TPi January 2011

www.read-tpi.com

The World of Tube & Pipe Products, Materials & Ancillaries

January 2011

SEWERAGE & DRAINAGE PIPES 2011

PLAST I C PRESSURE P I PES 2011

The latest technology and market trends in the pressure pipe industry

Market trends and technical developments in polymers in sewage and drainage pipes

The combination of these two focused events creates the most important plastics pipes event in 2011. If you are a specialist, then attend the conference that matches your expertise. If you have a general interest in plastics pipes then attend both for a bargain rate. For more information and to reserve your place at our discounted early booking rate, please contact Adele Brown Tel: + 44 (0) 117 924 9442 Email: ab@amiplastics.com

23-24 February 2011 MaritimHotel, Düsseldorf, Germany

22-23 February 2011 MaritimHotel, Düsseldorf, Germany

Images courtesy of: egeplast Werner Strumann GmbH & Co. KG

Images courtesy of: Flowtite Technology AS

Sewerage & Drainage Pipes sponsored by:

Organised by: Applied Market Information Ltd

Plastic Pressure Pipes sponsored by:

h CC-GRP Pipe Systems

Fit for open cut, above ground and trenchless installation methods such as pipe jacking, microtunneling and sliplining in the following fields of application:

Sewage Potable Water Irrigation Drainage Hydro Power Thermal Cooling Sea Outlets Power Industry

E Engineering GmbH Pischeldorfer Str. 128 | 9020 Klagenfurt | Austria T +43.463.48 24 24 | F +43.463.48 21 21 info@hobas.com | www.hobas.com

Plastic Tube: The Right Choice !

Kennedyallee 1-5 D-53175 Bonn

Tel. +49 (0)228 / 91477-0 Fax +49 (0)228 / 91477-19 kunststoffrohrverband@krv.de www.krv.de

Editorial Office: Editor

Mr Rory McBride Email: rory@intras.co.uk

Editorial Assistant

Mr Christian Bradley Email: christian@intras.co.uk

Design & Production

Ms Lisa Benjamin Email: lisa@intras.co.uk

Publisher

Ms Caroline Sullens

Founder

Mr John C Hogg

Advertisement Material & Production: Ms Liz Hughes

Email: liz@intras.co.uk Email: andrea@intras.co.uk

Ms Andrea McIntosh

International Advertising Sales: Ms Tracey Callaghan Email: tracey@intras.co.uk • Tel: +44 1926 834688 Mr Doug Zirkle – USA, Canada, S. America Email: doug@intras.co.uk • Tel: +1 203 794 0444 Ms Hendrike Morriss – Verkauf & Marketing (Deutschland, Osterreich, Schweiz) Email: hendrike@intras.co.uk • Tel: +44 1926 834687 Ms Giuliana Benedetto – Vendite & Marketing (Italia) Email: giuliana@intras.co.uk • Tel: +44 1926 834686 Ms Linda Li – 中国大陆，台湾，香港以及远东地区销售代表 Email: linda@intras.co.uk • Tel: +44 1926 834685 Ms Jeroo Vandrevala – Indian Sales (English, Hindi & Gujarati speaking) Email: jeroo@intras.co.uk • Tel: +91 33 24070701

Subscriptions: Subscriptions Manager

Ms Liz Hughes Email: liz@intras.co.uk Tel: +44 1926 334137

Accounts Manager

Mr Richard Babbedge Email: richard.b@intras.co.uk

Tube Products INTERNATIONAL is published by Intras Ltd, UK Europe: 46 Holly Walk, Leamington Spa Warwickshire CV32 4HY, UK

Tel: +44 1926 334137 • Fax: +44 1926 314755 Email: intras@intras.co.uk Website: www.intras.co.uk

USA:

E ditorial O nly Ms Dorothy Fabian

272 First Avenue, Apt 12G, New York, NY 10009, USA Tel: +1 212 614 9266 • Fax: +1 212 614 9266 Email: dfabian@rcn.com Intras Ltd, Jeroo Vandrevala Subarna (Ground Floor) P21/N, Block A New Alipore, Kolkata 700 053, India Tel: +91 33 2407 07 01 • Fax: +91 33 2407 07 00 Email: jeroov@vsnl.com

India:

INTRAS INTRAS LIMITED

Copies are also available to members of the International Tube Association

© 2011 Intras Ltd, UK ISSN 1755-7216

US copies only: Tube Products INTERNATIONAL is published quarterly 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 Products INTERNATIONAL, PO Box 0437 Emigsville PA 17318-0437

Tube Products INTERNATIONAL Magazine 46 Holly Walk, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire CV32 4HY, UK Tel: +44 1926 334137 • Fax: +44 1926 314755 • Email: tpi@intras.co.uk www.tubeproductsinternational.com

Contents January 2011

8 Business & Market News 20 Products & Developments 40 Fittings 44 Show Feature: Boru 2011 46 Feature: Materials for Tube Making 52 Feature: OCTG & Pipeline Products 56 Cladding in the field of industrial applications By Jean-Pierre Barthoux, EWE, head of technological dept, Polysoude & Jürgen Krüger / alfalang, technical essays and translations, Lippstadt, Germany 60 The potential of high power lasers for tube and pipe cutting in nuclear decommissioning By PA Hilton, AH Khan and C Walters, TWI Ltd 63 Editorial Index 64 Advertisers Index

3-6 March 2011 Istanbul, Turkey

TT-COC-002403

The World of Tube & Pipe Products, Materials & Ancillaries

Whenyouhave finishedwith thismagazineplease recycle it

events calendar

A bright new dawn

Welcome to the latest issue of Tube Products International. This month we have features on fittings, OCTG & pipeline products and materials for tube and pipe making so there should

2011 8-11 January

Tekno / Tube Arabia 2011 International Exhibition www.tube.de

22-24 February

AMI Plastic Pipes International Exhibition www.amiplastics.com BORU 2011 International Exhibition www.borufuari.com

be something for everyone to enjoy.

