TPI November 2020

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The trade magazine for tube and pipe products

November 2020

Viega Industry Installations for industrial manufacturing and engineering.

viega.com/Industry

No need for time-consuming and risky welding and soldering Viega’s cold pressing technology is safer, faster, more efficient, and produces more durable results than conventional processing methods. Even extreme sizes can be pressed in a matter of seconds and remain permanently tight and friction-locked against longitudinal forces. Whether in the automotive, shipbuilding or chemical industry: Viega always fulfills all applicable national and international requirements. Viega. Connected in quality.

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t h e p o w e r i s o u r s t o c k

Editorial Office: Editor in chief

Mr Rory McBride Email: rory@intras.co.uk Ms Helen Gaskell Email: helen@intras.co.uk Mrs Lisa Wright Email: lisa@intras.co.uk

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Publisher Founder

Ms Caroline Sullens

Mr John C Hogg

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Tel: +44 1926 334137 Fax: +44 1926 314755 Email: tpi@intras.co.uk Website: www.intras.co.uk Intras USA Danbury Corporate Center 107 Mill Plain Road Danbury, CT 06811, USA Tel: +1 203 794 0444 Email: doug@intras.co.uk

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This publication and its full contents of layout, text, images, and graphics is copyright protected. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording or any other storage or retrieval system without the publisher’s written permission. The publisher, owners, agents, printers, editors and contributors cannot be held responsible for and hereby exclude all liability whatsoever for errors, omissions or the accuracy and claims printed or inferred in the editorial or advertisements in this, previous or subsequent editions or for any damages, costs or losses caused thereby. Tube Products International reserves the right to edit, reword and subedit all editorial submissions in accordance with editorial policy. Tube Products International expressed graphically or by text is a registered name and style trademark of Intras Ltd, UK. All matters relating to this disclaimer are governed by the laws of England. US copies only: T ube Products INTERNATIONAL (ISSN No: 1755-7216, USPS No: 024-676) is published six times a year: January, March, May, July, September and November by Intras Ltd and distributed in the USA by Asendia USA, 701 Ashland Ave, Folcroft PA. Periodicals postage paid at Philadelphia, PA and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: send address changes to Tube Products INTERNATIONAL, 701 Ashland Ave, Folcroft PA 19032.

© 2020 Intras Ltd, UK ISSN 1755-7216

Tube Products INTERNATIONAL Magazine 46 Holly Walk, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire CV32 4HY, UK Tel: +44 1926 334137 • Fax: +44 1926 314755 • Email: tpi@intras.co.uk

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Contents November 2020

6 Business & market news

24 Products & developments

34 Interview: Sandvik

38 Tube welding technology

44 Miles of HDPE pipe bring potable water to rural area of US By Plastics Pipe Institute, USA

47 Editorial index

48 Advertisers index

The trade magazine for tube and pipe products

Events calendar

www.read-tpi.com

November 2020

The trademagazine for tube and pipe products

The November issue

Viega Industry Installations for industrial manufacturing and engineering.

2020

viega.com/Industry

Noneed for time-consumingand riskyweldingand soldering Viega’scoldpressing technology is safer, faster,moreefficient,andproducesmore durable results than conventionalprocessingmethods.Even extreme sizes canbe pressed in amatterof seconds and remainpermanently tight and friction-locked against longitudinal forces.Whether in the automotive, shipbuildingor chemical industry:Viega always fulfills all applicablenational and international requirements. Viega.Connected inquality.

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1-3 December ValveWorld Expo

Welcome to the latest Tube Products INTERNATIONAL magazine. As a stuttering sense of normality returns to the world it feels like the specific benefits offered by trade shows are more valuable than ever before following months of relative isolation in many parts of the world. There is no technology that can replace face-to-face interaction with another person. No video can replace seeing a machine in operation with your own eyes and with the benefit of advice from the engineer that designed it – or has spent years relying upon it. A recent market survey of more than 4,000 professionals from 130 countries explored the impact of COVID-19 on the global exhibitions industry, delving into key areas such as travel, budgets, and the importance of trade fairs in a post-pandemic world. Nearly two-thirds (62 per cent) agreed that as the novel coronavirus recedes, and a semblance of normality returns, exhibitions will be more important for business (31 per cent), or just as important (38 per cent), compared to the past. A further 64 per cent plan to attend exhibitions in the next eight months, while 36 per cent have been given the green light to do so before the end of this year. The July 2020 ‘Exhibitions post COVID-19’ survey was commissioned by Messe Frankfurt Middle East (MFME), one of the region’s largest trade fair organisers. While a healthy 77 per cent of the survey respondents indicated they may travel abroad for business by the end of 2020, much of this figure (50 per cent) depends on the lifting of international travel restrictions. Half who said they could travel abroad before the end of the year, pending government rules and recommendations, said they would do so by airplane. Encouragingly, nearly 62 per cent would attend exhibitions at their ‘home country’ and abroad, however 25 per cent would only attend an event ‘at home’,

