Zekelman Industries announced Thursday that it will invest up to $120 million to expand the manufacturing capabilities and product offerings of its subsidiary, Atlas Tube, in Mississippi County.
The project will bring Zekelman’s total number of employees in the area to more than 300. The manufacturer also announced it will partner with Blytheville’s Arkansas Northeastern College on a new workforce training initiative.
Zekelman, based in Killeen, Texas, is the largest independent steel pipe and tube manufacturer in North America and a leading manufacturer of hollow structural sections and steel pipe. The Blytheville expansion will enable it to manufacture inline steel tube galvanizing products in size ranges not currently available in North America. Zekelman already operates two Atlas Tube facilities in Blytheville.
“Education and skills training are crucial to developing the next generation of workers. Our goal at Zekelman is to prepare, nurture and inspire students entering the thriving and well-paying steel industry,” said Tom Muth, chief operating officer for Zekelman, in a press release. “Our commitment is representative of our partnership with the Blytheville community and ongoing dedication to domestic-only manufacturing.”
Mississippi County, considered the leading steel-producing county in the nation, serves as Atlas Tube’s primary manufacturing hub for its southeast and southwest operations. Since 2011, Zekelman Industries has completed multiple projects at its Blytheville site including expanding and modernizing its plant and warehouse. In 2022, Atlas Tube opened a second facility, the world’s largest continuous ERW (electric resistance welded steel pipe and tube) mill, at an adjoining property with a capital investment of more than $250 million.
“Northeast Arkansas is powering a manufacturing boom in the Natural State and quickly becoming one of the top steel-producing regions in America,” said Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who spoke at the event at which the announcement was made. “I’m grateful that Zekelman Industries is not only expanding its footprint in this region but also investing in career and technical education. This type of public-private partnership is exactly what we need to train the next generation of steelworkers.”
Zekelman officials also announced on Thursday that the manufacturer would provide $250,000 to Arkansas Northeastern College to support area students in the steel industry and aviation maintenance degree programs. The funds, distributed over the next five years, will cover educational costs for at least 10 individuals annually who are obtaining associates of applied science. Benefitting ANC students will also have the opportunity to pursue potential internship positions at Atlas Tube’s facilities in Blytheville.
“Arkansas Northeastern College has a strong track record of success in working alongside area employers to design tailored training programs that meet industries’ needs,” said ANC president Chris Heigle. “These partnerships benefit our students, equipping them with the real-world skills needed to secure good-paying jobs while fueling the growth of our region’s economy.”
Photo at top: Inside the Atlas Tube ERW mill in Blytheville. (Photo provided)
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