TPT January 2007

Industry News

TMK and Welspun announce plans for joint venture TMK, Russia, has announced that its Volzhsky Pipe Plant has agreed to set up a joint venture with Welspun Gujarat Stahl Rohren Ltd, the Indian manufacturer of high-end large-diameter pipes for the oil and gas industry. A 60 per cent stake in the joint venture will be owned by VTZ, with 40 per cent belonging to Welspun. Large-diameter welded pipes are used in the construction of oil and gas trunk pipelines. Russia’s largest consumers of these products are Gazprom and Transneft. The new venture will lead to increased capacities for the production of double submerged arc welded (DSAW) longitudinal pipes (single-seam) with Ø 20-56" (508mm to 1,420mm), up to 40mm wall thickness and 18m in length, in addition to spiral welded pipes. On completion of the DSAW plant, the joint venture’s capacity in the production of large-diameter welded pipes is expected to be more than 1.2 million tons per annum. Large-diameter longitudinal welded pipe production is scheduled to begin in Q4 2007. TMK’s general director, Mr Konstantin Semerikov, said, “ The TMK-Welspun joint venture enables the company to expand its participation in pipeline projects not only in Russia and the CIS but beyond .” Mr B K Goenka, Welspun’s vice chairman and managing director, commented that the partnership would allow the company to provide a wide array of products for onshore and offshore linepipe requirements to its customers. He said, “ We have already done most challenging projects like supplying pipes for the world’s deepest pipeline in the Gulf of Mexico, and this JV will give us the opportunity to cater to the needs of the burgeoning oil and gas industry of Russia .”

Record results for EuroBlech 2006 The organisers of EuroBlech 2006, the 19 th international sheet metal working technology exhibition, have reported a record-breaking show with 1,409 exhibitors from 40 countries. Innovations and cutting edge technological developments were on display in every sector of the product range. Always a feature of the event, EuroBlech 2006 featured an even larger number of live machine displays.

For the first time the event covered an exhibition area of 76,000m 2 net in seven halls and attracted 64,353 trade visitors. Show organisers, Mack Brooks Exhibitions, were particularly satisfied with a 25 per cent increase in foreign visitors. The number of visitors from all over Europe, and particularly from Eastern Europe, has grown substantially. The number of visitors coming from Asia has also doubled since the previous event in 2004. exhibitors at EuroBlech, the current economic situation in the sheet metal working industry has substantially improved over the last two years. It was reported that there was lively trading activity in the halls and the mood was buoyant. According to

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For the first time the event covered an exhibition area of

76,000m 2 net in seven halls

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Large increases in new business contacts and sales activities was also a success of the event. A large proportion of exhibitors are already planning to participate at EuroBlech 2008 which will be held in Hanover from 21-25 October 2008. › Over 1,400 exhibitors were in attendance at sheet metal working exhibtion, EuroBlech, with 64,353 visitors – a 25 per cent increase

Mack Brooks Exhibitions Ltd – UK Fax : +44 1727 814 401 Email : press@mackbrooks.co.uk Website : www.mackbrooks.com

TMK – Russia Fax : +7 495 775 7601

Email : tmk@tmk-group.com Website : www.tmk-group.com

Welspun Gujarat Stahl Rohren Ltd – India Fax : +91 22 2490 8020 Email : sales_wgsrl@welspun.com Website : www.welspun.com

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J ANUARY /F EBRUARY 2007