TPI March 2025

Wider tubes offer greater possibilities: how composites are advancing wide diameter tube development By Lauri Turunen, product manager for tubes, Exel Composites

and supports high-voltage equipment while withstanding environmental conditions like heavy rain and strong winds and currents. In the oil & gas industry, these tubes are used as pipelines, effectively managing high pressure and flow rates associated with transporting fluids over long distances. This enables the safe and efficient delivery of oil, gas and other liquids. Additionally, wide diameter tubes play a vital role in robotics and military applications. They are used in large scale masts and antennas, providing the strength and stability required for long-distance communication and surveillance. For mobile towers and other adjustable equipment, they serve as telescoping poles, maintaining structural integrity when extending or retracting, essential in dynamic environments. Why pultruded composites? Composite materials, such as carbon fibre and fiberglass, provide substantial benefits over traditional materials for wide-diameter tubes, particularly when manufactured using the pultrusion method.

Wide diameter tubes are defined as those with a diameter greater than 100mm and are designed to handle a variety of industrial applications due to their robust size and strength. These tubes are engineered to support substantial loads and resist external forces, making them crucial for projects that demand structural integrity. In the construction sector, wide diameter tubes serve multiple functions, such as structural supports, utility poles and fender systems in marina construction. Their load bearing capacity ensures stability in structural applications Here Lauri Turunen, product manager for tubes at pultruded and pull-wound composites specialist Exel Composites, explores the versatility of wide tubes, how new materials are outperforming traditional ones, and where the future of tubes is heading. With a projected value of $145bn by 2030, the large diameter pipe market is poised for significant growth, driven by rising investments in water management and infrastructure renewal. However, the applications of wide diameter tubes extend beyond these projects.

The large diameter pipe market is poised for significant growth, driven by rising investments in water management and infrastructure renewal

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March 2025 TUBE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL