North America Pipe Corporation

A maker of PVC pipe in Van Buren has announced that it will close, a move that will cost 62 workers their jobs. North American Pipe Corp. laid off 46 employees recently and the remaining 16 will be let go when the plant completes its closure over the next few months. Officials say the decline in housing brought about the closing. The plant's PVC pipe products are used in housing and building products. The plant is a subsidiary of Westlake Chemical Corp. in Houston.