It’s been an exciting time for the magazine and its team recently. We have welcomed a new dedicated marketing executive to the team who has brought some great ideas and I am sure you will be hearing from shortly. Tracey Callaghan can be contacted at tracey@intras.co.uk. She is the person to contact if you want to use the magazine for advertising and to help publicise a new product in the industry. We also have a full-time web designer, Helene Latour, who has just made the final finishing touches to our new website, which looks fantastic. Make sure you have a look for yourself at: www. tubeproductsinternational.com. All of this means that the magazine is easier to access and is read by more people than ever before, so the future is looking very bright. In the past few months I have also been busy taking the magazine around the world to Tube China 2010 in Shanghai and to FABTECH in Atlanta and it has been a big hit. We were made to feel very welcome in both countries and I particularly enjoyed visiting China for the first time and hope to return there in the not too distant future. I am soon off to Dubai for Tube Arabia 2011. Next issue we have features on stainless steel tubes, civil engineering and Tube Russia so send any releases to me as soon as possible for inclusion along with all the usual products and company news.

3-6 March

23-26 May

Tube Russia International Exhibition www.metallurgy-tube-russia.com CITYPIPE Trade Fair 2011 (Moscow, Russia) www.citypipe.ru Tube Southeast Asia International Exhibition www.tube-southeastasia.com

31 May- 3 June

13-15 September

19-24 September

EMO Hannover International Exhibition www.emo-hannover.de Tubotech (Brazil) International Exhibition www.cipanet.com.br

4-6 October

13-16 November

Fabtech / AWS Welding Show International Exhibition www.fabtechexpo.com

15-18 November

TOLexpo (Paris) International Exhibition www.tolexpo.com

2012 26-30 March

Tube Düsseldorf International Exhibition www.tube.de

May

Tube Russia International Exhibition www.metallurgy-tube-russia.com

25-28 September

Tube China International Exhibition www.mdna.com

Finally, I wish you all Seasons Greetings and a prosperous New Year.

For further information on any of the above events please contact INTRAS Limited UK office (address and contact details on page 4)

Rory McBride Editor

6

Tube Products International January 2011

www.read-tpi.com

31 January 2011

news business & market

Panton McLeod has helped keep drinking water clean

Cleaning project in Loch Calder

Water quality engineering firm Panton McLeod has completed a high profile cleaning project to keep drinking water supplies at their purest levels. The firm, which is an expert in cleaning, repairing and inspecting structures used to store drinking water, successfully cleaned one of the main storage tanks at a water treatment works in Caithness, Scotland, in order to maintain purity levels for customers in the region. The project saw a team from Panton McLeod drain millions of litres of water from the tank at the Loch Calder water treatment works before removing a build up of natural materials from the floor of the facility. The routine work ensures there is no chance for turbidity issues to arise in the water supply. Nigel Owen, team supervisor with Panton McLeod, said, “This was an important project for us to be involved with, as Loch Calder is a prestigious facility in Scotland. It was opened by Prince Charles less than a decade ago,

and this was the first time that the tank had been completely drained, so it was vital to make sure everything went like clockwork during the cleaning work. “These structures need to be cleaned regularly to ensure that the drinking water stored in them remains as pure as possible. Sometimes you can do this while the tanks are still active and on-line, but in this case we actually drained the main tank, took it out of service and deployed a team of engineers to physically clean the structure. “We had five lads who spent more than two days cleaning, and they removed all of the material that had naturally built up on the floor of the tank. Although this natural build-up poses no threat to customers, it is important to remove it so that there is no turbidity in the water supply. “This kind of routine work always has to be meticulously planned in order to guarantee that no pressure is put on the supply of water. We liaised extensively

with Scottish Water to ensure that the cleaning work was carried out as swiftly as possible with no disruption whatsoever to customers’ supplies.” Simon Harrison, Scottish Water operations manager, added, “The kind of work Panton McLeod carried out for us is essential and we’re pleased with the result, particularly as it didn’t disrupt supplies for customers. We supply clear, fresh drinking water to Caithness and North Sutherland from the Loch Calder plant and this piece of maintenance helps us continue to do so.” In addition to traditional drain down projects, the firm has also pioneered the use of innovative underwater robots, which can be used to clean and inspect service reservoirs or tanks while they are still online, further minimising disruption to customers’ supplies.

Panton McLeod – UK info@pantonmcleod.co.uk www.pantonmcleod.co.uk

8

Tube Products International January 2011

www.read-tpi.com

news business & market

Byard Spiral Mill to acquire 15% in Hannibal Pipes

in the south of Spain are classified a priority especially relating to water pipelines. Moreover, our equipment is designed and fabricated to serve the oil & gas market, which is still strong in North Africa and hopefully will grow in EU starting from 2012-2013.” Hannibal Pipes also designs and manufactures a large range of steel special pieces, including bends, T-connections, sleeves and couplings, in accordance with clients’ requirements. Byard Spiral Mill is a supplier of equipment for spirally welded steel pipe production, and during the last 30 years has sold its equipment to important worldwide pipe manufacturing companies, including Ratnamani, Welspun, Essar, Milan International (Ssangyong Piling), Surja Rosni Group and Rico Australia.

