Case Study: Porter Pipe & SupplyPorter Pipe & Supply provides high-quality piping products and services to a wide array of customers across numerous industries. Since 1976 Porter Pipe has grown from a single delivery truck to a 330,000 sq.ft. facility 25 miles from Chicago. Porter Pipe runs a 24 hour operation, Monday through Friday and services the Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana markets.
The Business Challenge:
"We run 24-7 production, Monday through Friday. A significant part of the overall value Porter brings is our pipe cutting and end-prep operations," said Nick Porter, COO of Porter Pipe & Supply. "Our shipping and fabrication teams work the night shift to have next-day orders ready for shipping at 5:00 AM."
Increased Productivity:![]()
"The most exciting new opportunity is in our ability to economically deliver beveled end pipe. After completing a time study with one of our highest-volume customers, we discovered that we were able to provide cost savings in preparation time of up to 280% while also increasing our sales revenue in exchange for the added value we were providing."
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![]() ![]() Nick Porter COO, Porter Pipe & Supply Nick has over 15 years of experience with industrial distribution. He started working for the family business in high school and after graduating
from Illinois State University with a B.S. in Business Administration he began working on the Operations floor.
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3D Software Technology:
"The 3D CAD software is FAR superior to what we found with other machines," continued Porter. "This software is far more advanced and modern as an application. This was a big part of our decision to go with Watts."
The Watts-Mueller Benefit:
"Our contact with Watts-Mueller started at the FabTech show in Chicago," said Porter. "We were there to look at another plasma machine and happened to pass by the Watts-Mueller booth. The Rep, David Carr, took a great deal of time with us to learn and understand our needs. He even offered to come out for a site visit the following day."
Made in the U.S.A.:"It means a great deal to us that Watts-Mueller machines are manufactured right here in the USA. Roughly 80% of the product we distribute is domestic so it was important that we could invest in domestically manufactured capital equipment. We bring customers and vendors into our shop to run demos and we are proud to make the point that our Watts machine was manufactured in the USA."
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2323 East Pioneer Suite. A
Puyallup, WA 98372 - USA
dcarr@watts-specialties.com
832-701-7121
ddunham@watts-specialties.com
253-678-1231