Mike Leathers Named Executive Vice President, KTI Pipe Group

Mike Leathers

Rialto, CA (PRWEB) May 30, 2013

The Ken Thompson Pipe Group (KTI, Inc.) has announced the appointment of Mike Leathers to the position of Executive Vice President, KTI Pipe Group. The announcement was made earlier this month by KTI Inc. CEO, Ken D. Thompson. Leathers responsibilities will include building awareness of the company’s Flowtite Fiber Reinforced Plastic (FRP) pipe in North America, as a superior solution for pressure applications. FRP is an engineered composite with properties that cost less than alternative materials; with superior install and repair that does not necessitate welding and grouting.

Leathers brings more than 20 years of experience in the heavy building materials industry, most recently as President of Hanson Engineered products, a division of Hanson Building products of America. While at Hanson, he managed three divisions including Hanson Pressure Pipe, Hanson Structural Pre-Cast, and Hanson Pipe and Pre-Cast; and led a team of more than 1400 employees in 18 plants across the US and Canada.

“I am extremely pleased to announce Mike’s appointment to this important role in our company,” said Thompson. “He has an incredible understanding of the pressure market in the U.S. and abroad, and is known throughout the industry for his leadership, passion and professional acumen. Mike is the right individual to educate the industry on the benefits of Flowtite FRP for important pressure applications such as water transport in North America.”

Mike Leathers brings leadership in a number of other areas—from joint venture acquisitions and global implementation of best practice for process design. He believes in data and analytics to guide and position his team to lead the industry.

“I look forward to the challenge and opportunity ahead, including the upcoming addition of our 'mega plant' that will feature the most advanced four meter machine in the world,” Leathers added. “The KTI Pipe Group is a growing private company that is well led—with strong financial backing and family-owned values. The Thompson family has solid roots in utility construction, which gives them an impressive level of understanding into the problems and solutions inherent in pressure pipe applications,” said Leathers.

“Mike is a recognized leader in the building products industry,” said Thompson. “He maintains strong relationships with the largest contractors, owners and civil engineers in the industry and serves on a number of industry association boards.”

“I am passionate about the importance of water transport and the unlimited opportunity for the uniquely engineered Flowtite product for pressure applications,” Leathers said. “Advances in materials and techniques have now made FRP composites an affordable and extremely effective option—offering superior strength, ease of maintenance—with zero corrosion,” he added.

The Flowtite product is well accepted in Europe and other parts of the world, with more than 95 million feet of the pipe installed worldwide—75 percent of which is installed in pressure applications. Flowtite has over 35 production winders in 18 different countries.

“The inherent benefits in the material provide advantages that yield better engineered systems with superior performance, and cost less. This is a story that needs to be told, and one that every engineer, owner or contractor who specifies, installs or manages pressure pipe in the U.S. needs to understand.”

Additional resources and case studies are available. To learn more or to schedule a brown bag presentation with the Flowtite team, please contact us at http://www.flowtitepipe.com.

About KTI Pipe Group

Ken Thompson, Inc. (KTI) is comprised of a dynamic group of companies that specialize in products, services and support for the utility construction industry. These range from the production of concrete, fiberglass and polymer pipe to engineering services and rail operations. The company is built upon 40 years of solid experience in utility construction and manufacturing. This expertise, gained in the trenches, continues to inform the company’s philosophy as well as its product and service offering. The company also provides engineering support with a team of PE’s who provide best practice assistance with project management and on-site field support. The KTI Pipe Group currently has manufacturing operations in Rialto, California; Palmdale, California; Alvarado, Texas; Conroe, Texas; Seguin, Texas; and Zachary, Louisiana. The KTI Pipe Group also includes two trucking companies, Pipeline Carriers, Inc. (PCI) and Pipeline Trucking, Inc. (PTI) that serve the U.S. market with a wide variety of truck types for specialized pipe transport. For more information, visit http://www.ktipipe.com.

About Flowtite

Flowtite Fiberglass Pipe is produced using a filament wound, continuous advancing mandrel process, which represents the state-of-the-art in Fiberglass Reinforced Pipe (FRP) production today. Using technology developed by Owens Corning material specialists, a very compressed laminate is created that maximizes the contribution from three basic raw materials; glass-fiber, resin and sand. The filament winding process enables other materials, such as a glass or polyester veil to be used to enhance the abrasion and chemical resistance of the pipe. Flowtite Fiberglass Piping Systems are proven to be a reliable, cost-effective solution to water, sewer and industrial piping applications, and are lightweight and extremely corrosion resistant. FRP is an engineered composite material with properties that are less expensive than the common steel pipe or ductile, but also cost less than its exotic metal counterparts such as stainless steel, high nickel content alloys or titanium; providing easy repair that does not necessitate welding or grouting. For more information, visit http://www.flowtitepipe.com.

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