Milestones
Click the year to learn more about what happened at any given point in Webco’s 50+ year history.
1969
Bill Weber opens Southwest Tube Manufacturing.
Bill Weber opens Southwest Tube Manufacturing (SWT) in Sand Springs, Oklahoma as a cold-drawn tubing manufacturer for the heat exchanger industry. Being located near an inland port and other heat exchanger fabricators positioned SWT as a supplier of choice.
1974
The first weld mill is installed at SWT.
The first weld mill is installed at SWT.
1976
SWT enters the stainless tubing market.
These mills are located in Mannford, Oklahoma.
1979
The company enters the mechanical tube market.
The company enters the mechanical tube market.
1980
Webco Industries is founded.
Webco Industries is founded and becomes the parent company for SWT. However, the company continues to do business as Southwest Tube Manufacturing.
1983
Webco begins selling directly to fabricators.
Webco gradually starts bypassing pressure tube distributors and begins selling directly to fabricators.
1984
Webco becomes the first to weld 29-4C tubing successfully.
The Mannford plant is the first in the nation to weld 29-4C tubing, a difficult high chrome alloy, successfully.
1988
The Oil City, PA plant is purchased and refurbished.
The Oil City, PA plant, formerly Van Huffel Tube, is purchased and refurbished to serve the mechanical and boiler tube markets.
1994
Webco acquires SAP software and receives EPA award.
In 1998, Webco acquired and installed SAP software to provide real-time material tracking and manufacturing process control to customers. Webco also received the EPA Environmental Excellence Award.
Construction begins on a major expansion to Webco’s Mannford stainless plant. The expansion includes upgrades to the plant’s welding technology. Laser welding is introduced to reduce costs, increase productivity and improve product quality.
2004
Webco relocates their distribution facility to Orange, TX.
Webco consolidates and relocates its Nederland, TX, pressure tube distribution facilities to a new facility in Orange, TX.
2006
Webco opens a new value-added facility in Reno, PA.
Webco opens a new value-added facility in Reno, PA facility, near its Oil City plant, which begins supplying carbon steel and other tube products for a variety of applications.
2008
Webco opens a new corrosion-resistant alloy plant in Kellyville, OK.
Webco opens its newest corrosion resistant alloy plant in Kellyville, Oklahoma. This plant is designed to produce specialty nickel alloy and stainless tubing for demanding market segments, such as the steel tube umbilical market for subsea service.
2011
Dana Weber becomes CEO of Webco.
Dana Weber becomes the CEO of Webco and is honored by the Journal Record with the prestigious award “Woman of the Year.”
2012
Webco opens the Star Center plant in Sand Springs, OK.
The Star Center Tube Division plant in Sand Springs, OK, officially opened on May 31, 2012. The facility is designed to incorporate Bill Weber’s founding principles of manufacturing agility and a commitment to industry-leading innovation. The expansive facility provides Webco with the ability to manufacture cold-drawn mechanical tubing with aggressive weight-per-foot requirements, difficult customer specifications, and restrictive mechanical properties.
2017
Webco opens a new technology center and installs a new finishing line.
In 2017, the Jeffery Watt Williams Center for Manufacturing Excellence opened at our Star Center Complex. A state-of-the-art finishing line was also installed at Southwest Tube.
2018
Dana Weber is appointed Board Chairwoman and Webco’s Kellyville plant expands.
Dana Weber was appointed Chairwoman of Webco’s Board of Directors in 2018. That same year, Webco also began a significant expansion to its Kellyville facility and was named one of the best places to work in Oklahoma for the first time.
2019
Webco celebrates its 50th anniversary and Dave Boyer becomes President.
Webco celebrated 50 years of success in 2019. That same year, Woodland Drive was renamed Bill Weber Drive in honor of Webco’s founder, and David Boyer was named as Webco’s President and appointed Vice-Chairman of Webco’s Board of Directors.
2022
David Boyer is inducted into the OSU CEAT Hall of Fame.
David Boyer inducted into the OSU College of Engineering, Architecture, and Technology (CEAT) Hall of Fame.
2024
The F.W. Weber Leadership Campus is opened.
On June 4th, Webco opened the F.W. Weber Leadership Campus, a 72,000-square-foot facility to house the company’s leadership, IT team, and the Webco TechCenter, responsible for research and development, advanced testing, prototyping, and metallurgical problem-solving.