Hannibal Pipe Solutions SA has announced that Byard Spiral Mill has finalised a 15% share capital investment in Hannibal Pipes SA (previously fully owned by Hannibal Pipe Solutions SA). Hannibal Pipes’ first phase investment is equal to €10mn, and Byard Spiral Mill has acquired 15% for €1.5mn. Hannibal Pipes, located in Hellin (Albacete) within the Autonomous Region of Castilla La Mancha, is the first spirally welded steel pipe mill to operate in the south of Spain. Byard Spiral Mill will be the technical partner for supply and operation of pipe manufacturing equipment, initially having a yearly capacity of 90,000M/tons. The Byard production line is capable of manufacturing spiral steel pipes with diameters from 508 to 2,540mm and having a thickness up to 22mm. Pipe production is expected to start in Q1 International manufacturer Welspun Corp Ltd has announced the appointment of David Delie as president of Welspun Tubular LLC. Mr Delie is a 30-year veteran of the steel industry, with many of these years spent working in the tubular side of the business. He was previously with Berg Steel Pipe Corporation in Panama City, Florida and Mr Delie will assume his new duties in Little Rock, Arkansas effective January 2011. “We are looking forward to having David onboard as soon as possible,” commented Lauri Malkki, CEO of Welspun Corp Ltd. “His rich experience and expertise will help to strengthen our continued growth in the US market over the coming years.” “I am very excited to join Welspun Tubular,” said Mr Delie. “The company’s remarkable growth in the US market is a pipe

2011 and the major targets are the water and oil & gas pipeline projects in the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa. Hannibal Pipes is located in a strategic area close to 80% of incoming pipeline projects planned in Spain. Directly connected by railway with the Cartagena Port, Hannibal Pipes is in a suitable location to serve North African destinations. “Having Byard Spiral Mill on board is for us of paramount importance as we are now in the best position to offer to our clients the most reliable products in the most strategic location,” stated a Hannibal Pipes spokesman. Mr Ting, chairman and CEO of Byard Spiral Mill, commented, “We decided to invest in Hannibal Pipes after thorough market analysis. Despite the EU economic situation, some projects credit to its outstanding workers based in Arkansas. I look forward to building on this success, and continuing the company’s commitment to supply products from multiple sources with quality and capabilities unmatched in the industry.” Welspun Corp announced earlier in 2010 that it is set to add more than 230 jobs and to invest over $30mn in its Little Rock, Arkansas facility, the company’s first large-diameter pipe manufacturing location in North America. With this expansion, Welspun will employ more than 600 people, more than doubling the workforce at the plant since its opening in 2009. Welspun Tubular LLC is a spiral pipe and coating facility, spread across 740 acres.

Byard Spiral Mill – Malaysia info@spiralpipe.com www.spiralpipe.com Hannibal Pipes SA – Spain info@hannibalpipes.com www.hannibalpipes.com

President of Welspun Tubular LLC appointed

Welspun Corp Ltd – USA www.welspuncorp.com

9

www.read-tpi.com

January 2011 Tube Products International

news business & market Ameron to Sell TAMCO ownership

James S Marlen, Ameron’s chairman, president and chief executive officer, stated, “Ameron began evaluating the strategic alternatives for TAMCO in late 2008 due to the long-term demand forecasted for the steel rebar market in the west and, importantly, the shift in competitive dynamics that occurred in the past few years. We concluded that the potential of TAMCO would be more fully realised under the ownership of a full-line, vertically-integrated steel company such as Gerdau. “Ameron began divestiture discussions with leading strategic buyers in 2009 and engaged [investment banker] Houlihan Lokey once it was determined that there was sufficient interest to conduct an auction.” Mr Marlen concluded, “Ameron has had a very successful investment in TAMCO for many years, and we have enjoyed a rewarding relationship with TAMCO’s other shareholders – Mitsui and Tokyo Steel. I thank them for their support over the years. Overall, from a strategic standpoint, the divestiture of TAMCO makes good business sense; MST Seamless Tube & Pipe, based in South Lyon, Michigan, has increased its workforce to near-record levels after a three-month period of strong sales. The manufacturer of seamless cold- drawn pipe and tube has had a recent hiring surge that brings its total number of hourly and salaried employees up to 250, near where it was before the state’s economic downturn. A decrease in sales volume nearly two years ago necessitated a slight downsizing. As South Lyon’s largest non- governmental employer, the downsizing weighed heavily on MST’s executive management, who immediately went to work to minimise the impact. “Because of the decreased sales, we have worked diligently over the past year to manage costs, and we’ve been successful keeping profits in check,” said Les Whitver, vice president of operations.

from a financial standpoint, we were successful in executing a transaction that should be favourable for both the sellers and the buyer. “Going forward, we will concentrate on growing the company in closely- related businesses, principally core pipe systems for the transmission of water and corrosive fluids and gases and related infrastructure products.” Ameron is a producer of water transmis- sion lines and fabricated steel products, such as wind towers; fibreglass- composite pipe for transporting oil, chemicals and corrosive fluids and specialised materials; and products used in infrastructure projects. The company’s businesses operate in North America, South America, Europe and Asia. The company also has partial ownership in several unconsolidated affiliates in the USA and the Middle East. Ameron International Corporation – USA www.ameron.com In 2010, MST experienced a 36% increase in tonnage booked and has seen a marked increase in distributor and OEM sales of mechanical tubing. Boiler and pressure tube sales have been steady, with notable increases in pipe sales. MST’s recent addition of a UV coating line has positioned the manufacturer to sell pipe into the distribution market. Current demand for pipe and tube from MST is so strong, lead times for products have been moved from four weeks to seven or longer. “The overall economic recovery has helped fuel MST’s increased business levels, but I believe a lot of the credit is owed to our dedicated and determined sales group,” said Ted Fairley, vice president of sales and marketing.

