DALLAS , Aug. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Continuing to move forward with its growthstrategy, Hanson Pipe & Precast today announced the acquisition of EastTennessee Precast, LLC, which will establish a new distribution channel andcreate a presence for Hanson in the Knoxville , Tennessee market. Located 25miles west of Knoxville in Lenoir City, East Tennessee Precast began producingsanitary sewer and storm water precast structures in 1998.

"Acquiring East Tennessee Precast represents a great opportunity to enterthe Knoxville , Tennessee market, which is a natural geographic extension fromour current Western Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia and North Carolina markets,"said Joan Blecha , Hanson's Southeast region president. "Expansion into thismarket is in line with Hanson's growth strategy."

Hanson Building Products North America's President and Chief ExecutiveOfficer Richard Manning added, "We are proud to become a part of Lenoir Cityand produce infrastructure for much of the area's systems that keep thecommunity safe and water clean."

Nearly 50 East Tennessee Precast employees will become Hanson employeesand will also have opportunities for further training and advancement.

The East Tennessee Precast facility will be part of Hanson's Southeastregion, headquartered in Green Cove Springs, Fla., servicing Alabama, Florida, Georgia , Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee. More than 30 facilitiesthroughout the Southeast region produce several products, including those usedfor community and roadway development such as reinforced concrete pipe,drainage structures, modular bridges and other precast concrete product.