TPI July 2014

business & market news

Certification for lightweight aerospace tubing solutions

which helps the aerospace industry to reduce maintenance costs. High performance over a broad temperature range and excellent fire/smoke/toxicity performance are additional properties that qualify Victrex PEEK for the aerospace industry. The international AS9100 standard Victrex obtained was especially designed for the aerospace industry. It requires Victrex to have a quality management system in place to consistently provide products that meet customer and applicable legal and regulatory requirements. The standard also specifies that the quality management system must establish processes for continuous improvements and ongoing conformity to regulatory requirements in order to provide products that satisfy the needs of aerospace customers. Frank Schemm, Victrex Pipes aerospace market manager, stated, “All industries we serve benefit from our quality management system and established processes that focus on continuously improving our manufacturing capabilities and products. Being able to provide the highest quality, lightweight Technip is certified as a Top Employer in Australia, Belgium, Brazil, China, Colombia, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Norway, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, The Netherlands, the UK, USA, Venezuela and Vietnam, as well as in Europe and Asia-Pacific regions. Johann Labuschagne, global accounts director for the Top Employers Institute, stated, “Our extensive research concluded that Technip forms part of a select group of employers that advance employee conditions worldwide. Their people are well taken care of. Now that they have received the Top Employers 2014 certification in 19 countries and two regions, they can truly consider themselves at the top of an exclusive group of the world’s best employers.”

Victrex has successfully obtained the rigorous AS9100C/ISO9001:2008 aero- space certification for its Victrex Pipes production lines. This certification gives the aerospace industry the confidence to specify the robust, lightweight tubing made from Victrex PEEK polymer. More than 15,000 aircraft rely on the high performance thermoplastic in demanding applications. By achieving this milestone, Victrex continues to take a proactive approach in providing innovative metal replacement products to help boost the efficiency of current and future aircraft. With aerospace engineers demanding lighter weight solutions, Victrex Pipes are a durable alternative to metal, given their ability to provide weight reductions of up to 70 per cent. Victrex states that, based on averages from recent fuel economy studies, replacing 100m of metal tubing with a thermoplastic system made from Victrex PEEK can deliver up to $3,300 in annual fuel cost savings, as well as reducing CO 2 emissions by 11 tons per plane. In addition to being lightweight, Victrex Pipes inherit the benefit of the base polymer of being non-corrosive, Technip has been certified as a Top Employer 2014 in 19 countries. This independent certification, delivered by the Top Employers Institute, underlines the quality of Technip’s human resourc- es (HR) policies and showcases its dedi- cation to the development of its people. The Top Employers Institute, a specialist in the field of international research into HRmanagementandworkingconditions, has completed this year’s research into the HR policies and practices of a large number of employers across various countries. The organisations examined were assessed based on criteria such as primary benefits, secondary benefits and working conditions, training and development, career development and culture management.

Victrex has received AS9100 certification for the production lines of its lightweight aerospace tubing solutions

products helps manufacturers develop confidence in sustainable solutions enabled by Victrex and its products. “While Victrex offers straight tubing solutions for demanding aerospace applications, we continue to collaborate with industry-leading companies to develop bent, flared and jointed systems to fit the spacing requirements of various aircraft platforms.” Victrex Pipes give engineers the opportunity to create smarter designs to help make the installation process easier for assembly teams. This has become important, particularly with the large backlog of orders that manufacturers have and their need to get aircraft off the assembly line faster. To handle rising demands for new aircraft, it is equally important that Victrex is able to offer stability and security along the entire supply chain.

Victrex plc – UK www.victrexpipes.com Technip a top employer in 19 countries

Thierry Parmentier, Technip’s group human resources director, commented, “The Top Employers 2014 certification sends an important signal to the local employment markets: Technip’s ambitious global HR policy is rolled out everywhere we operate. “Our 40,000 people are the cornerstone of each of our successes and we help them to develop to their maximum potential, regardless of their gender, geographical origin or background.”

Technip – France www.technip.com

Top Employers Institute – The Netherlands www.top-employers.com

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July 2014 Tube Products International