Ameron International Corporation has announced the signing of a definitive agreement to sell its 50% ownership of TAMCO, an unconsolidated affiliate, to Gerdau Ameristeel US Inc for $82.5mn in cash, before transaction costs and working capital adjustments. TAMCO’s other two shareholders, Mitsui & Co (USA), Inc and Tokyo Steel Manufacturing Co, Ltd also agreed to sell the remaining 50% interest in TAMCO to Gerdau for an additional $82.5mn. TAMCO is a leading mini-mill that manufactures steel rebar primarily for markets in California, Arizona and Nevada. Located inRanchoCucamonga, California, TAMCO is one of the largest rebar mills in the western USA.

Steady sales spur seamless tube and pipe manufacturer forward

316 Stainless Steel Fittings Advanced Fluid Specialists in Stainless Steel Stainless Steel stockholder Specialists in Stainless Steel Fittings, Flanges, Tubes & Valves 316 Stainless Steel Fittings

ADVANCED FLUID TECHNOLOGIES 35 Finchwell Handsworth Sheffield S139AS Tel:+44 (0)1142448560 Fax:+44 (0)1142448561 Email: info@advancedfluid.co.uk www.advancedfluid.co.uk

35 Finchwell Road, Handsworth She eld S13 9AS, UK Tel: +44 (0)114 244 8560 Fax: +44 (0)114 244 8561 Email: info@advanced uid.co.uk www.advanced uid.co.uk

MST – USA info@mstube.com www.mstube.com

10

Tube Products International January 2011

www.read-tpi.com

news business & market

MCA Hire launches website for pipeline equipment

by giving customers a dedicated store for their pipeline projects. The new website will further enhance this offering, which provides a unique ‘mains to meter’ product solution, local utilities project experts and pipeline equipment hire.

MCA Hire, a supplier of pipeline products for hire, sale and refurbishment to the utilities market, has launched a new online portal to provide specialist and in-depth information on sourcing the right equipment. The new site contains detailed information on key products including butt fusion and electrofusion equipment, as well as industrial welding equipment and trenchless technology. Instructional videos and animations are also available to help customers source the right equipment for their project, making it a ‘one-stop’ portal for customers. Luke Clarke, deputy brand marketing manager at Wolseley UK, commented, “The MCA Hire site is an invaluable resource for customers looking for an easy and efficient way to source project equipment. Not only is there detailed information and helpful videos on each

product but there is also access to a team of expert sales advisors at the click of a mouse.”

MCA Hire – UK www.mcahire.co.uk

Drain Center – UK www.draincenter.co.uk

Part of Wolseley UK, MCA Hire supports the Drain Center utilities product offering

The MCA home page

Marcegaglia doubles its presence in Poland Marcegaglia has opened a new manufacturing plant in Kluczbork, Poland, as part of its investment campaign. More than €100mn was dedicated to the new manufacturing unit, which is specialised in the production of carbon steel precision tubes for automotive, structural and pressure applications, with an expected yearly output of 300,000 tons. Marcegaglia strategy includes new openings in Russia and China, as well as major upgrading of other plants. Marcegaglia Kluczbork will also host a service centre for strips and sheets, and will serve as the main logistics hub for Marcegaglia products in Northern and Eastern Europe. The manufacturing unit, based in the special economic zone of Opole, spreads over 80,000m 2 of covered surface devoted to manufacturing and storage, within an overall area of 450,000m 2 served by railway tracks. It hosts six tubing mills dedicated to welded precision tube production (carbon grades only, diameter 12 to 168.3mm and thickness 0.5 to 8mm) from hot rolled, cold rolled, pickled and galvanised steel. As a service centre for strips and sheets, Marcegaglia Kluczbork also has two slitting lines for coil manufacturing (width 300 to 1,650mm, thickness 0.3 to 6mm, weight 36 tons), with a cutting speed of up to 380m/min and strip width up to 1,500mm.

Marcegaglia SpA – Italy www.marcegaglia.com

11

www.read-tpi.com

January 2011 Tube Products International

news business & market

Threaded joint qualification tests Interpipe has successfully passed the qualification tests for its UPJ (Ukrainian Premium Joint) at the Oil State Industries (UK) Ltd UKAS Accredited Test Laboratory in Scotland.

Accreditation Service), which is the only existing body of accreditation in the UK and is recognised by the British Government. Tubing pipes with the UPJ threaded connection produced at Interpipe NTRP mill passed the qualification tests, during which the pipes were tested for crushing and tearing. Tests of specific samples of batch pipes were carried out on special stands. This additional measure of control prevents the destruction of casing under internal tearing or external collapsing pressure in the drilling process.

Test results from Oil States Industries, Ltd confirmed the compliance of the UPJ threaded connections to the ISO 13679:2002 standard of tubing pipes at the CALL II level, which are used in oil and gas industry. Fadi Hraibi, director for products and resource management at Interpipe, said, “The testsprovedthehigh reliabilityofUPJ threadedconnections. According tosome indicators the exploitation characteristics of joints even exceeded the industry norm. In particular the results of the break exceeded the norm by 1.3 times, illustrating the pipes’ reliability. We’re honoured to supply our pipe products with the UPJ connection to some of the largest oil and gas companies, such as Syrian Petroleum Company, the National Iranian Oil Company and others.” Interpipe – Ukraine press-office@interpipe.biz www.interpipe.biz Global partner for heat exchanger tubes Salem Tube International has relocated to a purpose built factory in Northumberland, England. The new factory is 200m in length and 30m wide, and has been specifically designed to house the company’s updated manufacturing facilities under one roof. In addition to the new manufacturing facility, the company has a new 8,000ft 2 office area with meeting and conference rooms. The move to the new premises allows the company to stock 2,000 tonnes of heat exchanger tubes in all materials, and enables the production of U-bend lengths of up to 30m on new bending lines. With the latest technology and installation of two ten tonne overhead cranes, the new and increased capacity means the company can satisfy demanding delivery requirements worldwide. Salem Tube International Ltd – UK enquiries@salemtube.net www.salemtube.co.uk

Oil State Industries is the accredited centre of UKAS (The United Kingdom

12

Tube Products International January 2011

www.read-tpi.com

news business & market

Alcoa launches fifth annual Worldwide Month of Service

need. This is the outcome by which we ultimately measure our success.”

Month of Service is the centrepiece of year-round volunteer efforts by Alcoa employees, who in 2009 gave 650,000 hours of service to 9,000 charitable organisations – the equivalent of 325 people working full-time. Their time was matched with $4mn in Alcoa volunteer grants. More than 6,000 Alcoa employees in 12 countries across Europe took part in Month of Service. In Russia, 2,500 ‘Alcoans’ worked on environmental restoration projects and assisted the underserved. Alcoa Spain worked alongside 150 local non-profit organisations, restoring waterways and planting 1,000 trees. In France, employees promoted sustainability by hosting biodiversity workshops, cleaning rivers and recycling. Alcoa Switzerland employees served meals to those in need and provided skills development at a women’s shelter.

Alcoa employees prepared to set a new volunteering record in October, during the company’s annual Worldwide Month of Service, with more than one-third of Alcoa’s global workforce ready to give their time, talent and hands-on support to strengthen local communities. Throughout October 23,000 Alcoa employees volunteered in close to 700 service events across 24 countries. The projects addressed the needs of local communities where Alcoa operates, from strengthening literacy and STEM (science, technology, engineering andmathematics) skills, to bolstering capacity of community service organisations, to improving the natural environment through tree planting and recycling. Employees’ collective efforts supported the work of 1,600 non- profit organisations.

mobilises employees to make a positive impact in their local communities. More than 190,000 people across Alcoa and thebroader communityhaveparticipated in Month of Service volunteer events since its inception in 2006. “At Alcoa, community service is a core value, and our employees continually look to give back in ways that are both meaningful and sustainable,” said Alcoa chairman and CEO Klaus Kleinfeld. “Month of Service was organised five years ago to demonstrate Alcoa’s commitment to its people, the causes that are important to them and the needs of the local communities where we do business. Working with outstanding non-profit partners throughout the world, we have grown our Month of Service activities each year, reflecting the passion and persistence of our people and enabling us to help more people in

Alcoa Inc – USA www.alcoa.com

Celebrating its fifth year, Alcoa’s Month of Service is a company-wide event that

60 years at YCT The birthday celebrations at Yorkshire Copper Tube continue as the company launches its latest edition of Tube Talk. Following the success of its first specially extended Tube Talk in April 2010, the company completes its journey through 60 years of manufacturing at its Kirkby plant with another four additional pages of nostalgia.

The latest edition of Tube Talk can be obtained by emailing tubetalk@icgonline.co.uk or by calling +44 1772 679383.

All of Yorkshire’s copper tubes carry the British Kitemark, and the company’s quality management system is BS EN 9001 approved.

Yorkshire Copper Tube – UK info@yct.com www.yct.com

13

www.read-tpi.com

January 2011 Tube Products International

news business & market UK distributor for 3D CAD data search engine Avanquest ProcessFlows, a provider of business process transformation solutions, has been appointed the sole UK distributor for ShapeSpace, a new enterprise scale, 3D CAD data search engine/document management solution developed by ShapeSpace Ltd, for users in the fields of engineering and manufacturing. Dr Andrew Sherlock, founder and CEO of ShapeSpace Ltd, commented, “Engineering companies, such as motor and aerospace manufacturers, invest heavily in product design and in the systems to help them create, manage, store and process product data. But typically, these systems provide only basic search and retrieval tools, so opportunities are regularly missed to re-use designs or to rationalise existing parts libraries. Using ShapeSpace allows an organisation to ‘wring more’ from their existing investments in product design, ultimately delivering a higher level of customer service and profitability – a message very much aligned with Avanquest ProcessFlows’ philosophy.” The addition of ShapeSpace technology expands the portfolio of solutions ProcessFlows can offer, as well as opening up new business opportunities in alternative vertical markets for its channel partners.

