McWane Poles, part of AFS Corporate Member McWane Inc.’s family of companies, has opened its newest ductile iron utility poles facility in Provo, Utah. The $18.5 million investment complements McWane’s existing presence in the area and marks the second facility dedicated to poles.

The company says it uses a patented manufacturing process to produce ductile iron utility poles with engineered strength, dimensional consistency and natural corrosion resistance. The poles are impervious AFS Corporate Member Charlotte Pipe and Foundry Co., a manufacturer of cast iron and plastic pipe and fittings, announced the purchase of 80 acres of land in Maize, Kansas, a suburb of Wichita, to build a new $80 million manufacturing facility. The expansion, which received local, county and state government support, is expected to create 50 new, full-time positions in Maize. Construction on the Maize facility, the company’s seventh plastics plant in the U.S., is expected to begin in January 2024 with completion anticipated in early 2025. to rot, insects and woodpeckers; are highly fire resistant; and can withstand significant wind loads in the most adverse conditions.

Ductile iron poles weigh less than wood poles, requiring less energy and fuel to transport, thereby reducing carbon emissions and lowering transportation costs. Additionally, McWane ductile iron poles are made from approximately 96% recycled material and are 100% recyclable.

The new 54,000-sq.-ft. facility was constructed over a 21-month period and produces poles that vary in length between 30 and 110 feet with a cycle time for a baseline pole of less than 12 minutes.

“We are thrilled to open our new facility alongside our ductile iron pipe plant, positioning our operation for long-term success while enhancing McWane’s impact as an economic engine in the Provo community,” said McWane Poles Assistant General Manager Chris Hutras. “This multi-year project would not have been possible without the fortitude of many McWane team members in tandem with numerous civic and community leaders.”