(Düsseldorf, Germany) International exhibition www.valveworldexpo.com 7–11 December Tube Düsseldorf 2020 (Düsseldorf, Germany) International exhibition www.tube.de

2021

9-12 March EuroBLECH (Hanover, Germany) International exhibition www.euroblech.com 16-19 March TOLexpo (Lyon, France) International Exhibition www.tolexpo.com 17-19 March Made in Steel (Milan, Italy) International Exhibition www.madeinsteel.it 25-27 March Tube India (Mumbai, India) International exhibition www.tube-india.com 26-29 May Lamiera (Milan, Italy) International exhibition www.lamiera.net

perceiving reduced travel as better for their health and safety. A promising report considering the extensive impact and damage of COVID-19. Hopefully more and more confidence can return to international travel as 2020 ends and 2021 begins.

I hope that you enjoy the magazine.

Rory McBride Editor in chief

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Business & market news

Marcegaglia among the 2020 Global Awards for Steel Excellence winners after R&D focus

The Marcegaglia group has won the award for ‘Best Operational Improvements’ and ‘Information Technology Services’ at the ‘2020 Global Awards for Steel Excellence’.

The Industrial Group in Steel Transformation was nominated for five awards at the award ceremony, which took place in July 2020, however the annual dinner was not hosted this year

was created to improve product quality and process efficiency. Tensil Pro is applied to all metallic materials, all magnetic and non-magnetic steels, to aluminium or copper alloys, starting from the hot rolling process. Smart Line, on the other hand, was born from the collaboration between Marcegaglia and Fives, from the combination of Tensil Pro and Fives’ great experience in industrial automation. Smart Line integrates all the coil transformation production processes starting from hot rolling up to the finished product. Tensil Pro and Smart Line allow the user to improve production costs thanks to energy saving and productivity increase, to obtain a greater homogeneity of mechanical characteristics (in particular for the automotive sector), to study quality and process trends as they vary of the input material (to alleviate the differences between the different supplies, steel makers). Marcegaglia www.marcegaglia.com

due to COVID-19. The virtual ceremony can be watched online. Marcegaglia Group said: “These awards are the result of the strategic role that research and development has taken on in the Marcegaglia Group in recent years, focused on the continuous improvement of processes and the development of innovative solutions. For five years, an R&D structure has been implemented in the Ravenna plant, based on skills from bodies of excellence, which supports process engineering for the improvement of the production area and researches product solutions customised to customer needs.” Tensil Pro is an online detection system for the mechanical characteristics of materials. It

The awards are the result of many years of investment in R&D

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Business & market news

UKF Stainless to exhibit latest innovations at rearranged Tube Düsseldorf exhibition

UKF Stainless will once again be exhibiting at Tube Düsseldorf in December. Together with its group companies, The Joint Perforating Co, Ferrari Stainless & Alloys and Stainless Metals & Alloys, it will be exhibiting in hall 8, stand number A55. Tube Düsseldorf 2020 is the world’s leading exhibition for the tube industry and the most important showcase for all companies manufacturing, processing and using tubes. UKF Stainless is proud to have exhibited at Tube Düsseldorf since 1996 and has always found the trade fair a perfect place to do business. UKF Stainless will be showcasing its extensive range of high-quality products as well as its dedicated team of staff. The company was delighted with its involvement at Tube Düsseldorf in 2018 – being one of 2,683 exhibitors from 67 countries at the previous event.

UKF Stainless will be welcoming guests from 7 to 11 December 2020 and are looking forward to another successful event. Phil Morris, group chairman, said: “Many employees from each group will be in attendance and we will be pleased to meet with current customers as well as hopefully prospective customers & suppliers. “We will be showcasing the wide range of products and services that we offer as a group, which will also include the products that are achievable on our newly acquired LT5 tube laser. “The trade fair offers tubes made of various materials as a major part of the show, and this is where UKF Stainless Ltd come into its own.” As a major stockholder of stainless steel, welded and seamless tube, the exhibition is perfect for the company.