Dr Andrew Sherlock, founder and CEO of ShapeSpace

Avanquest ProcessFlows managing director Chris Thompson

and/or product lifecycle management (PLM) capabilities. It integrates with all major CAD, PDM/PLM and back office systems, delivering search-by-shape with text search and 3D visualisation capabilities, enhancing keyword and metadata searches with a simple to use geometric search. Results are presented collectively for visual comparison in full 3D. By understanding the geometry of components, ShapeSpace gives organisations a set of tools with which to manage their parts libraries, allowing them to browse, quickly find, consolidate and rationalise duplicate parts.

Chris Thompson, managing director of ProcessFlows, said, “All our solutions are designed to maximise business performance and deliver efficiencies across the whole organisation. We are excited to be working with ShapeSpace to bring these benefits to engineering companies. ShapeSpacealso represents a fantastic opportunity for a select group of our channel partners to offer a step- change in 3D storage and retrieval to their customers.” ShapeSpace’s advanced 3D search- by-shape technology allows designers to quickly find and re-use existing components/designs, even when a part number or name isn’t known. This increases a design engineer’s productivity and reduces costs by avoiding thewasted time and expense involved in ‘re-inventing the wheel’. ShapeSpace improves product data management (PDM)

ShapeSpace Ltd – UK info@shapespace.com www.shapespace.com Avanquest UK Ltd – UK sales@pro e sflows.co.uk www.processflows.co.uk

1/4-Seite (60 x 180 mm) Satzspiegel (Tube & Pipe Technology + TubeProducts Int.)

www.boilertubes.de Pipes . Tubes . Services

14

Tube Products International January 2011

www.read-tpi.com

news business & market

C$300mn credit facility for Evraz Inc GE Capital, Corporate Finance has announced that it is agent for a C$300 million asset-based credit facility to Evraz Inc NA Canada, a steel plate and pipe manufacturer.

Recycling Business. “We welcome the hard working employees of SOS Metals Island Recycling to our Schnitzer Steel family and look forward to developing an even closer bond with the Maui community.” “We will continue to be a household name for recycling in Maui,” said Sandy Shadrow, president of SOS Metals Island Recycling. “Schnitzer Steel and our employees remain committed along with our neighbours and leaders to keeping our beautiful island of Maui clean.” SOS Metals Island Recycling has been collecting, processing and recycling scrap metal from the Maui community for nearly five years at its current location. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. GE Capital Markets served as joint lead arranger. Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, Evraz Inc NA Canada operates a steel making and rolling mill, several pipe mills and two cut-to-length facilities in western Canada. The company produces speciality and commoditysteel plateandpipeproducts, primarily serving oil and gas producers and distributors, service centres and fabricators in North America. “GE has a keen understanding of the steel business and made a significant financial commitment,” said Mike Rehwinkel, Evraz Inc NA president and

CEO. “This credit facility provides us with the liquidity and flexibility to meet our ongoing working capital needs.” “The steel industry is both capital intensive and cyclical,” said Tom Quindlen, president and CEO, GE Capital, Corporate Finance. “Meeting the industry’s financing needs requires experience, market knowledge and working closely with clients.”

Evraz Inc NA – USA www.evrazincna.com

GE Capital – USA www.gecapital.com

The loan will be used for working capital needs and other corporate purposes.

Schnitzer Steel acquires the assets of SOS Metals Island Recycling

Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc has acquired substantially all of the assets of SOS Metals Island Recycling of Maui, Hawaii. longstanding commitment to Hawaii has contributed greatly to the diversity of our global platform, both in terms of supply and distribution,” said Tamara Lundgren, CEO of Schnitzer Steel Industries. “This transaction continues our strategy of expanding our metals recycling business in order to better serve our customers throughout the world.” “SOS Metals Island Recycling is a leading supplier of ferrous and non- ferrous materials, which strengthens our operations in Maui and all of the Hawaiian Islands,” said Don Hamaker, president of Schnitzer Steel’s Metals “Schnitzer Steel’s

Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc is one of the largest manufacturers and exporters of recycled ferrous metal products in the United States, with 43 operating facilities located in 13 states and Puerto Rico, including seven export facilities located on both the East and West coasts as well as in Oahu, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. The company’s vertically integrated operating platform also includes its auto parts and steel manufacturing businesses. With an effective annual production capacity of approximately 800,000 tons, the company’s steel manufacturing business produces finished steel products, including rebar, wire rod and other speciality products.

Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc – USA www.schnitzersteel.com

15

www.read-tpi.com

January 2011 Tube Products International

news business & market

Streamlined search for aluminium extrusion capabilities

Recognising the need for key government contractors and engineers to quickly search, find, and assess their customised aluminium extrusion solutions, Taber Extrusions LLC has launched an enhanced website that will offer potential customers a streamlined ‘shopping’ experience. As a participant in an industry known more for its engineering prowess than information technology know- how, Taber Extrusions president Bill Wetmore commented on the need for the company to continue to innovate in every area, including technology, sales and marketing: “We would be remiss not to acknowledge the importance of today’s technological tools, particularly with regard to the role that search engines and social media play in the ability to target our customer-base. IHWT Thermatool has produced a comprehensive 12-page brochure that covers the wide range of induction coils and impeders, designed specifically for use with Thermatool CFI and HCT series solid-state HF induction welders. Manufactured from high conductivity copper, quality inspected and painted orange for clear identification, there are numerous types and sizes of induction work coils available to satisfy a range of

