HOUSTON - Hydro Conduit Corp., a major concrete pipe manufacturer that is moving into polyethylene pipe, has entered the PE pipe fittings business by purchasing Shafer Holding Co. Through its founder Clel Shafer, Shafer Holding was a pioneer of PE fittings. Clel Shafer died in 1994.
Shafer Holding also makes PE valves. It serves a number of markets including potable water, sewer, natural gas, oil, mining, irrigation and industrial processes.
Terms were not disclosed.
Hydro Conduit announced the acquisition, through its CSR Pipeline Systems unit, April 3.
The Houston company also recently organized its PE pipe units under a single name: CSR PolyPipe. Hydro Conduit in the past two years has begun moving into PE pipe, purchasing Quail Pipe Corp. and Poly Pipe Indus-tries Inc. The company now runs seven PE pipe plants. All seven plants will continue to operate.
The company also makes two products used to repair or replace existing pipes without digging them up: U-Liner and Impipe. U-Liner uses a high density PE liner that is placed inside the old pipe, then reformed to create a new pipe. Impipe, now being commercialized by Hydro Conduit, uses a hydraulic ram that pulls a special crushing assembly down the pipe run. It crushes existing clay, nonreinforced concrete or cast iron pipe and simultaneously replaces it with new HDPE pipe.
Richard Jakovac, vice president of marketing and sales for CSR Pipeline Systems, said Impipe just won its first contract, for a project in Albuquerque.
CSR PolyPipe also announced some personnel news:
Mike Hennings was named vice president and manager of CSR Pipeline Systems.
Randy Barton was named vice president of sales CSR PolyPipe.
Stephen Boros was named technical services manager.
Charles Johnson was named eastern manufacturing manager.
Dave Griggs was named western manufacturing manager.