TPT May 2019

I NDUS T RY

SMS group supplies high-performance compact cold mill to Marcegaglia

between 750 and 1,570mm and entry thicknesses ranging between 0.6 and 5mm. The minimal achievable final thickness is 0.23mm. The CCM will be equipped with one pay-off and two reversing reels. Both rolling stands will be realised in four-high design. It will be possible to operate the mill with work roll sets of two different diameters. Excellent strip quality, high productivity and efficient rolling operations are provided by proven SMS group rolling technologies – the CVC ® plus (continuously variable crown) roll shifting technology, which, in combination with work roll bending, ensures a wide flatness setting range. One dry strip system per stand will be provided to

remove surplus emulsion from the strip surface. The plant will be equipped with the X-Shape flatness measuring and control system, which, together with multi-zone cooling, ensures optimal flatness results of the finished strip. The CCM will be operated with the X-Pact ® automation package, which provides a consistent and complete system solution for the high-performance control concepts and strategies implemented by SMS group. In addition to the features aimed at optimising plant efficiency, the TRC ® (total roll gap control) assistance system developed by SMS group will be applied for automatic and stabilised strip threading into the pre-set optimised roll gap. The assistance system makes for stable rolling right from the strip head end, increasing the material yield as a result of reduced strip bulging at the head and tail ends. The very high automation level of the CCM is an important step towards digitalisation and adaptability to future requirements. The new CCM at Marce- gaglia Ravenna SpA is expected to start operation in April 2020. SMS group GmbH – Germany Fax: +49 211 881 4902 Email: communications@sms-group.com Website: www.sms-group.com through to 2022 and is forecast to post the fastest growth of any market due to an expected rebound in drilling activity. Increased building construction activity will support demand in a variety of markets, including water distribution, conduit and DWV pipe. The potable water and storm and sanitary sewer markets are expected to offer the best growth opportunities for plastic pipe, as plastic pipe costs less, is easier to install, and is more resistant to corrosion than metal types. The Freedonia Group – USA Email: info@freedoniagroup.com Website: www.freedoniagroup.com

MARCEGAGLIA Ravenna SpA has contracted SMS group for the complete supply of a two-stand reversing cold mill of CCM ® (compact cold mill) design. Marcegaglia’s headquarters is located in Gazoldo degli Ippoliti, in the Mantua province of North Italy. The new CCM will be implemented at the Ravenna facility where Marcegaglia produces cold rolled carbon steel sheets and strips for a wide range of industrial applications. As a high- performance mill, it is designed to process a comprehensive material mix, including high-carbon and duplex steels, chrome-manganese alloyed steels, and silicon steels. The annual capacity is about 550,000 tons. Depending on the product mix, it rolls strips with widths of

Design concept of the compact cold mill

Oil and natural gas pipe demand to grow DEMAND for oil and natural gas pipe is forecast to grow 11 per cent annually to $15.4bn in 2022 – a strong recovery from severe declines seen during the 2012-2017 period, according to ‘Pipe: Products & Markets’, a new study from The Freedonia Group, USA. the 2012-2017 period, weak domestic demand for oil and gas pipe and a surge of steel pipe imports – particularly of OCTG – held prices down. Going forward, producers will likely raise prices for oil and gas pipe due to increased drilling activity and an expected reduction in import competition brought on by the Trump administration’s 25 per cent tariff on steel and recent anti- dumping measures.

Growth will be driven by an expected increase in drilling activity as oil prices continue to recover from 2016 lows. Increased well completion in key fields like the Permian Basin is supporting gains for OCTG, while bottlenecks in such productive areas are encouraging pipeline construction. Growth will also be supported by a modest recovery in pricing. During

Demand for pipe overall is forecast to advance 6.6 per cent annually to $51.1bn in 2022, rebounding strongly from declines posted during the 2012- 2017 period. The oil and gas market will remain the largest outlet for pipe

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MAY 2019