An autopour machine carries iron across the floor of Charlotte Pipe and Foundry’s plant in Oakboro. Photo courtesy Charlotte Pipe and Foundry

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OAKBORO — The last remaining operational activity of Charlotte Pipe and Foundry’s former 55-acre foundry in uptown Charlotte will be joining the rest of the company’s relocated plant in Oakboro this year.

Last week, the Stanly County Economic Development Commission announced that the maker of cast iron and plastic pipe and fittings for plumbing applications since 1901 will be moving its eCoat Process specialty pipe coating operations to its Oakboro facility.

The transition process will lead to an operational date currently estimated for December 2025.

“We congratulate Charlotte Pipe on this exciting transition and look forward to their continued success in Oakboro,” the Stanly County EDC said in a May 29 media release.

With the cast iron plumbing pipe coating duties moved from Charlotte to Oakboro, the company plans to invest approximately $10.5 million and create 11 new jobs in Stanly County, adding to Charlotte Pipe’s 555 existing associates in Oakboro.

“Charlotte Pipe and Foundry is excited about continuing to add operational capacity at our Oakboro facility,” said Hooper Hardison, CEO of Charlotte Pipe. “We are particularly grateful to the Stanly County Board of County Commissioners, the town of Oakboro Commissioners and the Stanly County Economic Development Commission for their continued cooperation and support.”

The company’s Oakboro facility became operational in September 2023 and held its grand opening on Oct. 26, 2023, introducing the $460 million state-of-the-art foundry situated on 700 acres, around 35 miles east of the former cast iron foundry it operated in Charlotte for over a century.

Through relocating, the process has given Charlotte Pipe a more efficient layout of the plant and equipment, as well as the flexibility to expand and meet future needs.

“We are extremely happy Charlotte Pipe and Foundry has made a decision to grow its presence and operations in the town of Oakboro,” Oakboro Mayor Rodney Eury said. “We value the working relationship and commitment to our community as we both seek win-win situations for Charlotte Pipe and Foundry and the town of Oakboro.”

The county commissioners also weighed in on the latest news of the Oakboro expansion.

“The Stanly County Board of Commissioners is very excited to see this additional investment and job creation in our community,” Board Chairman Mike Barbee added. “This is the type of multiply investment the county contemplated while working closely with Charlotte Pipe to locate its foundry to Oakboro in 2020. On behalf of the board, we sincerely appreciate Charlotte Pipe’s decision and look forward to continuing to forge a strong public-private partnership to strengthen Stanly County’s economic position and workforce for many years to come.”