It is reported that United Spiral Pipe could lay off more than 100 workers at its Pittsburg factory early in 2011 due to weaker than expected orders from customers.

United Spiral recently filed an official notice with state labor officials about its plans to lay off 108 employees.

Mr Mike Connally HR manager at United Spiral Pipe said that the steel pipe factory in East Contra Costa would remain an ongoing operation, even with the lay offs. However, it is possible that some or all of the employees could be laid off temporarily.

He added that "It depends on future orders. Our sales department is out there soliciting orders to keep us going."

Mr Connally said that "It's not a certainty there will be a layoff. But we have to give people 60 days' notice. This way, workers at the factory can plan for possible financial challenges. It looks like we will be operating the plant through the end of the year and into early next year."

Mr Connally said that "We typically have been running two crews and running some overtime shifts. At this time of year, there normally is a downturn in the business for a lot of reason. We hope that as the economy improves that those pipe jobs start up."

In November 2009, United Spiral opened the doors of its state of the art factory with much fanfare. A venture of manufacturing companies from the United States and South Korea, the plant produces big steel pipes for the energy and water industries.

The 340,000 square foot welded pipe factory is a JV of American industrial titan US Steel, South Korean steel maker POSCO and South Korean tube products maker SeAH Steel Corporation.

(Sourced from www.contracostatimes.com)