Metals USA to locate in Thomasville, Ala
Thomasville,
Ala - June 15, 2011 - Metals USA Holdings Corp.
today reported that it has, through its wholly owned
subsidiary Metals USA, Inc., entered into a four
year agreement with Lakeside Steel, Inc. to provide
steel slitting and warehousing services in support
of Lakeside’s new steel pipe and casing mill in
Thomasville, Alabama. Pursuant to the agreement,
Metals USA will construct a rail serviced, state of
the art slitting and warehousing facility adjacent
to Lakeside’s pipe mill in Thomasville, Alabama. The
adjacent facilities will promote efficiencies for
both parties.
Lourenco Goncalves, the Company’s Chairman,
President and C.E.O., stated, “Lakeside is a
respected manufacturer of pipe and tube products for
soil country tubular goods and we are pleased to
partner with them in this mutually beneficial
venture in Thomasville, Alabama.” Mr. Goncalves
added, “The addition of a new Metals USA service
center in Alabama represents another aspect of our
growth strategy. In addition to making accretive
acquisitions, we continue to grow organically and
act on opportunities that deliver value for our
stockholders.”
“Lakeside is pleased to partner with Metals USA.
Metals USA is a quality firm that will help further
develop Thomasville,” said Ron Bedard, President and
Chief Operating Officer of Lakeside Steel.
Mayor Sheldon Day said, “Today is yet another great
day in the City of Thomasville, Alabama and in
Clarke County. We welcome Metals USA as a part of
our community.”
Mayor Day added, “Our strategic location in
relationship to ThyssenKrupp, Nucor Steel and
Servastal is making Clarke County the ideal location
for new steel related industries. We have put
together a great local and state team to work with
companies interested in locating here and we
continue to be successful.”
“We are extremely excited that Clarke County,
Alabama has been chosen as the new home for Metals
USA. This is the sixth announcement for our county
over the last year. We have been preparing for these
opportunities for many years and we are seeing the
results of a lot of hard work by a lot of people,”
stated Debra Mathews, Clarke County Economic
Developer.
Jim Searcy, Executive Director of Coastal Gateway
Regional Economic Development Alliance (CGEDA),
said, “This is another example of the continued
diversification of the economic base in southwest
Alabama. It is further proof that being in rural
Alabama is not necessarily an impediment to quality
economic development.”
About Metals USA:
Metals USA provides a wide range of products and
services in the heavy carbon steel, flat-rolled
steel, non-ferrous metals, and building products
markets. For more information, visit the company’s
website at
www.metalsusa.com.
SET Enterprises to locate in Jackson, AL
Warren,
MI, May 9, 2011:
SET Enterprises, Inc. (“SET”) a leading provider of
steel processing services with operations in
Michigan, Indiana and Illinois, today announced
plans to build a new state-of-the art steel
processing and service center in Jackson, Alabama.
At full operating levels, this new facility will be
capable of processing 360,000 tons of material to
support new steel production coming on-line at
ThyssenKrupp Steel USA in Calvert, Alabama, as well
as supporting the growth of other steel
manufacturers and producers in the Southeastern
United States market.
This first phase
of SET’s investment is slated to be nearly $12
million for building construction and equipment and
these initial operations will consist of two
slitting lines, including one line with the
capability of processing heavy gauge material up to
.500”, in a 65,000 sq. ft. climate-controlled
building with ample storage space and on-site truck
and rail access with barge access nearby. The
facility is scheduled to be on-line early in 2012
and will create up to 40 new jobs.
A planned second
phase of the project would double the size of the
facility, increase the processing capacity and
services offered and expand the workforce to
accommodate the anticipated growth of steel
processing requirements in the region.
Located 65 miles north of Mobile, Alabama, on a key
Norfolk-Southern rail corridor, the Jackson, Alabama
site will offer critical Just-In-Time access to
ThyssenKrupp’s operations in Calvert as well as
areas throughout Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana,
Texas and the remainder of the Southeast United
States.
This project is being undertaken thanks in-part to
the extraordinary efforts and support of the City of
Jackson and Mayor Richard Long; the Mobile Area
Chamber of Commerce; the Clarke County Economic
Development Partnership; the State of Alabama
Development Office; Cooper Bros. Construction and
our business allies at ThyssenKrupp Steel USA.
