Pipe plant closing will eliminate 260 jobs in North Birmingham

Pipe plant closing will eliminate 260 jobs in North Birmingham

BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC) – Mueller Water Products, Inc. announced on Wednesday morning that they will be closing the ductile iron pipe manufacturing plant located in North Birmingham.

Mueller says they will be closing the plant by March 31. This closing is expected to eliminate approximately 260 positions.

Products made at the North Birmingham plant will be managed instead at the Bessemer and Union City, California facilities.

The reason for the closing is U.S. Pipe' adoption of a new automated process for making ductile iron pipe that increases quality and output while reducing costs. A facility for the new process has been built next to the Bessemer facility.

The company says the changes have increased U.S. Pipe's productivity, but the company says the economy will force further action to address excess capacity in its plants.