“The benefits of implementing a single integrated software solution at all TMK production sites include harmonisation of MES and planning business processes and user interfaces at all plants, which allows for reduced implementation costs and time and supports centralised maintenance and lower total cost of ownership. “We are looking forward to a successful project together,” said Harald Henning, PSI Metals director of the strategy committee. The project is being implemented as part of TMK’s Digital Production program and is aimed at improving the efficiency and quality of the company’s system for operational management of production and production processes. TMK www.tmk-group.com Tube Düsseldorf attracts international experts, specialists, innovators and world market leading tube companies. UKF itself utilises innovative technologies such as the new LT5 Tube Laser – a fibre laser generator, which offers precision and cost savings to their customers. UKF’s innovative laser cutter is equipped with a versatile and advanced IPG fibre laser that is capable of processing mild steel, as well as specialised materials such as aluminium, stainless, copper and brass. The machine also delivers dramatic improvements in energy efficiency and is eco-friendly as a result. UKF Stainless holds one of the UK’s most complete stocks of welded stainless- steel tube and pipe. This includes bars, sections, sheet and plate to complete an extensive product offering, with additional products also supplied. UKF Stainless www.ukfstainless.co.uk

TMK digitises its tube production processes TMK, a global manufacturer and supplier of steel pipes for the oil and gas industry, has completed diagnostics of its Russian division’s facilities in preparation for a project to automate its operational management system, including its production planning and manufacturing execution system. The final phase will see the new system applied across all TMK production facilities.

on the market, orders and existing constraints. Combined with the new MES system, it will provide us with significant advantages to achieve TMK’s strategic goals, including expanding its technological leadership in the industry, increasing economic efficiency and maximising its returns on investments into modernising production facilities.” During the project’s first phase, TMK will re-engineer and unify operational production management processes across all of its plants. The second phase will see a rollout of the new system at pilot divisions of TMK’s Volzhsky pipe plant, Seversky pipe plant, Sinarsky pipe plant and Taganrog metallurgical plant.

An integrated solution will be designed and rolled out based on the PSImetals product by German metallurgy software developer PSI under a respective agree- ment signed between PSI and TMK in February 2020. The solution will include the PSImetals Scheduling, PSImetals Flow and Order Planning, PSImetals Pro- duction, Quality and Logistics modules. Vyacheslav Popkov, TMK’s first deputy CEO and chief engineer, said: “A unified planning system covering production, sales and operations will provide TMK with flexibility in a rapidly changing market, continuous planning capabilities as well as rapid access to up-to-date information

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Business & market news

Framework agreement announced for major Baltic Pipe Project contract

Nova People, with its subcontractors Fulkrum Technical Resources (UK) and PUI EKO-INWEST SA (Poland), has announced it has secured a major contract for a significant role in the ongoing Baltic Pipe Project operated by Gaz-System SA. The companies will provide specialised personnel to support survey, construction and inspection activities across both offshore pipelay and landfall operations. Commenting on the project, Boye Riis, CEO, Nova People, said: “We are delighted to be awarded this major contract. Nova People and Fulkrum are both known for excellent service and professionalism during project execution phases on a worldwide basis. Having PUI EKO-INWEST in our team secures a link to Polish culture and Polish candidates whenever required by Gaz-System, supporting our quality goals.” The Baltic Pipe Project is a strategic infrastructure project developed in collaboration between Gaz-System SA and Energinet.dk (Denmark) and is co-financed by the EU to create a new inter-European gas corridor that will supply gas directly from Norway

via Europipe to the markets in Poland, Denmark and adjacent countries.

Owen Gibbons, commercial director, Fulkrum Technical Resources, said: “We have an extensive track-record working on both subsea and pipeline workscopes globally, and we are delighted to combine with Nova People’s recruitment expertise, to work with Gaz-Systems and support the Baltic Pipe Project.” Gaz-System SA is responsible for the 36" pipeline from landfall at Pogorzelica in Poland to Faxe in Denmark, where Energinet will take it across Denmark and finalise the Pipeline route with a tie-in to Europipe. The project has an expected completion date by Q4 in 2022. Nova People www.nova-people.com Fulkrum Technical Resources

The contract is part of the ongoing Baltic Pipe Project

www.fulkrum.com Gaz-System SA www.en.gaz-system.pl

Increasing awareness of gas pipe safety Polyethylene pipe manufacturers – Peak Pipe Systems Ltd, Fusion Group Ltd & ControlPoint Ltd – recently held an innovative product familiarisation day to help increase awareness of the manufacturing, testing and quality assurance processes that must be adhered to in order to create safer material supply into the gas industry.  Peak Pipe Systems has now joined the limited supply chain with a full, low pressure (LP), medium pressure (MP) and intermediate pressure (IP) pipe range. In addition to this news Peak now offer a full range of conforming fabricated fittings to GIS PL2-6, becoming one of the only manufacturers and suppliers of fully conforming, pressure rated, fabricated gas fittings in the UK.

full butt fusion capabilities along with a bespoke fabrications department. The tour helped to highlight the Peak Pipe Systems fully approved pressure conforming range including mains pipe, service coils and fabricated fittings. Guests were also invited to tour neighbouring facilities involved in the intensive testing that helps to ensure PE pipes are compliant and fully safe in pressurised applications. These facilities included Fusion Group Ltd and ControlPoint Ltd. Peak Pipe Systems Ltd

The company hosted a full technical event for the Yorkshire Gas Association (YGA) earlier this year and used the YGA gas forum as a platform to announce that, as of January 2020, it had obtained full Kitemark certification on it’s 7 bar intermediate pressure (IP) orange gas pipe range.