Jackson Mayor Richard Long commenting on SET’s
announcement stated "On behalf of the city council
and all of the citizens we welcome CEO Sid E. Taylor
and SET Enterprises to our community and we
appreciate their commitment to invest in Clarke
County and the State of Alabama".
"We appreciate the decision that SET Enterprises has
made to provide up to 40 new jobs for the residents
of the Jackson area and the investment they are
making in Alabama," said Alabama Development Office
Director Seth Hammett. "Our mission is to bring new
and better jobs to the people of this great state
and announcements such as this one are going to
bring us closer to that goal."
Sid E. Taylor,
Chairman/CEO of SET Enterprises, Inc. on SET’s new
Alabama processing center noted, "SET's expansion
into Alabama is further representation of our team’s
execution of our “Way Forward” initiative which
includes expanding into new markets, driving
improvements & new technologies within our core
competencies and diversifying beyond our
Midwest-based automotive roots. In 2010, we
launched two new businesses, adding jobs and
opportunities in the City of Detroit and we are
proud to be able to offer similar opportunities to
our new Southern Alabama community. We are grateful
for the efforts of Mayor Long, the State and
Regional development officials and of course
ThyssenKrupp for allowing us to execute our vision
in what continues to be a challenging economic
environment.”
SET Enterprises,
Inc., led by Sid E. Taylor, a Vietnam combat veteran
and former Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year
recipient, has been a provider of steel processing
services since 1989. SET has a long-standing
reputation as a leader in providing high-quality,
cost effective solutions to its automotive OEM
customer base and their Tier I and Tier II
suppliers. In 2010, those capabilities were
expanded to include commercial construction through
their SET Duct Manufacturing and SET Construction
subsidiaries. SET Enterprises is Veteran owned and
is a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) as certified
by the Michigan Minority Supplier Development
Council (MMSDC) and is committed to various
community-oriented initiatives. Sid E. Taylor is
the Founder and Chairman of the Real Life 101
Scholarship Fund established in 2000. This NATIONAL
program awards scholarships, laptop computers and
mentoring to at-risk college-bound high school
graduates. More information about the Real Life 101
program can be found at
www.reallife101.org.
Additional
information on SET Enterprises, Inc. and its
commercial construction industry subsidiaries SET
Duct Manufacturing, Inc. and SET Construction, Inc.
can be found by visiting our web sites at
www.setenterprises.com,
www.setductmanufacturing.com, and
www.setconstructioninc.com or contacting
Antoinette Turner at (586) 834-3028.
 Golden
Dragon Precise Copper Tube Group, Inc. Chooses
Thomasville, Alabama for the First U.S. Plant
Investment $100 Million
Thomasville, Ala. – March 28, 2011
- Golden Dragon Precise Copper
Tube Group, Inc. today announced that it has
selected Thomasville, Ala. as the location for its
first manufacturing facility in the United States.
Golden Dragon Precise Copper Tube Group, Inc. is the
leading supplier of precision copper products
throughout the world. The company will provide its
American customers with products produced in the new
Thomasville plant, which is located in Clarke
County. Final terms of the agreement are subject to
approval by the various government entities of the
state of Alabama and the People’s Republic of China.
Upon completion of the $100 million copper
manufacturing facility, Golden Dragon Precise Copper
Tube Group, Inc. is projected to employ more than
300 people. The company will work with Alabama
Industrial Development Training (AIDT) for workforce
development. The 500,000+ sq. ft. facility and
campus will be located on a 50-acre parcel of
property on US Highway 43 (SR-13) in Clarke County.
Additionally, it is 97 miles from the Port of
Mobile.
Golden Dragon Precise Copper Tube Group, Inc. in
Thomasville will be an application center for the
most modern copper tube mill in the world, employing
state of the art cast and roll technology,
processing methodology and equipment. The processing
equipment will have a closed loop recirculating
system, and a water treatment center producing
negligible water discharge in any form. The plant
will have the capacity to transform more than 100
million pounds of copper per year using advanced
proprietary continuous casting technologies capable
of producing 100% NDT (non-destructive testing)
certified products.
