Global Seamless Tubes and Pipes plans facility in Mansfield Lousiaina

Global Seamless Tubes and Pipes plans a $35 million project to establish its first U.S. production facility in northwest Louisiana, Louisiana Economic Development announced Thursday.

The project will bring 135 direct new jobs to DeSoto Parish and 251 indirect new jobs, for a total of 386 potential new jobs in northwest Louisiana.

“As a natural gas hub and a key player in the international energy supply chain, Louisiana is a natural choice for our second production facility, our first in the Western Hemisphere,” said Global Seamless President A.R. Biswas.

“This project will breathe new life into what was once a thriving manufacturing facility located in Mansfield and provide our residents with more career opportunities,” said DeSoto Parish Police Jury Parish Administrator Michael Norton, “We look forward to this project and the possibilities it will provide for the community and the good people with Global Seamless Tubes and Pipes.”

The India-based company is a leading manufacturer and exporter of carbon, alloy and stainless-steel cold drawn and hot finish seamless tubes and pipes, the release said. It exports to industry customers in more than 10 countries worldwide.

Its Louisiana facility will integrate both hot finishing and cold drawn manufacturing processes in the same unit to meet the growing demand and build a domestic supply chain for North American customers in engineering, oil and gas and power generation sectors, the release said.

“This investment will promote growth in our rural communities while providing support to Louisiana’s oil and gas industry,” LED Secretary Susan B. Bourgeois said.

“Global Seamless is dedicated to providing our customers with high-quality services and products, and this new plant will allow us to better serve those customers with a local supply chain,” Biswas said.

Engineering and design of the former Hensley Industries facility is currently underway, with construction and installation of the first production line expected to follow shortly after. The company estimates commercial operations to start by the end of the year.

“This venture will spark our local economy and bring needed quality jobs to this community. We will definitely embrace our new business owners and work with them to make this a smooth transition,” Mansfield Mayor Thomas Jones, Jr. said.

“Few things in economic development are more satisfying than bringing back opportunity to an area that has lost jobs and a company,” North Louisiana Economic Partnership CEO Justyn Dixon said.