Pipe manufacturing company relocates plant to Magnolia with plans to grow

L.B. Foster—a Pittsburg-based company that manufactures a variety of industrial and rail products—relocated its Threaded Products plant from the northwest Houston area to Magnolia in early May.

The move was made to give the company room to expand, according to Gary Foerster, general manager for the Threaded Products plant.

"We were kind of landlocked in the city of Houston," he said. "Our long-range plans involve expanding and increasing our output and this gives us more room. We've already been able to get some new equipment, and operations are much more efficient."

The plant, which is located on a 40-acre plot at 21270 FM 1488, manufactures threaded pipes for the water well industry and the oil and gas industry. Since moving, the company has hired several plant workers and a new member of the sales team. There will likely be more hiring in the future, Foerster said, but there are no specific plans at this point.

"One of the reasons that we chose to come to Magnolia is because of the good base of work personnel in the area," he said. "We've done some hiring already but we hope to do some more in the future as we continue to grow."

Another reason the company relocated to Magnolia was proximity to its Pipe and Coupling plant located next door.

"Everything we thread has a coupling, so they really go hand in hand," Foerster said.

While the plant is not located within Magnolia's city limits, it will still have a positive impact on the area, said Deborah Rose Miller, the city's economic development coordinator.

"It's another opportunity for our residents to get jobs in the area without having to spend so much time commuting," she said. "We're excited to have them here."