The year so far has been challenging especially for people in the oil and gas industry. However, those challenges have not negatively impacted production at the Cameron-Schlumberger plant located inside the Industrial Park.
Plant Manager Billy Fontenot told the Rotary Club of Ville Platte the plant remained productive despite a down year in the industry. Part of the reason for that is the plant is transitioning into being able to manufacture orbit valves following the closure of the plant in Little Rock.
“From a backlog perspective,” Fontenot said, “we currently have approximately $102 million in orders. Of that $102 million, approximately $20 million is from the orbit product.”
“To put that in perspective,” he continued, “we’re going to end quarter three with approximately $34 million worth of product shipped out.”
Fontenot projects that trend to continue through the fourth quarter.
Kyle Mouton, project manager over the transition, called it the orbit valves a big opportunity for Ville Platte. He went on to say it has allowed the plant to “retain approximately 40 to 50 jobs at Ville Platte because it’s a huge product line.”
Mouton then said, “Overall, it’s been a big success. We’re doing a real good job of transitioning.”
The plant is 80 to 90% percent complete in the transition to the product line and hopes to be fully transitioned by the end of October.
Fontenot also commended the plant’s front line employees and front line supervisors for having “eight months without a loss-time accident.” He added, “This is without a doubt the most important indicator for Ville Platte’s success.”
Fontenot then gave an overview of the plant’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak including enhanced cleaning, use of personal protection equipment, and social distancing.
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Tony Marks
Editor