Operations director of Peak Pipe Systems, Russ Brown, conducted a factory tour of unit 1 (pipe manufacture) & unit 2 (fabrications) facilities, showing employees from Cadent Gas, AVK UK, Ameon Utilities, Energy Assets, Kimplas, PE Weldright, and National Grid the

Fusion Group Ltd ControlPoint Ltd www.peakpipesystems.com

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Business & market news

Made in Steel: positive trend in sales of exhibition spaces for 2021 event

The organisers of the Made in Steel exhibition have announced positive sales trends for the important conference and exhibition held in Southern Europe, which is planned to take place from 17 to 19 March 2021 at Fieramilano Rho, Milan. Despite the Coronavirus Pandemic, Made in Steel reported that the registration of exhibitors, “is in line with that recorded during the last edition and most of the historic players have reconfirmed or are reconfirming their participation in the event”. In the first four months of 2020, the Italian steel industry turnover both on the domestic and foreign markets dropped by about 26 per cent compared to the same period the previous year. This is due to the downturn in steel demand: domestic consumption is expected to contract by 18 per cent in 2020, while EU consumption is

Made in Steel will be held for the first time within the same week, and with some overlapping days, with two other fairs of the steel industry: MADE expo, a trade fair for construction and design, and Transpotec Logitec, a trade fair for transport and logistics. “We would like to make this contem- poraneity a definitive choice”, said Mr Franchina. “We would like to present ourselves in an enlarged format, so that all visitors can feel that they are attending an event with an international scope, intended as a unique opportunity to really compete with other synergistic foreign platforms” explained Mr Franchina. “To achieve this, we have chosen to make access to Made in Steel free of charge, subject to registration.” Made in Steel www.madeinsteel.it

The Made in Steel event will be held in Milan, Italy

expected to contract by approximately 16 per cent. This decline is resulting in a significant reduction in steel production. “Made in Steel can be the relaunching platform for a supply chain – the steel industry – which is the most heavily affected in Europe,” said Mauro Franchina, sales manager of Made in Steel. “The real question is not “why participate?”, but “why not participate?” if we all believe that together we are stronger, and if we recognise that Made in Steel has always aimed at supporting the steel industry.”

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Business & market news

Successful trials using fossil-free fuels in steel pellet production process

Trials using fossil-free fuels in LKAB’s pellet plant have produced successful results within the framework of the HYBRIT initiative. It is believed the world’s very first fossil-free iron ore pellets are within touching distance. SSAB, LKAB and Vattenfall intend to be the first in the world with a value chain for fossil-free steel. Fossil-free steel production starts in the mine, and the development of the next generation of pellet plants is under way. LKAB’s biggest challenge and

contribution to HYBRIT is to develop fossil-free pellets, which requires a change of heating technology in the process. “Achieving positive results from different heating technologies represents an important milestone on the road to delivering the world’s very first fossil- free iron ore pellets and further on in the value chain for fossil-free steel. The HYBRIT initiative is a key to achieving LKAB’s goal of being a leading supplier of fossil-free iron ore, initially in a fossil- free value chain from mine to fossil-free steel, and in the long term totally carbon dioxide- free,” says Markus Petäjäniemi, senior vice-president, market and technology, at LKAB. Three alternative fuels for industrial pellet production have been tested on a pilot scale: pyrolysis oil, hydrogen and plasma. All require further development before full-scale implementation is possible. At the same time, full-scale trials are under way with bio-oil in HYBRIT’s pilot plant at LKAB’s industrial estate in Malmberget, Sweden. Using biofuel as a heat source for one of LKAB’s existing pellet plants will result in fossil carbon dioxide emissions for operations in Malmberget being cut by up

to 40 per cent during the trial period. The full-scale trial period will last until 2021 and is one part of HYBRIT’s pilot phase, the long-term goal being to be first in the world with a fossil-free value chain from mine to finished steel product. The results from the pilot-scale fuel tests are already showing that all fossil-free fuels can achieve the desired result. This is a necessary step towards the goal of producing fossil-free steel for the global market from mine, using fossil-free electricity and hydrogen, to finished steel product, thereby cutting Sweden’s carbon dioxide emissions by ten per cent. “More steel will be needed as the world’s population increases and cities grow. But current steelmaking generates vast amounts of carbon dioxide emissions. It is not sustainable. With the HYBRIT initiative, we’re revolutionising an entire industry and introducing a new technology for fossil-free steel on an industrial scale. SSAB’s goal is to be able to offer fossil-free steel to the market as early as 2026 and to be totally fossil-free as a company by 2045,” said Martin Pei, CTO at SSAB and the initiator of the HYBRIT initiative. “It’s very pleasing that our joint HYBRIT project is constantly taking important steps forwards, steps that will enable us to produce fossil-free steel, which has a natural place in a fossil-free society. We’re working in a focused way to make it possible to live a fossil-free life within a generation,” said Andreas Regnell, SVP strategic development at Vattenfall and Chairman of HYBRIT. Construction of the pilot plant for fossil- free sponge iron (DRI/HBI) in Luleå will be completed during the summer, and preparations are under way to build a temporary hydrogen storage facility to store fossil-free hydrogen in caverns. SSAB www.ssab.co.uk Vattenfall www.group.vattenfall.com LKAB www.lkab.com

