Staff photo / R. Michael Semple Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, left, and Philippe Guillemot, Group Chairman and CEO of Vallourec, hold their shovels high after the ceremonial groundbreaking for the company’s expansion on Monday. A new premium threading line will join the plant’s steel making, rolling and finishing operations. Work is scheduled to be completed in early 2027 at the plant, which straddles Youngstown and Girard.

YOUNGSTOWN — A $48 million investment into a Mahoning Valley steel facility demonstrates Vallourec’s sustained and consistent commitment to the region, its chairman and CEO Philippe Guillemot said Monday.

During groundbreaking ceremonies at its city mill, Guillemot detailed the French company’s expansion plans and long-term vision as a supplier to the energy industry. A new premium threading line will join the plant’s steel making, rolling and finishing operations. Work is scheduled to be completed in early 2027.

The announcement comes weeks after the Ohio Tax Credit Authority approved a 1.126%, seven-year Job Creation Tax Credit for Vallourec’s project.

“This region has long been the beating heart of American steel, and we at Vallourec are proud to have been a part of that legacy for the last 50 years,” Guillemot said. “We are part of the American industrial fabric. Our commitment to the U.S. is not new. Over the past 15 years, we have invested nearly 1.5 billion U.S. dollars just in Ohio. Today’s announcement … here in Youngstown is another major step forward in that journey.”

The new line will allow Vallourec to bolster control of its domestic production and solidify its position as a supplier of steel pipe in the U.S. oil and gas market. The company also is expanding its capacity to manufacture specialized connectors for the shale industry. When completed, 40 full-time jobs will be created. The expansion will produce more than $2.3 million in new annual payroll.

“All products made here in Youngstown are sold for U.S. oil and gas, shale exploration; offshore exploration; and some industrial applications,” said Gary Hauck, Vallourec Star president. “So our products go all over, and we’re really proud of that.”

Guillemot said the expansion goes beyond construction and equipment.

“It represents continued confidence in America’s industrial base and in the men and women who make it strive every day. At Vallourec, we believe that manufacturing excellence starts with people, with their expertise and their pride.

“Our presence here also contributes to strengthening the industrial ecosystem of Ohio. By expanding our operations, we are reinforcing the regional supply chain, supporting local suppliers, and helping maintain the technological leadership of Ohio in steel and energy production.”

Joining Vallorec officials and employees at the ceremony were Gov. Mike DeWine; U.S. Rep. Michael Rulli, R-Salem; Youngstown Mayor Jamael Tito Brown; Girard Mayor Mark Zuppo; Mahoning and Trumbull county commissioners; state representatives; J.P. Nauseef, president and CEO of JobsOhio; Alexa Sweeney Blackann, interim CEO of Lake To River Economic Development; and Guy Coviello, president and CEO of the Youngstown / Warren Regional Chamber.

“We are moving in the right direction,” DeWine said. “I have great confidence in this part of the state. I think our best days are ahead of us. We look forward to more opportunities to have more celebrations in the future.”

Guillemot credited the current regulatory environment, the market’s support for domestic production and regional cooperation as a catalyst for Vallourec’s expansion.

“They give us the confidence to plan for the long term, to invest in new technology, and to bring jobs and innovation right here to the communities that have supported us for decades,” he said.

The event’s speakers also highlighted the value of regional cooperation.

“Our mission is simple but ambitious — to help companies grow here,” Blackann said. “That’s exactly what this announcement is about. Our team worked hand in hand with Vallourec, with JobsOhio, and with our state and local partners, including the city of Youngstown, the Western Reserve Port Authority and OhioMeansJobs, to make this investment possible.”

She added that Lake to River is working on 30 projects with a projected investment of $3 billion and more than 1,000 jobs.

Coviello said Vallourec’s investment fortifies the Valley’s industrial base.

“Each investment reinforces the same message — ‘This place is where our industry grows, innovation takes root and partnerships deliver results.'”

Rulli stressed the importance of the energy sector and Vallourec’s role.

“We can’t be the world’s leading superpower without energy,” he said. “Energy is the key for everything we do, especially business. We’re the kings of natural gas. We can’t have this revolution without you. We can’t have this revolution without Vallourec stepping up to the table and offering to keep expanding.”