Heat Treat Industry News
February 16, 2010
Steel tube company expands in Youngstown
French-owned V&M Star to add 350 jobs.
A Texas-based steel pipe company has announced an expansion of its manufacturing plant in Youngstown. The 650 million dollar investment comes after the U-S declared that China has been illegally dumping steel in the American Market.
The V and M Star company announced yesterday that they it will expand its Youngstown steel tube plant with a new state of the art rolling mill in both Mahoning and Trumbull Counties. V&M Star produces steel tubes and pipes used in the oil industry.
Governor Ted Strickland, who was on hand said the move will create 350 jobs and save 400 more. “We commend V&M Star and its parent company, Vallourec, for their continued commitment to grow here in Ohio, an affirmation of Ohio’s strengths in manufacturing, our dedicated workforce and the state’s extensive logistics network. We also congratulate and thank the leadership in both Trumbull and Mahoning counties for their collaborative work in meeting the goals of the company, especially Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams, Girard Mayor James Melfi, and Congressman Tim Ryan for their diligent efforts and support of V&M’s continued investment in northeast Ohio.
"The state of Ohio’s early commitment of $20 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding for road improvements and the relocation of rail lines near the current property of the V&M Star Steel Pipe Production Facility helped significantly to make these new jobs for Ohioans possible. This expansion is a great example of how federal stimulus dollars were effectively targeted to help to put Ohioans to work and grow business in Ohio."
The move came after the Obama Administration started playing tough with Chinese imports, recently adding tariffs on Chinese tires . The United State International Trade Commission and the European Union have ruled that China has been dumping steel, selling it at below cost or with government subsidies. China condemned the ITC ruling last month, one of the largest U.S.-China trade cases ever. V&M Star is in fact owned by Vallourec, a consortium of French companies. The Chinese have long been known for artificially holding down the value of their currency to make their exports cheaper.
WKSU's - Mark Urycki reports
Source: http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24922
For more information on our services, please contact us via e-mail
Robert Gutierrez - RGutierrez@HoustonHeatTreat.com
Mark Tate - Sales or Technical assistance - MTate@HoustonHeattreat.com
or call us at 281-590-9600.