In addition to providing the best, customised products, it’s also important for us to provide a user-friendly platform for contractors and engineers.” taberextrusions.com platform features include a three-minute informational video; company blog and news section; highlights section with high-resolution product and application images; and digital ‘capabilities’ chart and ‘standard shapes’ catalogue. SteveAlthardt,Russellville’ssalesmanager for Taber Extrusions, commented, “The overarching goal of our upgraded digital presence is two-fold: first, we want to specifically reach those who are searching for what we have to offer; and second, we want them to understand our approach, capabilities, and services in less time than it would take to search for our contact applications. Many of these models are available for immediate delivery from stock. There are also many different types of impeder, available in a wide range of lengths and diameters. The correct choice of induction coil and impeder will play a significant part in optimising the performance and overall operating efficiency of a welder, provided they are both correctly positioned on the mill. IHWT renewing the company’s brand identity, careful consideration was given to the company name. The previous company name, Lacol, never gained the brand value and strong recognition within the market that the Larikka name enjoys, so it was decided to change the company name to Larikka. An updated logo creates a more modern look, reflective of the Larikka technologies for collaring, cutting and welding tubular parts.

information in the phone book. We’ve built a convenient interface and worked with the best designers to ensure a satisfying customer experience.” In 1973, Taber Extrusions LLC pioneered the extrusion of large, heavy and wide complex shapes, to differentiate itself in the aluminium extrusion industry. The company offers extrusions in 2000, 5000, 6000 and 7000 alloy series, in a range of sizes and shapes. All extrusions are engineered, manufactured and tested in the United States. Taber Extrusions maintains its headquarters at the Russellville, Arkansas facility, with a regional sales office at its Gulfport, Mississippi facility.

Taber Extrusions LLC – USA sales@taberextrusions.com www.taberextrusions.com

New tube welding consumables brochure

Thermatool produces induction coils for specific needs, including production of carbon steel, stainless steel, copper, brass, aluminium or galvanised tubing, suitable for installation on Thermatool welders with power ratings from 50kW to 2MW and operating frequencies ranging from 100 to 800kHz.

Thermatool IHWT – UK info@ihwtech.co.uk www.inductotherm-hwt.co.uk

Lacol Oy becomes Larikka

Since the 1970s Leo Larikka has provided the pipe pre-fabrication world with solutions for manufacturing tubular parts such as tees and manifolds.

Larikka Ltd – Finland leo.larikka@lacol.com www.larikka.com

Larikka’s company image has now undergone a major renovation. In

Lacol Oy has become Larikka

16

Tube Products International January 2011

www.read-tpi.com

news business & market

17

www.read-tpi.com

January 2011 Tube Products International

news business & market

Esmark Steel acquires assets of Kelco Metals

Esmark Steel Group, the wholly-owned steel services subsidiary of diversified holding company Esmark Inc, has announced that it has acquired the assets of value-added steel distributor Kelco Metals Inc for more than $9mn. With annual revenue of approximately $45mn, Kelco Metals specialises in hot-rolled, cold-rolled and coated steel products, serving OEM manufacturers engaged in the agricultural equipment, office equipment, retail display, tools, shelving and lighting fixture industries. The company, which has been in business for more than 17 years, maintains offices in Schaumburg, Illinois and Charleston, South Carolina. The acquisition of Kelco Metals’ steel distribution assets will not only expand Esmark Steel Group’s footprint to the south-eastern United States, it will also INTRAS Ltd, publisher of leading international trade journals for the tube & pipe and wire & cable industries, has appointed a new marketing executive for its quarterly international tube industry title, Tube Products INTERNATIONAL magazine. Tracey Callaghan, who has almost 20 years’ experience in sales andmarketing, will be developing the magazine’s international profile and taking care of advertising sales for tube and pipe clients. Based at the UK headquarters of INTRAS Ltd, Tracey will be responsible for the UK, as well as English speaking clients within Europe, the Middle East and parts of Asia. “INTRAS provides advertisers with unrivalled support in terms of corporate and promotional marketing, enhanced sales and promoting brand awareness through all the magazines, and at trade exhibitions across the world,” she said. “A great advantage for our advertisers is the strong links we have – and the unique supporting role we play – with many international trade fair organisers and exhibition owners. Our 26 years’

contribute revenue and customers as Esmark continues towards its 2011 revenue goal of $300mn. James P Bouchard, chairman and chief executive officer of Esmark Inc, said the acquisition of Kelco Metals is a strong strategic fit with Esmark Steel Group’s portfolio of service centres in the Midwest and north east, and bolsters the company’s rapidly expanding customer base. “Kelco meets our acquisition criteria and opens up new markets for us in the south eastern US. We believe the addition of Kelco’s distribution business will be very complimentary to our growing service centre network.” Earlier this year Esmark Steel Group acquired the assets of Century Steel and Sun Steel in Chicago Heights, Illinois, and Independent Steel in Cleveland, Ohio. All of the service centres are now experience in developing and marketing niche tube and wire industry events, together with our leading industry trade publications, mean no other multi-media group is better positioned for this role.” “I’m looking forward to meeting as many of our clients as I can, getting to know their business needs, what they want from the market and how we can help them develop their business and get them more sales,” said Tracey. INTRAS is a family-owned private limited company whose CEO, John C Hogg, also co-founded the International Tube Association (ITA) and the International Wire & Machinery Association (IWMA), the world’s largest corporate membership association for the wire, cable and wire products industries. Managing director Caroline Sullens added that the company maintains the finest database of tube and wire related industrycontactsandcompanydata, and offers marketing and support services to trade fair organisers wishing to develop or enhance sales of exhibition space or the promotion of visitor attendance at worldwide trade events.

