Monday, June 7, 2004

Huntsville-based Wolverine Tube Inc. said Friday it has established a new wholesale distribution center in Decatur.

The 109,000-square-foot facility will employ about 25 people. It will handle shipments of wholesale plumbing, and refrigerator service tube for Wolverine to plumbing wholesalers and distributors, said Jed Deason, Wolverine's chief finance officer.

The center is near the intersection of interstates 65 and 565 in Southpoint Business Park. Southpoint was built about four years ago, and Wolverine is the development's first tenant.

Wolverine is leasing the building.

Wolverine makes copper tube and specialty tube products used in a variety of applications, including large air-conditioning units.

Wolverine's Jackson, Tenn., facility had some space dedicated to wholesale distribution, according to a company news release. Wolverine officials said the new center will expand the company's wholesale capabilities and reduce freight costs.

The move also gives the company more spare at its Jackson plant for welded tube manufacturing, Wolverine officials said.

Wolverine CEO Dennis Horowitz said the company is expecting a strong second quarter, based on expanding customer demand and good wholesale prices.

Wolverine stock, which is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol WLV, was down 4 cents in morning trading to $11.20.