"Our customer’s needs are our top priority. We are
fortunate to have a high quality, loyal customer
base in the United States,” said Golden Dragon
Precise Copper Tube Group, Inc.’s Chairman Li
Changjie. “Our new facility in Thomasville, Ala.
will allow Golden Dragon Precise Copper Tube Group,
Inc. to continue to provide the highest quality
copper products available in the US market. While we
were fortunate to find many excellent sites for our
first U.S. facility, Thomasville was the right fit
for us."
Governor Bentley was on hand for the signing
ceremony in Thomasville on Monday. “The State of
Alabama welcomes Golden Dragon Precise Copper Tube
Group, Inc.’s first manufacturing facility in the
United States to Thomasville,” said Governor
Bentley. “The team at Golden Dragon will find the
best and most dedicated workforce in Alabama ready
and eager to partner with them. Welcome to Alabama,
Golden Dragon Precise Copper Tube Group, Inc.”
“Thomasville has gone through a very stringent
selection process and we are grateful that Golden
Dragon Precise Copper Tube Group, Inc. has selected
us as the site for their first U.S. facility,” said
Sheldon Day, Mayor of Thomasville. “We are pleased
and honored to welcome Golden Dragon Precise Copper
Tube Group, Inc. to Thomasville and to Alabama.”
State, Federal and local officials along with the
Alabama Development Office worked together to
recruit Golden Dragon Precise Copper Tube Group,
Inc. to Thomasville.
“Alabama has a strong, growing base of international
investment, but until today, we had no companies
from China on that list that we had successfully
recruited. I am proud that GD Copper will join us as
an international partner in investment,” said
Alabama Development Office Director Seth Hammett. “I
am also excited that Thomasville will be an
application center for cutting edge research and
development and glad that the city was the right fit
for GD Copper,” he continued. “As one of Alabama’s
newest corporate citizens, we stand ready to help
your company prosper in our state.”
“Golden Dragon Precise Copper Tube Group, Inc. will
be an excellent addition to the region’s industrial
community. GD Copper’s commitment to creating
opportunity for the citizens in the region, their
reputation and stature within the industry, and
their expressed desire to be good corporate citizens
reflect the quality of this project,” said Jim
Searcy, Executive Director of Coastal Gateway
Regional Economic Development Alliance (CGEDA).
The selection came after months of intensive due
diligence on the part of Golden Dragon Precise
Copper Tube Group, Inc. and its representatives.
“This transaction represents a significant milestone
in U.S. China relations. We have worked with many
state’s development office officials and received
more than 62 submissions during this RFP process and
each one was outstanding, but we were thoroughly
impressed with the passion and commitment shown to
us by Alabama and Thomasville officials resulting in
the final selection,” Raymond Cheng, CEO of Sozo
Group, which has been retained by Golden Dragon
Precise Copper Tube Group, Inc. as corporate
advisors and consultants for the project. “This
endeavor represents the outstanding commitment of
city, county, and state officials in working
together to create jobs and bring the best to their
local communities.
“I believe this is a great start to many
opportunities to come, and we look forward to
working with Governor Bentley and the Alabama
Federal Delegation on those as they develop,” Cheng
said.
Searcy Said, “While there will be in excess of 300
jobs created, in association with this project, the
true regional benefit will be the validation
provided for all the communities in the Coastal
Gateway Region. For GD Copper to select
Thomasville, after such a rigorous selection
process, is indicative of how effective and
successful cooperation and regionalism can be.
Thomasville was selected from after 62 communities
had been considered. A rural community in southwest
Alabama was selected because it had the necessary
infrastructure but also the passion and commitment
to compete”.
About Golden Dragon Precise Copper Tube Group, Inc.:
Golden Dragon Precise Copper Tube Group, Inc. is a
wholly owned subsidiary of Golden Dragon Precise
Copper Tube Group Inc. located in Xinxiang City,
Henan, China. It is the world’s largest producer of
specialized copper tubing. It is active in product
research in China, Germany, Italy, Japan and the
United States. For more information, please visit
www.gdcopper.com.
Click here to see a video
taken by The Mobile
Press Register of the announcement.
