Dresser Piping Specialties has acquired the assets of Blackhawk
Industries Inc. of Oklahoma in a venture aimed at enhancing the
company’s portfolio in gas transmission markets nationwide.

Based in Tulsa, Okla., Blackhawk manufactures hot tapping and
plugging fittings for the natural gas, oil and chemical industries.
The products enable pipeline operators to repair sections of pipe
or replace a faulty valve without interrupting service.

With headquarters in Bradford, Dresser Piping Specialties is
part of Dresser Inc.’s Natural Gas Solutions group.

“The Blackhawk products will enhance Dresser Piping Specialties
offerings in the gas transmission markets in the United States and
strengthen our product portfolio available to international
markets,” Dresser Natural Gas Solutions President Daniel Jezerinac
said. “Blackhawk’s solid reputation for quality and reliability is
especially significant as the industry worldwide places additional
focus on pipeline integrity.”

On the local level, Dresser Piping Specialties Director of Sales
and Marketing Dan Manion said Monday the acquisition is the first
for its division in several years.

“It will mean more work into our Bradford plant,” Manion said.
“Hopefully, this means growth for us in the future.”

There are currently around 170 employees at the Bradford
location. It was not immediately clear if the transaction will
result in additional jobs locally.

Manion said the acquisition took about a year to complete.
Dresser officials declined to disclose the details of the
acquisition, including the cost to obtain Blackhawk.

According to Manion, the company intends to divvy up the
workload at both the local plant and the one in Tulsa.

“We haven’t reached any final decisions on that yet,” Manion
said, adding Blackhawk has four employees in Tulsa and “sub out”
most of the manufacturing work.

A press release from Dresser indicates John Clabo, who founded
Blackhawk in 1992, has been named as Dresser’s general manager for
Blackhawk products. Meanwhile, Ben Shelton, Blackhawk’s business
team manager, will oversee the Tulsa-based operations.

Dresser National Gas Solutions group is a leading provider of
measurement, instrumentation, piping and pressure control products
and solutions to the natural gas distribution and transmission
markets worldwide.

Meanwhile, Dresser Piping Specialties markets a line of piping
specialties for the natural gas, water distribution and general
industrial markets, including pipe couplings, fittings, repair
clamps and sleeves, flange adapters and regulator stations, among
other items.

Dresser has headquarters in Dallas, Texas.