Charting a course for the next 50 years, Webco Industries on Tuesday celebrated a new facility named after its founder.

Close to 200 people turned out for the christening of the 72,000-square-foot F.W. Weber Leadership Campus in Sand Springs.

“The fact is that none of us have done anything to deserve this facility,” said Webco CEO Dana Weber, daughter of William Weber, who died about six years ago at age 92. “I’m really happy that our employees recognize that. This is not about anything we’ve done or anything we’ve earned or anything we deserve. This is about the future. This is about forever.”

Established 55 years ago, Webco provides high-quality carbon steel, stainless steel and other metal specialty tubing products designed to industry and customer specifications.

Its new three-story facility will house the company’s leadership and IT teams, as well as the Webco Tech Center, which is responsible for research and development, advanced testing, prototyping and metallurgical problem-solving.

The Tech Center previously had been a shared effort across several company locations.

“Being the technical leader in our industry led us to recognize the need for a state-of-the-art technology center,” Weber said. “…Our forever focus inspired us to build this technology center as an integral part of a leadership campus.

“We didn’t build it for us to enjoy. We built it to inspire us and those who will follow us. We built it to inspire a company full of entrepreneurs to create, to innovate, to collaborate and to always do the next right thing.”

Webco’s new campus is located on land formerly home to the L.E. Rader Juvenile Detention Center, which closed in 2011. Webco purchased the land, which is adjacent to the Webco Star Center manufacturing facility, from the Sand Springs Economic Development Authority and redeveloped it to house the new campus.

The company’s former corporate headquarters building will be remodeled and updated to serve as the primary location for Webco University, which is responsible for initial and ongoing training for the company’s roughly 1,400 employees.

Mike Neal, president and CEO of the Tulsa Regional Chamber, said Webco is as strong and durable as the steel products it provides.

“Reared largely during the Great Depression, when jobs and money were scarce, Bill Weber learned the value of a dollar and the sweat it took to earn one,” Neal said. “So, when Webco got its start in 1969, he took that appreciation and made it a part of his company’s culture, developing and trusting personnel, promoting from within, and allowing employees to share in the firm’s success. And since becoming CEO in 2011, Dana has only strengthened that legacy.

“The result is what you see before us today – a majestic facility representative not of a company looking back, but of one forging ahead.”

Tulsa County Commissioner Karen Keith, Oklahoma Rep. Kyle Hilbert and Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt were among the other speakers to offer congratulations Tuesday, with Stitt appearing via a video.

“We all know of companies that have failed to innovate,” Hilbert said. “…At one time they were leaders in their industry, but for whatever reason, they rested on their laurels and they got surpassed by upstarts.

“What we’re witnessing today is Webco’s commitment to not be one of those companies. They have a commitment to forever, to invest in themselves, to invest in the future.”