Current steelmaking generates vast amounts of carbon dioxide emissions

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Business & market news

Rever Offshore completes two-phase multi-million pound IRM contract

Rever Offshore, a subsea project delivery and execution provider to the offshore energy industry, has announced the completion of a two-phase contract with energy major Total E&P UK. In March this year Rever Offshore undertook an onshore project management and engineering campaign, accompanied by an initial 41-day offshore operation and subsequent ten day campaign, to conduct essential inspection, repair and maintenance (IRM) work on Total’s North Sea production assets. The workscope also included the com- pletion of two complex and bespoke construction projects comprising the installation, hook-up and protection of a 2.6km electrical cable.

Barry Macleod, Rever Offshore CEO, commented: “As we continue to build on our long-standing relationship with Total, the safety of all involved has remained as important as ever. This two-phase project saw a concerted effort from Rever, Total and third-party contractors to prepare for this essential IRM project, while ensuring the highest level of planning to protect our people and assets. “This contract signifies that Rever not only continues to operate during this challenging period, but that we remain a trusted contractor, invested in keeping staff safe during all our operations, no matter the environment and circumstances.

“We look forward to working with Total throughout 2020 and into the future.” Rever Offshore www.reveroffshore.com

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Business & market news

Valve World Expo 2020 will present many innovations

Fast and effective means to fight the coronavirus pandemic are being sought by countries around the world. Valves, which are used in respirators, for example, are also part of the solution. In addition, facilities equipped with valves must be available to effectively produce treatments and vaccines against COVID- 19 in millions of units in short time periods. The valve industry is working flat out on components to play its part in overcoming the crisis. Hospitals must be supplied with enough medical oxygen – an essential requirement that has been intensified during the coronavirus crisis. “In addition to stationary oxygen tanks, mobile tanks are increasingly being used in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, which are urgently needed for temporary hospitals and medical stations”, explained valve company Herose. The company’s own valves are used for the technical configuration of these tanks. According to Herose, the products require a high degree of precision, as well as complete purity, and are therefore particularly suitable for medical oxygen. “They are 100 per cent free of oils, greases and other contaminants. This is essential, as in an oxygen-enriched atmosphere, oils and greases are at risk of quickly self-igniting.” To meet the increased demand for valves and to protect the health of employees, the company has worked to optimise its production processes. “We are aware that our valves help save lives”, said Martin Maas, managing director of the Fluid Technologies EMEA division. The global demand for respirators has been rapidly increasing in intensive care units in hospitals. To help meet this demand, IMI Precision Engineering has expanded its production capacity for Flatprop valves in Palézieux, Switzerland. These valves control flows “and facilitate highly precise dosing of gases and gas mixtures. These properties make them essential components in respirators”, explains IMI Precision Engineering. The global demand for respirators is rapidly increasing in intensive care

units in hospitals. To help meet this demand, IMI Precision Engineering has expanded its production capacity for Flatprop valves in Palézieux, Switzerland. Respirator manufacturers require a great number of complex individual parts – including safety valves for protection. respirator manufacturers and in this way we are contributing to the protection of human life”, explains Goetze Armaturen. But the company’s products are not only found in respirators. “We also support manufacturers in disinfection technology by providing them with parts.” Hoerbiger Flow Control is also on the front line of crisis management. “Our piezo valves are a key component for respirators”, said managing director Philipp Baldermann. “We have major orders from Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.” In some cases, current monthly orders are exceeding the normal annual volume. Festo also manufactures piezo valves that serve as air and oxygen valves in medical technology. They are noiseless, light, have very short switching times, require little installation space and are suitable for oxygen applications, for example in ventilation technology. Valves are also part of particle-filtering half-face masks (FFP masks). As exhalation valves they ensure that the exhalation resistance is reduced. This makes FFP (filtering face piece) masks less stressful for the wearer, which is why they are preferred. The search for treatments and vaccines is being driven forwards on a global scale. Once they are found, suitable production facilities must be available. A process must be established, “that not only allows the transfer from laboratory-scale production to million- fold scale, but also one that ensures that the quality, safety and efficacy of each individual batch of vaccine can be checked and reproduced at any time”, said the equipment manufacturer GEA. “We also supply

