Posted by Heidi Schwartz
Linde Process Plants (LPP) will invest $2.4 million to expand its existing fabrication facility located at the Tulsa Port of Catoosa, Oklahoma company officials announced recently. The project includes construction of a new office building and the expansion of a trial fitting area. Company officials say a combination of recent and future growth as well as the desire to improve safety prompted the expansion.
Steve Bertone, CEO and President of LPP said, “We are pleased to be at the forefront of plant modularization and these upgrades will yield even more opportunities to develop and streamline our processes.”
The new office building will be located across the street in close proximity to fabrication activity. Bertone explained the added space allows for future staff growth and the new location provides a more effective, safe environment for fabrication.
Before shipping completed modules to customers, LPP conducts a trial fit to ensure the modules have been fabricated according to specifications. Relocating office workers to a new site allows for more room to trial fit modules, adding efficiency and improving overall productivity.
“The expansion will allow for improved productivity, quality control measures and most importantly safety,” said Eric Sandefur, director of manufacturing.
“Employing over 400 people, Linde Process Plants plays an integral role in the Tulsa region’s economic success,” said Mike Neal, president and CEO, Tulsa Regional Chamber. “Linde’s expansion paves the way for job growth and increased impact on the region.”
The new building will include state-of-the-art safe rooms, providing a safe haven for office workers. An existing safe room is already established in the separate workshop for employees located there.
“We are very proud to have Linde Process Plants as a member of our industrial family,” said Bob Portiss, Port Director, Tulsa Port of Catoosa. “One of the key factors attributable to their success and the principal reason they located at the Port is the availability of barge, rail, and truck transportation services to move the large modular units they build. They are the epitome of the type of industry within the Tulsa Region that benefits from the Port.”
LPP’s Port of Catoosa operation includes both manufacturing operations as well as office personnel such as workshop management, project management, workshop safety, quality control group and administrative staff. The company presently employs approximately 140 people at the Port of Catoosa location, with plans to increase that number to 160 by the end of the year.