cherokee community,” stated Cherokee Nation Secretary of State Chuck Hoskin, Jr. “It shows the power of partnerships when it comes to economic development.”