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'''McWane, Inc.''', based in [[Birmingham]], is a leading manufacturer of cast iron pipes and is one of America’s largest privately owned companies, employing over 7,500 people. The company was founded in 1921 by [[J. R. McWane]] and is still owned by the McWane family. The company's operating revenues are estimated to be somewhere between $1.75 and $2 billion a year. Along with the company's US operations it also has operations in Australia, Canada and China.
[[Image:McWane logo.png|right]]
'''McWane, Inc.''', based in [[Birmingham]], is a leading manufacturer of cast iron pipe and is one of America’s largest privately-owned companies. It employs more than 7,500 people in facilities across the United States and in Australia, Canada and China. The company's headquarters office is located at 1143 [[Vanderbilt Road]].


==Subsidiaries of McWane==
The company was founded in [[1921]] by [[J. R. McWane]] and is still owned by the McWane family. The current president is [[Ruffner Page, Jr]], while [[Phillip McWane]] serves as chairman of the board. The company's operating revenues are estimated to be somewhere between $1.75 and $2 billion a year.
 
==Subsidiaries==
*'''Ductile Iron Pipe Division'''
*'''Ductile Iron Pipe Division'''
**McWane Cast Iron Pipe Company
**McWane Cast Iron Pipe Company
Line 25: Line 28:
**[[Amerex]]
**[[Amerex]]


==Unsafe Practices Criticisms==
==Unsafe practices==
 
McWane Inc. has been criticised for its unsafe practices cited by number of media articles. In [[2003]] PBS' Frontline partnered with ''The New York Times'' and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation on a multi-part report entitled "A Dangerous Business". The report accuses McWane of systematically neglecting minimum safety and environmental safeguards in its plants. Between [[1995]] and [[2003]] the company was cited for more than 400 violations of health and safety standards enforced by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Over the same period 4,600 injuries were reported in the company's facilities.
McWane Inc. has been criticised for its unsafe practices cited by number of media articles. In [[2003]] PBS Frontline in cooperation with the New York Times and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation did an episode about the company, calling McWane one of the most dangerous work places in America as a contributor to multiple deaths at its numerous foundries. Documentary is called ''[http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/workplace/ A Dangerous Business]'' and claims that McWane, Inc. foundries' focus on production and profitability comes at a price. The documentary raises accusations of safety and environmental shortcuts that may have been taken by McWane to increase production at the cost of workers lives and limbs.


In the U.S., between 1995 and 2003, McWane has been guilty of more than 400 health and safety violations in workplaces they own in 10 states based on US [[Occupational Safety and Health Administration]] (OSHA) regulations. In same time period, 4,600 workers have been injured in their foundries.[http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/pipes/mcwane.html]
In [[2005]] McWane Inc. was convicted of 20 felonies and fined $8 million for polluting [[Avondale Creek]]. At that time, Chairman Phillip McWane pledged to overhaul the company's practices. Those convictions were overturned on appeal, with one count dismissed. The company did indeed begin a $300 million investment in projects to improve environmental and safety conditions in and around its plants.


McWane has acknowledged that "our standards have not always been met" but that the company has taken action to improve its record.[http://www.pulitzer.org/year/2004/public-service/works/nytimes5.html] On its website's Health and Safety section it states that "McWane values the well-being of our employees, for they are the heart and soul of our company." [http://www.mcwane.com]
The planned retrial was canceled when McWane agreed to plead guilty and pay $4 million in fines, including funding the completion of [[Greenwood Park]], a project of the [[Village Creek Greenways Initiative]].


===Safety Upgrades===
===Environmental and safety upgrades===
Since the first court decision, McWane has invested heavily in plant upgrades and environmental programs.


In recent years the company has upgraded many of its facilities to meet federal safety standards. The company's Union Foundry has won several safety awards from local and state officials.[http://www.bizjournals.com/birmingham/stories/2005/10/10/daily5.html]
In recent years the company has upgraded many of its facilities to meet federal safety standards. In [[2005]] the company's Union Foundry in Anniston was honored by the Calhoun County Chamber of Commerce for outstanding community involvement and safety. The foundry achieved 1 million hours with no lost-time accidents.


