TPT July 2009

C ontents

www.read-tpt.com

Union gives strength While preparing this issue of Tube & Pipe Technology , I read a news story about a trio of architects who have put forward an ambitious proposal to construct a tunnel connecting Bolivia to the Pacific Ocean. The plan would provide the landlocked country with access to the sea for the first time since the 19 th century War of the Pacific, after which it ceded its entire coastline to Chile. The 93- mile tunnel would link Bolivia to an artificial island in the Pacific, built from earth excavated during the construction of the tunnel. One of the architects, Humberto Eliash, commented, “ Poets say that we must build a bridge between Bolivia and the Pacific that jumps over Chile. We wanted to see if it could work in reality. ” While the considerable technical and economic problems presented by such a project could be overcome, the political hurdles would be harder to clear. The proposed tunnel would have to cross borderlines disputed by both Peru and Chile, and the artificial island would be located in waters claimed by the same two countries. However, the Chilean foreign minister has said that Chile “ is open to all suggestions that foster Latin American integration. ” This kind of international cooperation can provide mutually beneficial results. This maxim also applies to our industry, where cooperation between companies can help them survive in these challenging economic times. Another of Bolivia’s South American neighbours, Brazil, will soon host a trade event that will provide opportunities for such cooperation. Tubotech 2009, featured in this issue of Tube & Pipe Technology , will take place in São Paulo, 6-8 October. The fifth staging of the tube and pipe industry event will focus on raw materials, tube manufacturing and processing, tubes and connecting pieces, machinery for tube production and measuring and monitoring equipment. I hope that attendees to the event will make the contacts they need to make the most of Brazil’s relatively strong and stable economy. As architect of the Bolivian tunnel, Mr Eliash, said, with refreshing optimism, “ …I believe that most fascinating of all is that if we can imagine it, we can do it .” Christian Bradley, Tube & Pipe Technology

E ditorial I ndex ............. 0 2 I ndustry N ews ............. 0 6 T echnology U pdate . .... 0 36 G lobal M arketplace .... 0 72 A dvertisers I ndex ........ 0 108 On the front cover you see static testing of the Pipe Raiser, developed and manufactured by Dhatec in the Netherlands. Engineers measure and monitor the behaviour of the Pipe Raiser as it is subjected to various loads and movements. The Pipe Raiser is an adjustable support system for transporting large diameter pipes by truck. To keep the dimensions of the load within the allowed proportions, one pipe is lifted above the other. By transporting two pipes per truck instead of one, a lot of transport costs can be saved on a pipeline project. The Pipe Raiser is designed and calculated to provide a safe static and dynamic situation. Applied forces are prescribed by European regulations and approved by the TüV in Germany. Dhatec continuously develops new solutions to protect the quality of the line pipe during its entire logistic process. F ront C over S tory

Features editor (USA) • Dorothy Fabian

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 Tel/Fax : +1 212 614 9266 Email : dfabian@rcn.com 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.

• Gill Watson

Editorial

• Christian Bradley

Editorial assistant

• Lisa Benjamin

Production

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

Sales & marketing

• Liz Hughes

Advertising co-ordinators

• Andrea McIntosh

• Liz Hughes

Subscriptions

• Richard Babbedge

Accounts manager

• Caroline Sullens

Publisher

• John C Hogg

Founder

US Copies only: Tube & Pipe Technology (ISSN No: 0953-2366) 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

When you have finished with this magazine please recycle it