TPi July 2019

Business & market news

Ground-breaking ceremony marks start of £20mn investment in high-tech factory

Work has started on a new £20mn high-tech factory for Aflex Hose in Huddersfield, UK, with an official turf- cutting ceremony that took place in March. Once operational, the factory will help to boost the company’s production capacity by 70 per cent. Aflex Hose, which is part of the Wat- son-Marlow Fluid Technology Group (WMFTG), innovates, develops, manu- factures and assembles a wide and tech- nically advanced range of PTFE lined flexible hose products that are used globally by food and drink manufactur- ers and throughout the automotive and pharmaceutical industries. The ceremony took place at the build-site, which is located at the Bradley Business Park in Huddersfield. Attendees included representatives from Aflex Hose, its parent company Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Group, Avison Young and GMI Construction Group. The factory is a key investment by WMFTG in the region. The company says that its new facility will catalyse local employment opportunities: it expects that up to 200 new jobs will be

Aflex Hose staff with representatives from GMI and Avison Young

offer to customers. This investment also demonstrates our commitment to cre- ating new and long-term employment opportunities in one of Britain’s most advanced technology businesses.” Aflex Hose plans to complete the new factory by the summer of 2020.

created as a result of the development over the next ten years. Commenting on the official start of construction of the new factory, David Cole, managing director of Aflex Hose Ltd, said, “We are very pleased to be underway with construction work. “The new Aflex Hose factory will ena- ble us to boost production capacity by 70 per cent as well as widen our

Aflex Hose Ltd – UK info.aflex@wmftg.com www.aflex-hose.com

Plastic Pipes conference accepting abstract submissions for presentation

plastic pipes, processing, test methods and performance of plastic pipes and fittings, sustainability and case studies. The full list of key subjects is posted on the conference web page. “In 2018, more than 400 delegates from 40 countries attended to review 93 technical papers, network at the global level and connect with the 33 exhibiting companies,” stated Ms Patterson. “The conferences are the forum to connect to the industry.” Plastic Pipes Conference Association – USA www.plasticpipesconference.com

“The main programme will comprise approximately 100 presentations relating to the design and development, testing, installation and operation of plastic pipes systems,” stated Sarah Patterson, technical director of the PPI and co-chair of PPXX/technical programme manager. “The papers will detail technical solutions or developments addressing engineering issues using plastic pipes systems or components. Also, papers identifying market trends for future growth of plastic pipes and components will be accepted for consideration.” Topic areas include market issues, plastics pipeline solutions, application areas for

The Plastic Pipes Conference Association (PPCA) has issued a call for papers to be presented at its next conference and exhibition, Plastic Pipes XX, which will be held at the Hotel Okura in Amsterdam from 21 to 23 September, 2020. Abstracts must be submitted, in English, by 22 October. Additional guidelines are posted at www.ppxx.eu and www.plasticpipesconference.com Held every two years, the event is hosted by PPCA members: PE 100+ Association, Plastics Pipe Institute, Inc (PPI) and the European Plastic Pipes and Fittings Association (TEPPFA).

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TUBE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL July 2019

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