==References==
==References==
*McWane Inc.. (2007, May 28). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 18:55, July 9, 2007 [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=McWane_Inc.&oldid=134124116]  
* McWane Inc.. (2007, May 28). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 18:55, July 9, 2007 [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=McWane_Inc.&oldid=134124116]  
* Barstow, David and Lowell Bergman (January 8, 2003) "[http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/08/national/08PIPE.html At a Texas Foundry, an Indifference to Life]". ''New York Times''
* Barstow, David and Lowell Bergman (January 9, 2003) "[http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/09/national/09PIPE.html Family's Profits, Wrung From Blood and Sweat]". ''New York Times''
* Barstow, David and Lowell Bergman (January 10, 2003) "[http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/10/national/10PIPE.html Deaths on the Job, Slaps on the Wrist]". ''New York Times''
* "McWane's Union Foundry recognized for exemplary safety." (October 11, 2005) ''Birmingham Business Journal''
* Cooper, Lauren B. (December 18, 2009) "McWane to pay $4M fine for contaminating Avondale Creek." ''Birmingham News''


== External links ==
== External links ==
*[http://www.mcwane.com/home.htm Company Website]
* [http://www.mcwane.com McWane Inc.] website
*[http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/workplace/ Frontline documentary about McWane] 
* "[http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/workplace/ A Dangerous Business]" on Frontline
*[http://www.nytimes.com/dangerousbusiness/ NY times article]
*[http://cscs.umich.edu/~crshalizi/sloth/2003-01-13-2b.html copy of New York times 2003 article]  
*[http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/pipes/mcwane.html Canadian Broadcast Corporation article] 
*[http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/workplace/etc/press.html Los Angeles Times and Houston Chronicle quotes]


{{GFDL}}
[[Category:Major private companies]]
[[Category:Major private companies]]
[[Category:Vanderbilt Road]]
[[Category:1921 establishments]]

Revision as of 22:26, 18 December 2009

McWane logo.png

McWane, Inc., based in Birmingham, is a leading manufacturer of cast iron pipe and is one of America’s largest privately-owned companies. It employs more than 7,500 people in facilities across the United States and in Australia, Canada and China. The company's headquarters office is located at 1143 Vanderbilt Road.

The company was founded in 1921 by J. R. McWane and is still owned by the McWane family. The current president is Ruffner Page, Jr, while Phillip McWane serves as chairman of the board. The company's operating revenues are estimated to be somewhere between $1.75 and $2 billion a year.

Subsidiaries

  • Ductile Iron Pipe Division
    • McWane Cast Iron Pipe Company
    • Pacific States Cast Iron Pipe Company
    • Atlantic States
    • Clow Water Systems Company
    • Canada Pipe
  • Waterworks Valves and Fire Hydrants Division
    • M&H Valve
    • Clow Valve Company
    • Kennedy Valve
    • Clow Canada
  • Soil Pipe, Soil Fittings, and Utility Fittings Division
    • Union Foundry
    • Tyler Pipe
    • Bibby-Ste-Croix
    • Anaco
  • International Sales
    • McWane International
  • Propane and Compressed Air Division
    • Manchester Tank
  • Fire Extinguisher Division

Unsafe practices

McWane Inc. has been criticised for its unsafe practices cited by number of media articles. In 2003 PBS' Frontline partnered with The New York Times and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation on a multi-part report entitled "A Dangerous Business". The report accuses McWane of systematically neglecting minimum safety and environmental safeguards in its plants. Between 1995 and 2003 the company was cited for more than 400 violations of health and safety standards enforced by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Over the same period 4,600 injuries were reported in the company's facilities.

In 2005 McWane Inc. was convicted of 20 felonies and fined $8 million for polluting Avondale Creek. At that time, Chairman Phillip McWane pledged to overhaul the company's practices. Those convictions were overturned on appeal, with one count dismissed. The company did indeed begin a $300 million investment in projects to improve environmental and safety conditions in and around its plants.

The planned retrial was canceled when McWane agreed to plead guilty and pay $4 million in fines, including funding the completion of Greenwood Park, a project of the Village Creek Greenways Initiative.

Environmental and safety upgrades

Since the first court decision, McWane has invested heavily in plant upgrades and environmental programs.

In recent years the company has upgraded many of its facilities to meet federal safety standards. In 2005 the company's Union Foundry in Anniston was honored by the Calhoun County Chamber of Commerce for outstanding community involvement and safety. The foundry achieved 1 million hours with no lost-time accidents.

References

  • McWane Inc.. (2007, May 28). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 18:55, July 9, 2007 [1]
  • Barstow, David and Lowell Bergman (January 8, 2003) "At a Texas Foundry, an Indifference to Life". New York Times
  • Barstow, David and Lowell Bergman (January 9, 2003) "Family's Profits, Wrung From Blood and Sweat". New York Times
  • Barstow, David and Lowell Bergman (January 10, 2003) "Deaths on the Job, Slaps on the Wrist". New York Times
  • "McWane's Union Foundry recognized for exemplary safety." (October 11, 2005) Birmingham Business Journal
  • Cooper, Lauren B. (December 18, 2009) "McWane to pay $4M fine for contaminating Avondale Creek." Birmingham News

External links

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