FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT: Desiree Niccoli, desiree@alschulerpr.com, 412-535-5701
RIDC SELLS REVITALIZED MCKEESPORT PIPE MILL AND 34-ACRE LAND PARCEL TO DURA-BOND
McKeesport, PA—April 8, 2022—Regional Industrial Development Corporation of Southwestern PA (RIDC) has sold the former US Steel McKeesport Tubular Operations building and the 34-acres it sits on to Dura-Bond Pipe, a leader in pipe manufacturing and pipe coatings, at RIDC’s Industrial Center of McKeesport for $715,000. Dura-Bond previously leased the land parcel and 317,000-square-foot building; the company also has a major presence in the City Center of Duquesne, another RIDC Industrial Park in the Mon Valley.
Dura-Bond has converted the old pipe mill into a modern pipe manufacturing plant.
In this transaction, RIDC is reserving certain rights to realign the Great Allegheny Passage bike trail to the bank of the Monongahela River, which will then connect to the trail on the Youghiogheny River.
“RIDC has been instrumental to our growth in McKeesport and Duquesne,” said Jason Norris, President of Dura-Bond Industries, Inc. “Tubular products have been part of McKeesport’s history for over 120 years, and we are proud to continue the tradition. Our country desperately needs pipeline infrastructure to transport domestic natural gas to fuel our future. We are also exploring opportunities that may exist in hydrogen transport and pipelines used for carbon sequestration.”
“Dura-Bond’s presence turned around the former Bethlehem Steel pipe mill in Steelton, and they are doing so again with this former US Steel site in McKeesport, as well as the former steel works in Duquesne,” said Donald F. Smith, Jr., RIDC President. “Attracting and supporting companies like Dura-Bond, who manufacture locally and create local jobs, is a boon for catalyzing economic growth in communities that have been left behind.”
RIDC has been redeveloping and remediating the former National Tube site for new manufacturing and commercial companies since 1990. The former brownfield is now home to companies like Trulieve, River Materials, Inc., Trillium Flow Technologies and American Textile Company.
“We have our government and community partners to thank for the McKeesport park’s success to date,” said Tim White, RIDC Senior Vice President of Development. “Redevelopment projects like this require patient investments and the Commonwealth of PA, Allegheny County and City of McKeesport have been excellent collaborators and supporters from the start.”
“Congratulations to Dura-Bond on this great milestone, and thank you to RIDC for its work to remediate this property and put it back into productive use,” said Rich Fitzgerald, County Executive. “We’re thrilled to see Dura-Bond growing and thriving in the Mon Valley, and thank it for its continued commitment to this community and development of its workforce.”
As part of the planned redevelopment of this plant, new entrances were created to the site, leveraging past infrastructure investments made by the Commonwealth of PA, Allegheny County and City of McKeesport. “The flyover ramps we built have improved transportation access for job creators like Dura-Bond and have been an attractive site selection feature,” said Senator James Brewster.
About RIDC
The mission of the Regional Industrial Development Corporation is to catalyze and support economic growth and high-quality job creation through real estate development and finance of projects that advance the public interest. A not-for-profit entity, RIDC has developed over 2,800 acres in 14 industrial and innovation parks and manages over 7 million square feet. The 133-acre Industrial Center of McKeesport was once home to several metal tube and pipe mill companies like U.S. Steel. More information is available at www.ridc.org
About Dura-Bond
Dura-Bond Industries, Inc. was founded in 1960 by J.M. Norris to provide corrosion protection services for manufacturers of steel products at the customers’ facilities. Dura-Bond Industries has four facilities, including McKeesport-based Dura-Bond Pipe, LLC, which manufactures ERW pipe from 8″-20″. This plant employs high frequency electric resistance welding technology to produce steel pipe conforming to API 5L and ASTM specifications. Hot rolled steel coil is continuously formed and welded while a traveling cutoff saw slices pipe lengths.
Dura-Bond is a premier supplier of ERW pipe in the Northeast; its McKeesport location is accessible by major highway and rail connections and located 5 miles from its Duquesne Coatings facility, making logistical coordination, coating, and yard storage services easy and convenient. www.dura-bond.com
# # #
Media News:
Tube City Almanac – Dura-Bond Purchases Former U.S. Steel Facility
Pittsburgh Business Times – RIDC sells former U.S. Steel property in McKeesport to Dura-Bond Pipe
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette – Dura-Bond seals deal for building and land at former U.S. Steel plant in McKeesport