Coastal Gateway Regional Economic Development
Alliance Names Jim Searcy as new Executive Director.
COASTAL GATEWAY REGION, AL, Dec. 30, 2010 - CGEDA
today announced that Jim Searcy has been named
Executive Director of Coastal Gateway Regional
Economic Development Alliance (CGEDA). The Executive
Director reports to the CGEDA Board of Directors and
is responsible for implementing programs for new
business attraction, business retention and
expansion, and investor relations. The director
works closely with local economic developers,
elected officials, chambers of commerce, and
industrial boards across the five county region.
Dr. John Johnson, Vice-Chairman of CGEDA, stated
that the Board is extremely pleased to bring Searcy
on board. “Jim brings over 20 years of economic
development experience to the Alliance. Members of
the CGEDA Board of Directors are extremely pleased
at being able to attract one of the state’s top
economic development officials,” said Johnson.
Searcy currently
serves as Vice President of Business and Industry
Retention at the Birmingham Business Alliance
(BBA).
Before the 2009 merger of the Birmingham Regional
Chamber of Commerce and the Birmingham Metropolitan
Development Board into the BBA, Searcy served at the
Metropolitan Development Board for 13 years as the
Vice President of Marketing.
Prior the Metropolitan Development Board, Searcy
worked for the Alabama Development Office (ADO) for
seven years as a Senior Project Manager.
Searcy is a past board member at the Economic
Development Association of Alabama (EDAA).
Searcy said, "The Coastal Gateway Executive Director
position was very appealing. This region has
tremendous potential. An excellent workforce,
dedicated education partners, and effective
community leadership are important assets in the
economic development process. This region is
fortunate to have those and many other essential
attributes. I intend for the CGEDA to be a catalyst
in this process. The CGEDA Board is enthusiastic
and I look forward to translating that enthusiasm
into results".
When he starts work at the CGEDA in late-January,
Searcy plans to initiate a strategic planning
process, with the CGEDA Board and community
stakeholders, to insure that assets of the Region
are identified and the efforts of CGEDA are aligned
with the objectives of the board and regional
leadership.
Chairman David Stokes said, “Jim’s excellent
relationships with state agencies in Alabama,
background in business retention and attraction, as
well as marketing experience will strongly benefit
our organization and communities.”
Searcy wants to talk face-to-face with local leaders
and businesses to get their opinions on the
challenges and opportunities the community faces
from an economic development standpoint. He
understands that the strength of the region is in
the unique characteristics that each county and
community possesses.
He also wants to meet regularly with state project
managers to promote the Coastal Gateway Region and
continue efforts to raise the region's profile with
the Alabama Development Office and other state
agencies that have both a direct and indirect impact
on economic development efforts.
Mr. Searcy has a Bachelors Degree in Public
Administration from Auburn University and a Masters
Degree in Public Administration from Auburn
University Montgomery.
Searcy plans to relocate to the Coastal Gateway
region in January 2011. His wife Lesley and son Sam
will move to the region in the summer of 2011.
 How we landed Lakeside
RELEASE – Thomasville, AL, August 5, 2010
"It all started with an e-mail. Lakeside Steel, the
Canadian pipe manufacturer was looking for a
location in the United States to place a new pipe
manufacturing facility. The new Thyssen-Krupp plant
under construction in Calvert, drew the company’s
interest to the area. In April, company Vice
President Chris Roik sent an email to the Coastal
Gateway Regional Economic Development Authority with
a simple request, asking for sites “near” the
plant...". For
the PDF of the full article from The Thomasville Times,
please
click here.
 Lakeside Steel announces plans for a new
manufacturing facility in Thomasville, Alabama
RELEASE - Thomasville, Alabama, July 29, 2010
In a meeting held today in
Thomasville, Alabama, Lakeside Steel announced plans
to build a new manufacturing facility in
Thomasville. On hand to join Lakeside Steel
officials in making the announcement were Governor
Bob Riley; Neal Wade, Alabama Development Office;
Representative Thomas Jackson; Senator Marc Keahey;
and Speaker of the House Seth Hammett.
This project will have a tremendous impact on this
community. The new jobs coming here mean more
opportunities and brighter futures for so many
families," said Governor Riley. "Alabama is honored
and proud to welcome Lakeside Steel."
