The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-07-11
DEMAND FORP|PE
 STAMPING PLANTS
 OF LEADING MAKER
New Class of Pipe Made Under DeLavaud Process Soon to Be Placed on the
 Market

The industrial world Is much ln- terested in the forthcoming produc- ton of high pressure pipe under the De Lavaud process. in which cast ing is done by centrifugal motion or casting machines. resulting in pro- duet much lighter and standing greater pressure than pipe now made, 1t is claimed.
 Four of these machines are being installed at the North Birmingham plant of the United States Cast Iron Pipe company, which bought the right of manufacture from the Cana dian patentees, and other pressure pipe concerns are negotiating for sub-leases of the right.
 All plants of the United Pipe com many, largest maker of pressure pipe in the world, are on full turn and question of delivery Is the pres ent problem.
 speaking of the United States Pipe company, the Wall Street Journal says:
 New Process Pipe
 United States Cast Iron Pipe and Foundry company Is expected short ly to place its new pipe. made by the De Lavaud process of centrifugal casting, officially on the market. A group of waterworks officials was recently given a demonstration of the pipe in the making.
 "So far National Cast Iron Pipe company Is the only competitor to which the United States Cast Iron Pipe Is known to have sub-let the right to manufacture by the De Lavaud process, Other independents have met from time to time to dis ouss the proposition but appear in no hurry to commit themselves. At g recent meeting they were offered by a Chicago producer rights 70 manufacture by another method of centrifugal casting, but withou: avail.
 Plants swamped
 Demand for high pressure pipe has been steadily increasing since the first of the year. Plants of the United States company at Burling- ton. N. J., and Scottsdale. Pa, are swamped with work and its several production units in the south are fast approaching capacity output Producers principal concern at the moment is meeting urgent requests for delivery.
 Prices on high pressure pipe have advanced both north and south about $6 ton this year. In the north this advance has not much more than offset the increase in cost of pig iron, but in Alabama, 1t has been greater by about $2 ton.
 Some weeks ago 1t was announced that the United States company con- templated beginning the manufac- ture of soil pipe at it's virtually abandoned high pressure shops at Columbus. O.. and Louisville Ky. Any output of this pipe at these plants during the current year should prove exceptionally profitable, as other makers already in the field are booked to capacity and prices have gone by leaps and bounds from slightly over s30 ton at the first of the year to a minimum of S55 ton today and occasional bids of $G0 and $65 a ton.
 Earning Power
 '"The company's earning power has been increased not only acquisi- ton of the De Lavaud process for centrifugal casting, but by the de- velopment of miscellaneous lines of production catering to chemical and sugar house work. Demand for regu- lar line of cast Iron pipe Is approach ing record proportions.
 Annual earnings over the last six years have averaged slightly under SC share on the preferred. ]"