TPT May 2007

Industry News

Pipe joint and repair specialist Viking Johnson (www.vikingjohnson.com) has opened a Middle East office in Dubai to accommodate growing demand for its products and expertise throughout the region. Headed by international sales manager Mr Steve Lacey, the office will provide ‘local’ technical support in collaboration with the company’s distributors in ten countries. The office can be contacted via telephone on +971 4 887 1558 or fax on +971 4 881 8495. Connect with the industry online @: business briefs cont... Business Briefs Cont… www.tubefirst.com/ forum

Rehau (www.rehau.com), Germany, have announced plans to extend its production capacity and logistics structures. The company has already invested heavily in 2006 and will invest more than €20mn in its Building Technology Sector in 2007. In March 2007 production of PE-Xa pipes began in the Rehau plant in Bourges, France. In April 2007, greater capacity became available in the German plants Viechtach and Triptis. Outside of Europe, the new plant in Cullman, USA was inaugurated at the start of this year. SABIC (www.sabic.com), Saudi Arabia, has announced a net profit increase of 6 per cent for 2006, rising from SR 19.2 billion in 2005 to SR 20.3 billion in 2006. The highest ever achieved by the company since its inception, these profits are partnered by a 7 per cent increase in total operating profits. This success is reflected by the growth in the company’s production output from 46.7 million tons in 2005 to 49.1 million tons last year. The company has recently purchased the base chemicals and polymers business of Huntsman’s UK for a purchase price of US$685mn. ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖

Hayes Tubes Ltd (www.hayestubes. co.uk), UK, has been acquired by Caparo Precision Tubes Ltd (www. caparo.co.uk), a subsidiary of the Caparo Group . The deal involves Caparo’s purchase of a 100 per cent capital share in Hayes. Mr Angad Paul, CEO of Caparo, states “Hayes is a long established manufacturer of precision tubes and its activities will complement those of Caparo.” Another subsidiary of Caparo, Caparo Engineering India Ltd , also recently acquired International Auto Ltd , a specialist in sheet metal. Socotherm SpA (www.socotherm.com), Italy, has been awarded a contract for the design, assembly and installation of an anti-corrosion pipe plant in India. Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) has commissioned the plant for installation at their pipe mill in Rourkela, India. Valued at US$6.5mn, this will be the first pipe coating facility to be installed by SAIL. Installation is expected to start from the first quarter of 2008, and will lead to the supply of 3- layer polyolefin external anticorrosion coatings (Plastykote ® ) on pipes from 8-42" diameter. ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖

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M - STATIC AG POWDER COATING TECHNOLOGY

30 years of experience

ITALY–Tel: +39(0) 536 851616 – e-mail: info@apollosrl.com www.apollosrl.com N.C. punching lines for tubes and profiles

POWDER OUTPUT 180 kg/h per Flat-Jet

HIGH VOLTAGE 20 -100 kV

POWDER CONTROL 1-30 kg/h

ADJUSTABILITY settings on touch panel

3-Layer and FBE rough or tough System

FLAT-JET WRAPPING PIPE COATING

POWDER OUTPUT 24 kg/h per Gun

125mm

HIGH VOLTAGE 20 -100 kV

POWDER CONTROL 1-24 kg/h

MADE TO MEET EVERY REQUIREMENT

ADJUSTABILITY settings on touch panel

3-Layer and FBE rough or tough System

STAR-FORM HOSE PIPE COATING

PIPE COATING PLANTS

FRESH POWDER SYSTEMS

FIRE AND EXPLOSION PROTECTION SYSTEMS

9000 ST. GALLEN SWITZERLAND Tel +41 71 245 25 56 Fax +41 71 245 77 61 www.m-static.com info@m-static.com

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M ay /J une 2007

85mm