TPi January 2018

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The trade magazine for tube and pipe products

January 2018

Your one-stop equipment supplier

The essential aid for the design of tubular steelwork

New online Blue Book for structural hollow sections

Free, easy-to-use and now available online at: www.tatasteelbluebook.com

Structural hollow sections are a striking feature on many of the iconic structures being created today, popular with developers, architects, structural engineers and building users alike. To help structural engineers realise even the most demanding and challenging designs, and allow architects to fully express their vision, Tata Steel have revised and updated the essential ‘industry bible’online Blue Book for structural hollow sections in collaboration with the Steel Construction Institute.

¡ Features the complete range of structural hollow sections available including key products Celsius® and Hybox® ¡ Comprehensive section property data provided ¡ New flexible and tabular design allows for rapid selection of appropriate section data ¡ Provides resistances in accordance with Eurocode 3 and BS 5950 ¡ Developed with the Steel Construction Institute, this edition supersedes all previous versions

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

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US copies only: Tube Products INTERNATIONAL (ISSN 1755-7216, USPS No: 024-676) is published six times a year, January, March, May, July, September and November by Intras Ltd and distributed in the USA by UKP Worldwide, 3390 Rand Road, South Plainfield, NJ 07080. Periodicals postage paid at Rahway, NJ and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Tube Products INTERNATIONAL , Intras Ltd, C/O 3390 Rand Road, South Plainfield NJ 07080. 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 Products International reserves the right to edit, reword and subedit all editorial submissions in accordance with editorial policy. Tube Products International 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.

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Contents January 2018

6 Business & market news 26 Products & developments 44 Tube Düsseldorf 2018 46 Valves, fittings, flanges & connectors 56 Virtual reality in the construction industry By Amanda Comunale, director of construction piping services, Victaulic 58 Optimisation of the surface profile after blasting for a better corrosion protection

59 Editorial index 60 Advertisers index

The trade magazine for tube and pipe products

Events calendar

January 2018

www.read-tpi.com

The trademagazine for tube and pipe products

The January issue

Yourone-stopequipment supplier

2018

15-18 January SteelFab

Welcome to the latest Tube Products INTERNATIONAL magazine. In this issue we have a feature on valves, fittings, flanges & connectors, and on page 44 we take a sneak preview at Tube Düsseldorf 2018. We also have two longer articles. The first is from Victaulic and looks at virtual reality in the building industry and the second article examines optimisation of the surface profile after blasting for a better corrosion protection. I was speaking to event organisers Messe Düsseldorf recently and they said the demand, particularly on the tube side, had been massive again this year, so once again it promises to be a spectacular event. Tube Products INTERNATIONAL will be a big part of this huge trade show as always so make sure you promote your company and stand within the pages of our magazine by sending me editorial or booking a premium position for your advert in the magazine. In the forthcoming March Düsseldorf show issue of Tube Products INTERNATIONAL we will have features on tube inspection & testing technology, and small diameter, high precision tubes, and we take an in- depth look at some of the companies and products that will be exhibited in Germany this year. We also take a look at TOLEXPO 2018, which takes place from 27 to 30 March. The editorial deadline for the March issue is 8 January and if you would like to advertise in this special show issue the deadline is 12 January. I am about to make my way to Stainless Steel World in Maastricht and will also be attending SteelFab in Shajah in the UAE in January so please do come and say hello if you are attending either of these events. From all the team at Tube Products INTERNATIONAL I would like to wish you a healthy and

(Sharjah, Dubai, UAE) International exhibition www.steelfabme.com 27-30 March TOLexpo (Paris, France) International exhibition www.tolexpo.com 16-20 April Tube Düsseldorf (Düsseldorf, Germany) International exhibition www.tube.de 29 May – 1 June Tube Russia (Moscow, Russia) International exhibition www.tube-russia.com 6-8 June Guangzhou (Guangzhou, China) International exhibition www.julang.com.cn 12-14 June FABTECH Canada (Toronto, Canada) International exhibition www.fabtechcanada.com 26-29 September Tube China (Shanghai, China) International exhibition www.tubechina.net 17-19 October Indometal (Jakarta, Indonesia) International exhibition www.indometal.net 23-26 October EuroBLECH (Hanover, Germany) International exhibition www.euroblech.com

prosperous New Year. Enjoy the magazine.

Rory McBride Editor

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TUBE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL January 2018

news business & market

MMT’s survey and ROV vessel IceBeam

Photo credit: Leszek Rutkowski

Baltic Pipe route survey in the North Sea MMT has been awarded a contract by the Danish energy transmission system operator Energinet as part of the Baltic Pipe project. The assignment includes a route survey for a new offshore pipeline in the North Sea and in Lillebælt, the inner Danish Seas. utilities and landfall investigations including borehole drilling, reporting and data delivery, and options for benthic investigations.

of the European energy networks. As a result, the project has been granted EU funds to perform a feasibility study. It is organised as collaboration between Energinet and the Polish gas transmission system operator Gaz- System SA. Specialising in high-resolution subsea surveys, MMT collects, processes and visualises the conditions of the seabed, and offers surveys in bathymetric, geophysical and geotechnical services, particularly for the oil and gas, hydrography and renewable energy and marine cable sectors. MMT Sweden AB – Sweden

