Welspun to add 200 jobs in Little Rock

For the second time in its three-year history of operation in Arkansas, international pipe manufacturer Welspun Corp. Ltd. has announced it will expand again, adding 200 jobs and investing an additional $100 million in its Little Rock, Ark., facility, the company's first large-diameter pipe manufacturing location in North America.

Opened in April 2009 and initially employing more than 300 people, the company announced its first expansion one year later, adding 230 jobs and an additional $30 million investment. With this latest expansion, Welspun brings its total investment to $280 million since the plant opened.

The spiral pipe and coating facility has an annual production capacity of more than 350,000 tons of pipe. The expansion broadens the product line to include 6- to 20-in. ERW steel pipes. The new manufacturing lines will be located in a second building.