Facility in Focus: Geneva Pipe St. George Plant
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Facility in Focus Series:
An Inside Look at Northwest Pipe’s Manufacturing Plants
With 13 facilities in the U.S. and Mexico, Northwest Pipe Company (NWP) plants are strategically located to support water infrastructure projects in communities across North America. Each facility offers a range of manufacturing capabilities and specialized services that provide engineered solutions for water transmission, wastewater, stormwater, and process system applications. Although geography and product specialty vary from plant to plant, our commitment to quality, service, and safety remains unwavering across locations. In our Facility in Focus series, we take a closer look at each of our plants, showcasing the unique manufacturing capabilities, technology, and skilled workforce that power the production of our innovative and durable water infrastructure products.
The St. George Plant
Geneva Pipe and Precast, A Northwest Pipe Company
Set against the picturesque Pine Valley Mountains, Geneva Pipe and Precast’s St. George plant is ideally located in Washington, UT, just outside the growing city of St. George. Its strategic position supports the rapid development of Southern Utah while also delivering high-quality precast solutions to projects across Arizona, Las Vegas, and beyond.
The St. George plant became part of Northwest Pipe Company in 2020 with the acquisition of Geneva Pipe and Precast, which includes two other Utah facilities in Salt Lake City and Orem. However, its roots run much deeper. Originally opened in 1978 as a septic tank manufacturer, the plant expanded into manhole production in the 1990s. In 2006, the plant was sold and operated under a new owner for five years before closing. It was reopened in 2011 when Geneva Pipe relocated its Hurricane, UT facility to the site. Today, the plant produces a wide range of precast infrastructure products, including manholes, catch basins, elliptical pipe, custom boxes, and preassembled water meter vaults and grease interceptors.
With a dedicated team of 37 employees, the plant is currently operating at historically high production levels. Recent investments in equipment and infrastructure, including a state-of-the-art concrete batch plant, have boosted efficiency while reducing water usage by 50%. These improvements have led to shorter batch times, better scalability, and minimized waste, all while maintaining the plant’s commitment to quality and sustainability. Continuous improvement is a mindset and a driving force of the team at St. George, who take great pride in the quality products they produce.
Plant Operations & Precast Capabilities
Production at the Geneva St. George plant takes place almost entirely outdoors. The 7,500-square-foot dry cast area operates under an open-air roofed structure. There are four full-time employees in dry cast production plus two specializing in manhole bases and coring. Together, the team is responsible for manufacturing dry cast manhole bases and flat lids in sizes 48”, 60”, and 72”, manhole sections and cones in sizes 48” and 60”, elliptical pipe in sizes 18” to 48”, and catch basin risers in sizes 2’x2’, 2’x3’, and 3’x3’.
The utility and structural wet cast team consists of 13 team members who focus on producing wet cast basin boxes and lids in a variety of configurations and sizes from 2’x2’x2’ to 3’x6’x4.’ They also wet cast 72” manhole sections as well as septic tanks and grease traps with capacities of 1,000 to 2,500 gallons. Additional precast products include retaining wall block and parking bumpers, as well as custom-sized vaults and boxes tailored to project specifications.
To highlight the plant’s capacity, in an average month, the team manufactures approximately 700 manhole components, 500 catch basin boxes and lids, and 60 additional custom-sized vaults and boxes. The facility also produces pre-engineered water distribution and wastewater pretreatment products, including pre-plumbed water meter vaults, backflow preventers, and gravity grease interceptors. A recent notable project was a 15,000-gallon grease interceptor manufactured for a food processing plant in Phoenix, AZ.
Plant operations are supported by two maintenance personnel, five lift operators and drivers, and nine sales and office staff. Adding to its rich history, the office is located inside the former home of the plant’s original owner.
Commited to Quality
Along with all of Northwest Pipe Company’s precast facilities, the St. George plant is proudly certified by the National Precast Concrete Association (NPCA). NPCA sets rigorous standards for production processes, product quality, and safety practices to ensure the reliability and longevity of precast products. Additionally, St. George has been recognized as a UDOT Gold Class Producer for over a decade. To earn the Gold Class distinction, precasters must achieve 90% or higher quality ratings on all UDOT-inspected reinforced concrete products.
The two-person Quality Control team at St. George is an integral part of maintaining the plant’s industry-leading status and ensuring our customers consistently receive products that meet or exceed their expectations. These team members are responsible for pre-pour and post-pour inspections and play a critical role in ensuring all NPCA and UDOT requirements are met. Their expertise and attention to detail help uphold the plant’s reputation for delivering high-quality precast solutions.
Advancing Safety and Productivity
Lean manufacturing, the pursuit of reducing waste and increasing efficiency, is a core principle at Northwest Pipe Company, and the St. George team embodies this commitment to continuous improvement. Recent initiatives focused on the 6S methodology—sort, set in order, shine, standardize, sustain, and safety—have led to significant advancements in efficiency and workplace safety.
One major improvement has been paving the plant’s main travel areas, which reduced airborne dust, minimized equipment wear, and decreased water usage for dust control. The team has also poured several new concrete pads, creating dedicated spaces for tools and materials that make equipment more accessible while improving organization and reducing hazards. These include designated storage areas for manhole pallets, hole formers, and wet cast tools. Another key improvement was the introduction of aluminum protractors for marking core locations on inverts and flat floors of manholes. This simple yet effective upgrade has increased precision and resulted in significant time savings.
Together, these improvements have enhanced efficiency, boosted productivity, and reinforced the plant’s commitment to safety. Every department played a role in these achievements, and the team remains dedicated to identifying new ways to optimize operations and minimize waste.
Building a Niche in the Precast Market
The St. George plant has carved out a unique niche by producing both standard and custom precast structures. “Custom work is a huge part of what we do,” explains Plant Manager Mike Riding. “We build custom structures of all sizes and configurations.” A recent standout project involved a skewed box culvert in which the top and bottom were poured in separate sections that fit together like a clam shell. This was a challenge that required close collaboration across teams, including the fabrication shop at the Geneva Pipe and Precast plant in Orem.
“We’ve always been willing to step outside the box for our customers,” Mike says. “Our team works closely with sales to develop creative solutions that showcase our talent and push the capabilities of our small but mighty plant.” Having started at the facility in 1994 when his father was one of the owners and the team consisted of just five people, Mike has witnessed firsthand how much the operation has evolved. Today, with an output averaging 2,300 tons of concrete products per month, the plant continues to grow its capacity and improve its processes, cementing its role as a leader in the precast industry.
With development in Southern Utah trending steadily upward, the St. George plant is prepared to meet increasing infrastructure demands with expertise, dedication, and grit. Over the years, the Geneva team has strengthened operations with a culture of continuous improvement, earning a reputation as a trusted and reliable partner for critical projects of all sizes. As an integral part of Geneva Pipe and Precast, a Northwest Pipe Company, the St. George team exemplifies an unwavering commitment to quality, efficiency, and customer-driven solutions.