Valve World Expo will take place in Düsseldorf in December

Intermsofproductionsensitivity,vaccines differ greatly from many other drugs. “This is because vaccines are biological drugs based on microorganisms. In contrast to chemically synthesised products, they are potentially subject to greater fluctuations. Small changes in production conditions can have a huge impact on the stability of production and the quality of the final product”, explained GEA. A strictly regulated manufacturing process therefore ensures that consistent quality, safety and efficacy are guaranteed. “For all these reasons, existing production facilities and capacities cannot be multiplied simply as desired.” GEA is in a position to develop solutions – from the planning phase through to the manufacture and automation of turnkey facilities and process lines that meet the strict requirements. Medical technology is proving to be essential not only in combating the coronavirus and saving lives, but also in healing and improving quality of life. The valve industry is regarded as particularly innovative and future- oriented, according to the German Medical Technology Association In recent years the market for medical technology in Germany, for example, has grown by over four per cent annually. In light the coronavirus crisis, this year should not be any different. In fact, medical technology will be in great demand beyond the current crisis for the benefit of mankind. Valve World Expo www.valveworldexpo.com

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Business & market news

Flexenergy pipe network optimises heating system for conversion of office block

Pre-insulated pipe supplier Flexenergy has provided a former office building in York, UK with ultra-thermally efficient pipe technology for heating and hot water. James House has been converted from an office block to 57 apartments over two blocks that provide short term/ temporary emergency accommodation for the homeless in York. The apartments comprise one, two and three bedroom units for families, couples and single people. Flexenergy’s sales director, Sandy Fairley, commented: “This project presented one or two challenges due to the restricted area and congestion of trenches onsite. However, our pipework and V-Flex valve system were very well suited to optimising the thermal efficiency of the hot water network, with the promise of low maintenance and

reliable performance for many years to come.” Flexenergy supplied 50m of 90mm pre- insulated polybutylene pipe and 100m of 75mm pipe to distribute hot water from a centralised energy centre to the apartment blocks. Two pairs of 75mm V-Flex valves were also installed, one pair for each block, to enable sections of the heat network to be isolated for maintenance or future expansion. Flex- energy also supplied bespoke fabrica- tions for tees at building entry points. According to Flexenergy, the ground- works for this particular project needed very careful planning as the site was congested with drainage and electrical service trenches, as well as trenches for the heating and hot water pipe work. However, the flexible nature of the pipe provided by Flexenergy overcame any issues and was easy to install. 

James House has been converted from an office block to 57 apartments

Flexenergy’s pipe technology is thermally efficient with none of the corrosive limitations of conventional steel pipe. Its properties also ensure improved overall energy efficiency, lower long-term system life cycle costs and better sustainability. It is the only pre-insulated plastic pipe in the UK that can be fully welded, securing the integrity of the network while minimising heat losses. Flexenergy www.flexenergy.co.uk pre-insulated

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Business & market news

Trend towards PE pressure pipe systems By Michael Ritz

Pressure pipe systems made of polyethylene are being used in local gas and water supply systems worldwide with a growing market share. This trend, especially with regard to PE pressure pipes with ever larger nominal pipe sizes, is far from over. This is an impressive success story, especially in view of the fact that today’s HDPE pipe quality was only developed 65 years ago. Historically, the development of PE pipes began as early as 1933 with the development of the low-density PE raw material: LDPE, which was produced using the so-called high-pressure process. From today’s perspective, not only was the process uneconomical, but the properties of the PE produced in this way were by no means comparable with today’s PE pressure pipe quality. 20 years later, in 1953, the production of a high-density Polyethylene, HDPE, was successful. This technology, developed by Karl Ziegler and Giulio Natta, enabled polymerisationusingthemoreeconomical and versatile low-pressure process. As early as 1954, the Hoechst company in Frankfurt (today LyondellBasell) started the production of raw materials and PE pressure pipes. Hoechst worked on a broad front to market the new material. Initial applications were found, long-term internal pressure tests were initiated and scientific material studies were carried out to support market demand for applications. In the post- Sung Won Steel Co Ltd, Korea, has announced that it has received an API 5L licence (5L-1174) and has started production, shipping pipe to the USA market. Sungwon Steel USA currently holding inventory in Houston, Texas and California. Manufacturing HFW ERW linepipe and standard pipe, from 2" through 8" ODs, up to X52 PSL-1 grade, the company is a heavy wall ERW pipe manufacturer, able to produce standard wall thicknesses up through the heaviest