wholly owned subsidiaries of Esmark Steel Group, headquartered in Chicago, and will join Chicago Steel & Iron (formerly Amtex Steel Inc) in the Esmark Steel Group service centre portfolio. Thomas Modrowski, chief executive officer of Esmark Steel Group, said Kelco’s customer base and strong distribution network in the Midwest and south eastern US were key factors in the acquisition: “Kelco has a very diverse customer base across multiple industries and we see significant synergies with our existing operations and customer base as the economy improves in 2011. Kelco also has a strong management and sales team that will help us penetrate the south eastern US marketplace.”

Esmark Inc – USA www.esmark.com

New marketing executive joins the Tube Products INTERNATIONAL magazine team

Tracey Callaghan of TPi

Through its range of publications and industry services, INTRAS provides clients with excellent customer support in terms of corporate and promotional marketing, enhancing sales and promoting brand awareness. INTRAS Ltd – UK +44 1926 834688 tracey@intras.co.uk www.tubeproductsinternational.com

18

Tube Products International January 2011

www.read-tpi.com

news business & market

Iranian Ambassador visits Interpipe factory

and accordingly is the largest consumer of pipe products. Interpipe has many years of production experience and offers a wide product portfolio for the oil and gas industry. “The Premium UPJ joint that we presented in Tehran is a high-strength connection compatible with the threaded NEW VAM joint. Interpipe’s pipe products with the premium UPJ connection are successfully used in oil-rigs in Syria, the UAE, Morocco and Nigeria.” The UPJ threaded connection is designed for use in the construction of horizontal and inclined oil and gas wells operating in difficult geological conditions. Compression of the premium joint ‘metal-metal’ in combination with the resistant trapezoidal thread provides high containment, strength and durability to ultimate joint strength.

In August Akbar Gasemi-Aliabadi, the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Ukraine, visited steel pipe and railway wheel company Interpipe. During the visit he met the management board of the company and saw the production of steel pipes at the NTRP mill. Ambassador Aliabadi noted the great potential for collaboration between Interpipe and Iranian oil and gas companies, particularly with the country’s vast oil and gas fields and Interpipe’s expertise in producing quality pipes for the industry. Commenting on the visit Fadi Hraibi, director for products and resource management at Interpipe, said, “Interpipe is not a new player to the Iranian market.

oil and gas, construction and machinery businesses.

“Indeed, Interpipe has been the only railway wheels exporter to Iran in the years 2006-2008 and we hope the meeting with Ambassador Alibadi will enable us to revive relations with the country’s industrial businesses.” In October Interpipe also held a business meeting with current and potential clients in Tehran, Iran. Representatives of the largest oil and gas companies in Iran participated in the meeting, where Interpipe’s specialists presented the Ukrainian Premium Joint connection (UPJ) used for equipping horizontal and inclined wells in difficult geographical conditions. Denis Solomin, director for oil and gas pipe sales at Interpipe said, “Iran is a world leader in oil and gas extraction,

Interpipe – Ukraine press-office@interpipe.biz www.interpipe.biz

“We have had positive past experiences in supplying products for the country’s

19

www.read-tpi.com

January 2011 Tube Products International

developments products &

The new corrugated tubing from Polyadvanced is suitable for dynamic welding applications

New corrugated tubing generation Polyvanced, Germany, has developed corrugated tubing under the brand name Flame-Elast. fittings. They are produced in the colour black as a standard, with other colours and dimensions available on request.

Welded tubing RathGibson has expanded its redrawing capabilities in its Janesville facility. This addition enhances the production capacity of the Janesville plant, which includes fully-finished straight lengths and U-bend welded tubing. Industries in which RathGibson’s welded and redrawn tubing may be used include power generation and chemical process industries. Kirk Thorne, vice president of sales and marketing, said: “Expanding our redrawing capabilities allows us to offer welded and drawn tubing with enhanced metallurgy and corrosion resistance.” Welded and redrawn tubing can be finished with diameters from 0.625" to 1", with up to 0.134" wall thickness.

The new Flame-Elast corrugated tubing is flame resistant, self-extinguishing and robust, making it a suitable solution for welding systems. It is also used in challenging robot applications. “The remarkable resistance levels to flying sparks and weld spatter are unique,” claimed sales director Matthias Strehl. The latest corrugated tubing generation is manufactured from hard-wearing and long service life plastics (polyurethane and polyamide). “This corrugated tubing is highly flexible with nominal widths of from 10 to 42mm,” said Mr Strehl. It is used for dynamic applications such as transmission line and cable protection. The corrugated tubing geometries are a perfect fit for all standard connector

Additional dimensions with nominal widths of up to 95mm will follow in the short and medium term. “After this range expansion Polyvanced now covers all standard nominal widths in the area from 10 to 95mm,” said Mr Strehl. “We have fulfilled the most important requirement for supplying the majority of robotics applications.” Polyvanced GmbH produces 45 million metres of special tubing every year. The key customer industries for the company, are motor, construction, environmental technology and medical.

RathGibson – USA www.rathgibson.com

Polyvanced GmbH – Germany www.polyvanced.com

20

Tube Products International January 2011

www.read-tpi.com