Two companies join Airpark

United Piping, Inc., and Twin Ports Paper & Supply, Inc., have joined the roster of companies at Airpark, the industrial park that has been developed by the Duluth Seaway Port Authority.

United Piping, which specializes in mechanical contracting, pipe fabrication, engineering and underground utility construction, is building an office and manufacturing facility of approximately 10,000 square feet on its site of nearly seven acres.

The company has been in business since February 1997, when it purchased Ogston's, Inc., changed the name and discontinued the plumbing and heating portion of the business.

United Piping has 12 employees but can grow to 45 in busy times, according to company officials.

Twin Ports Paper & Supply, Inc., has acquired nearly four acres for the construction of a 20,000-square-foot office complex.

The company, formerly located in rural Rice Lake Township, has supplied paper necessities such as bags, toilet paper and hand towels to regional supermarkets for nearly six years. It has grown to serve more than 40 grocery stores in northern Minnesota and expanded to include service to restaurants, schools and lodging organizations.

"This [new building] will allow us to bring our family-run organization to the next level," said President Paul Laskowski. "We have 16 employees now, eight of whom are family members, and we plan to add two more employees once construction of the new facility is complete."

The number of companies operating on Port Authority properties now totals 56, with more than 800 employees.

Photos by Tim Slattery.