New oilfield factory humming in St. Martin Parish

Forum Energy Technologies shut down production of oil and gas drilling equipment at its new 150,000-square-foot facility in St. Martin Parish recently to cut a ceremonial ribbon and host a grand opening party for employees and their families and other interested persons.

The $19 million facility will create 125 new direct jobs on top of 203 existing jobs, and will result in 300 new indirect jobs in Acadiana and beyond, the company says.

Forum manufactures a wide spectrum of oil and gas equipment, serving the global energy industry’s drilling, production and infrastructure segments. The company has more than 3,300 employees worldwide, in over 80 business locations.

Citing efficiencies built into the new state-of-the-art factory, one company official noted that the from start to finish, an elevator under construction there will travel 100 yards. The same series of operations in the old Broussard compound would necessitate the elevator traveling a mile and a quarter.