TPT January 2007

C ontents

Time to get posting… The two most remarkable business developments I have witnessed in four years working on Tube & Pipe Technology have been the proliferation of global exhibitions and the rise of the Internet. Globalisation has signalled a crammed exhibition calendar, catering to a new and exciting order of emerging markets. This year will be the first with a different exhibition featured in every issue – Tube Arabia in this issue, Boru in March, Tube Russia in May, Tubotech in July, Tube Southeast Asia in September, and Fabtech in November. This will ensure that 2007 is a bustling year for everyone. It is impossible to imagine global business being quite so brisk and lucrative without the revolutionary way in which the Internet has come to define our industry and working practices. Global trade and the Internet now go hand-in-hand, and our industry is the best example of how globalisation and the Internet can have a positive effect. In my leader of July 2005, I highlighted the debate over the relationship between print media and the Internet. To progress this matter, every print edition of Tube & Pipe Technology will now be partnered by an e-zine, available online at www.read-tpt.com. We know that many readers will always enjoy the magazine in print form, but the digital version will be equally valuable and convenient, reaching an even wider readership. Further progress in the digital arena has come with the launch of an online forum at sister site www.tubefirst.com/forum, where forum members can now discuss technical issues and business opportunities. Judging by the number of emails I mistakenly receive each month asking for product quotations, this forum will be an invaluable resource. But a forum can only work successfully if two criteria are fulfilled: awareness and participation. So for 2007 I urge you all to join and get posting to make this forum a global community.

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Rich Sears Editor • Email: richard@intras.co.uk

Incorporating Tube & Pipe Asia

Published by: Intras Publications , 46 Holly Walk, Leamington Spa, CV32 4HY, UK Tel : +44 1926 334137 • Fax : +44 1926 314755 Email : tpt@intras.co.uk Website : www.read-tpt.com USA Office (Editorial only): Intras Limited, 272 First Ave, Apt 12G, New York, NY 10009, USA Indian Office: Jintras Ltd, Subarna (Ground Floor) P21/N, Block A New Alipore, Kolkata 700 053, India Tel: +91 33 2407 0701 • Fax : +91 33 2407 0700 Email : jeroov@vsnl.com All rights reserved – © Intras Ltd ISSN 0953-2366 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 published in this, previous or subsequent editions or for any damages, costs or losses caused thereby. Tube & Pipe Technology reserves the right to edit, reword and subedit all editorial submissions in accordance with editorial policy. Tube & Pipe Technology 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. Tel/Fax : +1 212 614 9266 Email : dfabian@rcn.com

Editor • Rich Sears Features editor (USA) • Dorothy Fabian Editorial assistant • Christian Bradley Production manager • Lisa Benjamin Design • Julie Tomlin

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• Catherine Sayers English speaking sales • Giuliana Benedetto Italian sales • Hendrike Griffin German speaking sales • Linda Li Chinese sales • Jeroo Vandrevala Indian sales

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Advertising co-ordinator

• Liz Hughes

Accounts manager

• Richard Babbedge

Subscriptions

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Publisher

• Caroline Sullens

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• John C Hogg

US Copies only: Tube & Pipe Technology (ISSN No: 0953-2386) is published bi-monthly by INTRAS Ltd and distributed in the US by DSW, 75 Aberdeen Road, Emigsville, PA 17318-0437. Periodicals postage paid at Emigsville, PA. POSTMASTER: send address changes to Tube & Pipe Technology , PO Box 437, Emigsville PA 17318-0437. Tube & Pipe Technology magazine is available on subscription, or via membership of the International Tube Association – See www.itatube.org for more membership benefits