BIRMINGHAM, Ala., May 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- U.S. Pipe announced today it will build a new, state-of-the-art ductile iron pipe plant adjacent to its existing facility on St. Louis Avenue in Bessemer, Ala. The Company expects that the $40 to $45 million expansion project will be the first of its kind in the nation, as well as the first new ductile iron pipe plant built in the U.S. in more than 55 years. The new plant will create as many as 100 new highly skilled jobs, bolster U.S. Pipe's competitive manufacturing position, and provide the most up-to-date environmental protections for the local community. "After months of review, we decided Bessemer is the best location to expand," said U.S. Pipe president Ray Torok. "Bessemer's commitment to economic development, the site's convenient location to I-20/59 and U.S. Pipe's strong 100-year history with the community made it the ideal choice for us." Before deciding on Bessemer, U.S. Pipe considered a site adjacent to its North Birmingham, Ala., facility as well as locations in other parts of the country. U.S. Pipe's new plant will be an efficiency-based, streamlined, flow- through process facility. Manual pipe-making jobs performed for more than a century will become computer-controlled, automated processes. And for the first time in the U.S., state-of-the-art machinery and transport systems will be used. "Employees will work together as a team to get jobs done instead of individually focusing on only one task during their work shift," said Torok. "They will also receive team incentives for the way they perform together." The new plant will utilize technologically advanced environmental safeguards, including new low emissions manufacturing techniques like water- based paints and low nitrous oxide annealing oven burners. The new plant also will feature a powerful emission control system that will filter dust and particles from the air before it leaves the plant. The Alabama Industrial Development Training Agency will screen and train employees for the nearly 100 jobs created by U.S. Pipe's new plant. U.S. Pipe officials expect to break ground on the new plant in June. The new facility is expected to be on-line in 18 months. Safe Harbor Statement Except for historical information contained herein, the statements in this release are forward-looking and made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results in future periods of Mueller Water Products, Inc. to differ materially from forecasted results. Those risks include, among others, changes in customers' demand for our products, changes in raw material pricing, labor, equipment and transportation costs, changes in customer orders, pricing actions by the Company's competitors, changes in law, the inability to successfully integrate an acquired business, and general changes in economic conditions. Risks associated with forward-looking statements are more fully described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Mueller Water Products assumes no duty to update its forward- looking statements as of any future date. About U.S. Pipe U.S. Pipe & Foundry, LLC, a business segment of Mueller Water Products, Inc., is a leading domestic producer of ductile iron pipe, used primarily for clean water transmission. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., U.S. Pipe operates facilities in North Birmingham and Bessemer, Ala.; Burlington, N.J.; and Union City, Calif. Visit http://www.uspipe.com/ for more information about U.S. Pipe. About Mueller Water Products Mueller Water Products is a leading North American manufacturer and marketer of infrastructure and flow control products for use in water distribution networks and treatment facilities. Its broad product portfolio includes engineered valves, hydrants, pipe fittings and ductile iron pipe, which are used by municipalities, as well as the commercial and residential construction, oil and gas, HVAC and fire protection industries. With revenues of approximately $1.9 billion, the Company is comprised of three main operating segments: Mueller Co., U.S. Pipe and Anvil. Based in Atlanta, Ga., the Company employs approximately 6,600 people. For more information, please visit the Company's Web site at http://www.muellerwaterproducts.com/. Media Contact: Katrina Blauvelt Director - Corporate Communications & Public Affairs Mueller Water Products 678-358-3874 Media Contact: Veleka Finch Grace Media 205-332-5914 DATASOURCE: Mueller Water Products, Inc. CONTACT: Katrina Blauvelt, Director - Corporate Communications & Public Affairs of Mueller Water Products, +1-678-358-3874, ; or Veleka Finch of Grace Media, +1-205-332-5914, Web site: http://www.muellerwaterproducts.com/ http://www.uspipe.com/

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