By Joseph Mahan, FOX23 News
MUSKOGEE, Okla. — Webco Industries, a manufacturer of carbon and stainless-steel tubing products headquartered in Sand Springs, has announced plans to expand its Oklahoma operations at the Port Muskogee Industrial Park.
The expansion represents an investment by Webco and Port Muskogee to upgrade the existing Port-owned facility and equipment for Webco’s operations, Port Muskogee said.
Port Muskogee said the project will return specialized steel-processing infrastructure to productive use while giving Webco access to Port Muskogee’s multimodal transportation network and the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System (MKARNS).
The project is expected to create up to 10 new jobs within six months, with opportunities for continued growth.
Founded in Oklahoma in 1969, Webco is a leading manufacturer serving the automotive, oil and gas, refining and processing, power generation, agriculture, and construction industries. The company currently employs more than 1,100 people in Oklahoma and around 1,500 nationwide.
The Port-owned slitter facility is a specialized industrial asset designed to process heavy-gauge steel strategically located along Oklahoma’s inland waterway system.
Port Muskogee said steel has long been a major commodity moving through Port Muskogee, accounting for around 35 percent to 45 percent of the Port’s annual tonnage. Webco’s expansion builds on that established connection between steel manufacturing and Port Muskogee, creating new opportunities to increase steel-related freight activity along the MKARNS.
The MKARNS provides industries with year-round, navigable barge access to an inland waterway network across 20 states and a global seaport. The 445-mile system provides a cost-effective, fuel-efficient, and stable alternative to trucking, offering a resilient freight corridor that avoids many of the seasonal and capacity challenges seen in road and rail transportation, Port Muskogee said.
Port Muskogee said for manufacturers, this advantage strengthens supply chains, provides greater transportation flexibility and helps keep goods moving efficiently to domestic and global markets.
“Webco is an exceptional company with a strong reputation in Oklahoma. We’re proud they chose Port Muskogee for this expansion and new investment,” said Kimbra Scott, Executive Director, Port Muskogee. “This partnership puts a unique Port-owned industrial asset back into productive use, creates new local jobs, and grows steel-related freight activity supported by the multimodal infrastructure of Port Muskogee.”
Port Muskogee said the project reflects the Muskogee City-Council Port Authority’s continued focus on building long-term partnerships with industry, maximizing the value of existing infrastructure, increasing freight activity, and creating opportunities for quality jobs and economic growth in Muskogee and the surrounding region.