war years in the Ruhr area, gas suppliers were looking for an alternative to the grey cast iron standard of the time, as serious failures repeatedly occurred due to ground subsidence and brittle pipes. Initial application tests showed that the welded, elastic PE pressure pipe systems behaved as theoretically expected and did not suffer any damage even in places where soil movements caused failure with the old market standard. These safety advantages of PE pressure pipe systems were decisive for their rapid acceptance by the utilities and subsequently in the gas industry. One of the decisive factors for the rapid spread of the material in pipeline construction was the array of economic advantages of the new type of pipe. The laying of PE pipes of 100 to 1,000m in length, which were installed on-site in the pipe trench as coils or drums, was also groundbreaking. This resulted in fewer connection points and, in addition to the considerable cost savings, in increased system security. Unlike other materials, polyethylene is corrosion-free without restriction, which over time has led to increasingly versatile applications, even for larger nominal pipe sizes. A leap in development that went hand in hand with larger diameters is represented by applications in which almost endlessly long PE pressure pipes were produced directly on the coast. The pipes extruded into the sea were towed to their destination floating

behind ships, for example to connect an island with the mainland. The PE-100 “Peace Water Pipeline” project, an 80km-long DN 1500 pressure pipeline from Turkey to Cyprus, floating freely across the Mediterranean and is unparalleled in the world. The trend towards larger pipe diameters is favoured by the need to transport drinking water, sometimes over long distances. In addition, ever larger industrial plants are being built directly next to the sea in order to be able to manufacture more economically. The production facilities are cooled with sea water. PE is the preferred pipe material for large pressure pipe systems not only because of its corrosion resistance. Using PE also results in an increase of both the pipe diameters and the diameters of the necessary pipe connecting parts. The wall thickness of the pressure pipelines results in the achievable, required operating pressures, whereby it is particularly important that the fittings with the same connection dimensions do not restrict the load-bearing capacity of the piping systems – ie that they are fully pressure-resistant. The production of stable fittings, which includes the manufacturing of fully functional flanges, is the unique selling point of the Reinert-Ritz company in Nordhorn in Lower Saxony.

Reinert-Ritz GmbH www.reinert-ritz.de Sung Won Steel begins ERW pipe production

Steel produce ‘quad stencil’ – API 5L GrB/X42 / ASTM A53GrB / ASME SA53GrB and ‘triple stencil’ – API 5L X52 PSL-1 / ASTM A53GrB / ASME SA53GrB as often required by the North American market and equipment is in place to manufacture according to PSL-2 requirements, and the company expects API to recertify the mill accordingly as travel restrictions resulting from COVID-19 are gradually lifted.

wall thicknesses such as Sch120, 140, 160 and XXH – wall thicknesses that have traditionally only been fabricated by seamless manufacturers. Sung Won

Sung Won Steel Co Ltd www.sungwongroup.co.kr

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Tube 2020: pipes more in demand than ever You can not see them when they are doing their job – yet the spotlight is on them more than ever – pipeline projects are usually laid underground, or on the seabed, yet they are the stars with a constant presence in media headlines. New pipelines such as the TurkStream, Nord Stream 2, EastMed and the Baltic Pipe Project are delighting energy providers and users alike – and their suppliers too. There is a huge thirst for high quality pipe.

volume came to 2.2 million tonnes for a total stretch of 2,500km. Europipe – whose partner companies are Salzgitter Group and Dillinger Hüttenwerk AG – made 890,000 tonnes of this amount for around 1,100km. And there are more projects in the pipeline: in January Gaz-System signed a contract with Europipe for the delivery of underwater pipes for the offshore segment of the Baltic Pipe Project. From October 2022, the scheduled pipeline should enable the import of more gas – up to 10 billion cubic metres – from the deposits on the Norwegian continental shelf to Poland. “Europipe manufactures pipes with a nominal diameter of 900mm, and a nominal length of 12.2m per section,” explained the project partners, Energinet and Gaz-System. The contract also includes pipes of the same diameter for the short, shore-based section from the gas main to the receiving terminal. It will also includes all the protective coatings in the project, “that will protect the pipeline as well as minimise the effects on its surroundings and the environment.” The steel wall thickness of the gas main will be between 20.6mm and 23.8mm. “The pipeline will be plated with a special 4.2mm thick corrosion protection coating, which will protect the seabed during its operating life,” the project partners point out. The Baltic Sea pipeline will also be protected by a 60-110mm thick concrete coating. Construction work on the 216km long remote gas pipeline Zeelink has officially begun in April 2019. The project also include the construction of a new gas pipeline from the Belgian-German border to Legden bei Ahaus (Northwest

