McWane Plant & Industrial Ships Orders from New Glass Lining Facility

McWane Plant & Industrial (MPI) has announced that its new glass lining facility in Calera, Alabama, is fully operational and is now shipping orders for glass-lined ductile iron pipe and fittings. The products are destined for water and wastewater treatment plants across the country.

The state-of-the-art facility brings the glass lining process in-house for the first time for MPI. The company states this allows for complete quality control over the critical lining process and aims to significantly reduce customer lead times. After months of planning and construction, the plant opened in late July for final validation and is now producing and shipping finished goods.

Glass lining is described as a vitreous coating fused to the interior of ductile iron pipe and fittings. This process creates a smooth, non-porous surface that resists a wide range of chemicals, abrasion, and buildup. MPI indicates this preserves the integrity of the piping system and maintains efficient hydraulic flow over its service life.

According to MPI, bringing the lining process in-house provides control over every production step, ensuring quality, reducing lead times, and mitigating supply chain risks. The Calera facility is part of MPI's ongoing investments in its product lines, which include pipes, fittings, valves, and water control gates.