One of the oldest steel pipe and tube makers in the U.S. is set to shutter its Chicagoland factory, and the company largely blames Mexican imports for it.

Zekelman Industries — which brands itself as North America’s largest independent steel tube and pipe manufacturer — told the Chicago Tribune that it plans to close its Wheatland Tube plant on Chicago’s south side in a move that will result in the layoff of over 230 employees.

Those layoffs will start Nov. 1 and continue throughout 2025, while a complete closure date for the factory wasn’t shared.

Zekelman — which has roots dating back to 1877 — told the Chicago Tribune that it blames the factory closure partly on a high influx of steel conduit imports from Mexico, citing a 650% jump since the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement of 2018.

“All we ask is for our trade agreements to be enforced,” said Barry Zekelman, the firm’s Executive Chairman and CEO. “Instead, there will be Americans out of work at a company that pays life-sustaining wages and benefits. How does this help promote the American dream?”

Zekelman cited the same Mexican imports factor for the closure of the company’s Long Beach, CA factory in October 2024, quoting nearly verbatim.

Wheatland is a domestic manufacturer of steel pipe and tube, with a lineup that includes standard and fire sprinkler pipe, mechanical and solar tubing and electrical conduit. According to its website, the company’s products support North American infrastructure and transportation systems, the U.S. Department of Defense, the agriculture and energy industries, commercial and industrial systems and more.

The Tribune reported that Wheatland has no plans to close any of its other factories. The company is based in Illinois and Wheatland, PA and operates other plants in Ohio, Alabama and Missouri

Zekelman’s other subsidiaries include Atlas Tube, Western Tube, Sharon Tube, Picoma, Z Modular and Hayes Modular.