Mayor Sheldon Day during his opening remarks at
today's announcement expressed his appreciation and
gratitude to Lakeside Steel for showing confidence
in the city of Thomasville. Mayor Day said, "As
local leaders, we already know what an outstanding
location we have right here in Southwest Alabama and
now, more of the world will realize what we have to
offer. Today's announcement proves that rural
communities can compete for major projects through
hard work and with partnerships and collaboration"
Mayor Day continued. "This is indeed a great day in
the City of Thomasville."
Once fully operational, the new facility is expected
to add 192,000 tons of capacity, approximately
doubling the Company's total production capacity and
creating sufficient new capacity on OCTG casing
products to satisfy the growing demand Lakeside has
from its American customers, the majority of whom
are located in the southern United States. The
project is expected to be financed through a
combination of equity and debt.
"The City of Thomasville is very appreciative and
excited that Lakeside Steel has chosen Thomasville
for their new manufacturing facility, "said Dottie
Gaston, Director of Economic Development and
Planning for the City of Thomasville. "We are
confident that the company will be a great addition
to the area."
The total cost of the project is estimated to be $40
million comprised of $22 million for plant and
equipment and $18 million for inventory and working
capital. The facility will create up to 120 new jobs
in Thomasville. Lakeside currently possesses some of
the most efficient tubing assets in North America at
the Welland, Ontario facility, producing some of the
highest quality products available in the market.
The new facility in Alabama will augment those
assets to provide some of the newest and most
efficient casing assets in the industry today with
an equal quality standard in place.
Debra Mathews, Executive Director of the Clarke
County Economic Development Partnership, said "This
project could not have come to fruition without the
cooperation and support of leaders at the local,
state and federal levels. Clarke County is pleased
to have been a part of this project and is excited
about the impact that Lakeside Steel will have not
only for Thomasville and Clarke County, but the
entire region."
"This is an incredible opportunity for the City of
Thomasville and the entire region. Lakeside Steel
Alabama will be a great addition to the industrial
base we already have in the area and will help to
diversify the economy in the region, said Wiley
Blankenship, Coastal Gateway EDA President.
Blankenship continued, "We are excited to have
landed one of the firsts spin-off projects
associated with ThyssenKrupp and are continuing to
actively work on other related projects."
Thomasville, Alabama was chosen because of its
proximity to both raw material suppliers and
customers. Lakeside believes strongly that Alabama
provides the right environment in which to operate a
manufacturing business and Thomasville specifically
will be conducive to a productive and profitable
operation for years to come. The City of Thomasville
is located 100 miles north of Mobile, Alabama, and
is 600 miles east of Houston, Texas. Once completed,
the new facility will be the largest industrial
employer in the City of Thomasville. This expansion
project remains subject to the entering into of
definitive agreements.
The Company expects to start construction on the
Thomasville expansion project in the fall, 2010 and
plans to be producing pipe for the OCTG and line
pipe market by December of 2011.
Chris Roik, Lakeside's senior most experienced
operations manager in Welland, Ontario, has been
appointed Vice President and General Manager of the
new facility in Alabama and will commence his
responsibilities for this project immediately.
About Lakeside Steel Inc.
Lakeside Steel is a 2010 TSX Venture Exchange 50
company and the parent company of Lakeside Steel
Corp. ("Lakeside"). Lakeside, located in Welland,
Ontario, is a diversified steel pipe and tubing
manufacturer. Lakeside's list of customers includes
large oil and gas, mining, automotive and commercial
and industrial supply companies. In addition to
supplying its products in these industries, Lakeside
manufactures pipe and mechanical tubing for the
resale market, which is sold to distributors in
Eastern Canada and the Northeastern United States.
Lakeside manufactures a variety of products for
these industries including oil well tubing and
casing, mechanical tubing, pressure tubing,
automotive tubing, hollows for redraw, line pipe,
heating and plumbing pipe, drill rod and specialty
tubing. Lakeside serves customers worldwide, either
directly or indirectly, in Canada and the United
States.
For supplier information on
Lakeside Steel, please contact: 1.800.915.6576
To view the
Lakeside Steel Alabama site, please click on the
logo below.
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