McWane

McWane, Inc.

Type	Private
Industry	Manufacturing
Founded	1921
Headquarters	Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
Key people	C. Phillip McWane, Chairman G. Ruffner Page, President
Products	Pipes, fittings, compressed air tanks, fire extinguishers
Revenue	$1.7 billion USD (2014)
Number of employees	6,000
Website	www.mcwane.com

McWane, Inc. is one of the world's largest manufacturers of iron water works and plumbing products and one of America’s largest privately owned companies. The company manufactures products including ductile iron pipe and fittings, fire hydrants, cast iron soil pipe and fittings, and related products. McWane is also a manufacturer of pressurized cylinders for the storage of propane and other gases through its Manchester Tank and Equipment Company division, and fire protection systems and extinguishers through its Amerex subsidiary.

Based in Birmingham, Alabama, McWane is a privately held, family owned company employing almost 6,000 people in 25 facilities nationwide. In addition to the United States, the company has operations in Australia, Canada, Chile, China, India, Norway and the United Arab Emirates. Its operating revenues are estimated at approximately $1.5 to 2 billion as of 2011^[update].

J. R. McWane founded the McWane Cast Iron Pipe Company in 1921 in Birmingham, Alabama, where it has maintained its headquarters since. McWane introduced innovations to foundry technology and processes. He also introduced progressive initiatives to improve working conditions. In 1920, one year before the founding of McWane, J.R. McWane wrote, "The industry that maintains an army of workers without regard to their working and living conditions, their health, recreations, religious and social life cannot succeed in the largest sense." His vision is referred to within the company as "The McWane Way", and can be summarized as aiming to improve both the methods of work and the lives of the workers, rather than focusing only on financial gain.

However, by 2002 media investigations by The New York Times and others revealed serious workplace safety and environmental violations. Fines and criminal convictions followed. As a result, reforms are reported to have been made.

In 2006, McWane’s Atlantic States plant in New Jersey became the first foundry in North America to apply technology to substantially limit mercury emissions. The following year, a McWane plant was the first iron and brass foundry in the country to be recognized as a Voluntary Protection Program site by OSHA.