Rhine Westphalia, Germany). The gas main should guarantee the switch-over from L- to H-gas – ie from natural gas with a low calorific content to natural gas with a higher calorific content for millions of household, commercial and industry clients. The share of L-gas is dropping due to declining outputs in the Netherlands. The project company is a joint venture between Open Grid Europe (75 per cent) and Thyssengas (25 per cent). The commissioning is planned for March 2021. The project brings Mannesmann Großrohr an order that includes around 215km of gas piping with a diameter of 1,016mm (DN 1,000). The pipes, coated with polyethylene, are about 18m long and weight up to 8 tonnes. The ca 100,000 tonnes of hot wide strip as a raw material for the spiral seam- welded gas main come from Salzgitter Flachstahl. The 543 arches for the gas main were produced in the Group’s own pipe-bending plant, where long seam-welded main pipelines from raw materials from Salzgitter Mannesmann Grobblech were processed. Schedules for the Eastern Mediterranean Pipeline (EastMed) are also taking shape. In January, Greece, Cyprus and Israel signed a deal to build the EastMed, that from 2025 should be carrying natural gas from the Leviathan field in the Mediterranean, via Cyprus and Crete to the Greek mainland. This is in addition to the Poseidon and IGB pipelines, that further transport natural gas on to Italy and other European regions. The plans show that the EastMed pipeline should be 1,900km in length and have an annual capacity of 10 billion cubic metres. Tube 2020 www.tube-tradefair.com

TurkStream joined the numerous existing pipelines in the Black Sea at the beginning of the year – it connects the Russian and Turkish gas transport system. One line supplies gas to Turkey and more gas through Turkey to south and south-east Europe. Together the pipelines supply 31.5 billion cubicmetres – newsworthy in itself. It is the first time, worldwide, that a pipe with a diameter of more than 810mm has been laid as deep as 2,200m. More boundaries are shifting as pipe manufacturers make more and more product developments and innovations. Nord Stream 2 has two lines planned that will run broadly parallel to the already laid Nord Stream pipe, running through the Baltic Sea. They should carry some 55 billion cubic metres of gas a year from Russia to Germany, where it will be further distributed throughout the EU. “The rectilinear shore-based section was built using an innovative open construction method using trench coffers,” reported Nord Stream 2 AG. This procedure minimised the construction site, as the pipework was pulled through pre-prepared trenches and connected in the middle of the shore-based section. The pipe supplier had to shoulder a mammoth task: more than 200,000 pipe segments were delivered. The total

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Combi-CS pedestrian stacker wins IFOY award as one of the best solutions of 2020

Combilift has been announced as a winner at this year’s IFOY Awards 2020, which honours the best products and solutions of the year. The company won the Warehouse Truck Lowlifter Category with its innovative Combi-CS pedestrian counterbalance stacker. The Combi-CS is the only pedestrian counterbalance stacker that will operate in a conventional reach truck aisle for space saving and productive storage and handling. It features Combilift’s unique, internationally patented and award winning multi-position tiller arm, which can be turned to the left or right of the unit to position the rear drive wheel, allowing the operator to remain in the safest position- at the side of the machine, rather than at the rear as is the case with other pedestrian stackers. This ensures optimum visibility of the load and surroundings as well as guaranteeing maximum safety in areas

where other personnel or members of the public may be present. Combilift CEO and Co-founder Martin McVicar said: “On behalf of the whole Combilift team I am delighted to receive the IFOY 2020 Award and proud that this innovative product has been recognised as valuable solution for the intralogistics sector. We extend our thanks to the IFOY jury for selecting us for this important award.” Due to the current circumstances, the hundreds of people that normally attend the IFOY ceremony could not get together personally, so the organisers rolled out the virtual red carpet for the winners on the internet at www.ifoy.org. IFOY founder and executive chairperson of the IFOY Jury, Anita Würmser, said: “Special times require special solutions and this year’s IFOY Awards were dedicated to the best innovations in

intralogistics andmoreover to the people who make intralogistics happen.” Finalists’ products underwent stringent IFOY audit and innovation checks by industry experts and journalists from leading logistics media from 19 countries also tested and evaluated the equipment for qualities such as technology, design, ergonomics, safety, marketability, customer benefit and sustainability. Comments on the Combi-CS included: “The Combi-CS is a really compact smart pedestrian operated truck and a nice hands-on solution. It offers significant added value in terms of narrow aisle operation and safety in confined environments. It is a customer- focused solution with a very high level of market relevance.” Combilift www.combilift.com

Wenzhou Bizba Tube Manufacturer Company Limited is a Wenzhou, Zhejiang (China), based, highly famous company that does not compromise on quality while producing Steel Tube, Cannula Needle, Straight Steel Tube, Steel Center Pin and Center Pin. Our dedicated efforts in quality production work can be well-seen in the type of products that we bring forth. We have advanced production machinery and techniques for producing great quality products in standard and custom specifications. We lay our complete focus over manufacturing bulk quantity products. Our skilled and talented experts indulge in quality working to make every client happy and satisfied. In the coming years, we plan to consistently serve quality-made items.

SS capillary Changed diameter tube Material: sus304

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Made in China

Wenzhou Bizba Tube Manufacturer Company Limited Mobile: (+86) 13017844567 E-mail: bizbacn@Gmail.com Address: Road 16 No. 588 Zone, Binghai City Wenzhou Province, Zhejiang, China

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