MMT has assigned its survey and ROV vessels Franklin and IceBeam for the offshore survey, and smaller near-shore vessels for the intertidal and coastal sections. Drones will be used for on-shore topography. The Baltic Pipe is a potential new gas pipeline that would provide Denmark and Poland with direct access to Norway’s gas fields. The project has been included on the EU’s list of important infrastructure projects – Projects of Common Interest (PCI) – that are deemed essential to the integration

The pipeline is planned to have landfall on the west coast of Jutland, and the total length of the North Sea offshore part of the pipeline is approximately 105 km; the Lillebælt area is approximately 5 km. The entire route is located within the Danish EEZ (exclusive economic zone), and the scope includes geophysical seabed survey, geotechnical investiga- tions, ROV inspections of existing

info@mmt.se www.mmt.se

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TUBE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL January 2018

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business & market news Unison to open US manufacturing facility

Over the last three years Unison has been investing heavily in research and development in robotics, lasers and software, and during 2018 will be bringing several new products to the US market. Unison has been providing tube bending solutions for more than 40 years, working closely with customers to design and build pioneering tube bending technology. Unison Ltd – UK

manufacturing operation in the Cane Creek Centre Industrial Park, jointly owned by the City of Danville and Pittsylvania County. Julian Kidger, joint managing director, commented, “We are incredibly excited about the benefits this facility will give our existing and future customers. “Our plan includes the creation of 35 new jobs in the next three years. It will be fantastic to genuinely be able to label our machines as Made in America. Supporting our customers’ needs is hugely important to us. Many of our initial hires for the US will be dedicated to service and support, ensuring a rapid and professional response for all customers.”

Tube-bending solutions provider Unison Ltd is increasing its manufacturing capacity and opening a new factory in Virginia, USA. This will be Unison’s second manu- facturing facility, establishing the company’s production capabilities in the USA. The new factory in Danville, Virginia, is intended to support the activities of the plant in North Yorkshire, UK, which has witnessed a manufacturing growth that is expected to continue for the foreseeable future. Virginia governor Terry McAuliffe announced that Unison will invest $5.2mn to establish its first US Engineered joining technology company Norma Group has ranked among the top five per cent of all companies evaluated in the EcoVadis rating, for the second consecutive time. The company achieved Gold Status for its sustainability performance. “The impact of ‘megatrends’ such as climate change and resource scarcity is increasingly shaping the economy and society around the world,” said Werner Deggim, CEO of Norma Group. “Our products and technologies, such as our weight-saving urea lines for exhaust gas cleaning in diesel vehicles, contribute to a reduction in emissions. In addition, we are continually pursuing goals in order to manufacture not only more environmentally friendly and safer, but also to sustainably manage the company as a whole. The new EcoVadis Gold Status shows us that we are making good progress with our measures.” EcoVadis is an independent service provider for sustainability ratings. The assessment makes companies’ sustainability activities globally measurable and comparable.

sales@unisonltd.com www.unisonltd.com

Unison Tube LLC – USA enquiries@unisonltd.com www.unisonltd.com Norma achieves gold in sustainability assessment

occupational safety and corporate ethics. Only around five per cent of all companies analysed reach Gold Status. Norma Group achieved the scores necessary for Gold Status in the evaluation in both 2016 and 2017. The company has been strategically managing its activities in the area of corporate responsibility (CR) since 2012. These currently include the start of an aid project in Brazil that will provide 400 families with access to clean drinking water. Norma manufactures a wide range of connecting solutions and water management technology, offering more than 35,000 products to customers in 100 countries. Its joining products can be found in vehicles and trains, ships and aircraft, buildings and water management, as well as in applications for the pharma- ceutical and biotechnology industry. Norma Group SE – Germany www.normagroup.com

Four categories are assessed: environment, labour practices, fair business practices and sustainable procurement. Various factors are taken into account, such as measures to reduce energy and water consumption, the existence of a code of conduct for the company’s suppliers, and employee training on

Werner Deggim, CEO of Norma Group

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January 2018 TUBE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL

business & market news

FlexQube and Multitube launch partnership FlexQube of Sweden and Multitube Engineering BV, Netherlands, have formed a partnership aimed at growing FlexQube’s market share in the Netherlands and Belgium. industrial carts as well as integration opportunities in combined FlexQube and Multitube designs to both existing and new customers.”

in a rapid growth in several business areas over the past years. This year we are ready to introduce FlexQube to our customers as the modular system for heavy duty industrial carts. Together with FlexQube we can better fulfil our goal to improve the material handling processes for our customers and eliminate the need for forklifts.” Multitube Engineering, founded in 2010, supplies a wide range of tube and joint components, known as the Multitube construction system. With this modular system the company provides customers with solutions such as flow-racks, workstations and carts for light- and medium-weight purposes. The company’s manufacturing and warehouse facility is located in the south of the Netherlands, between Belgium and Germany. FlexQube is a supplier of a modular concept to make industrial material handling carts that can replace welded solutions. The company has manufacturing facilities in Sweden and the USA, and distribution in North America and Europe. Multitube Engineering BV – Netherlands

Multitube Engineering CEO Jan Verhees commented, “We noticed FlexQube in 2013 when we were discussing our options for a more robust, heavy duty, modular system to build cart frames for tugger trains. At that time both companies did not yet have respectable track records. We decided to wait and focus on the expansion and development of the Multitube system, which resulted

Anders Fogelberg, CEO of FlexQube, explained, “Multitube has shown great ability to penetrate this market with tube- and joint-based material handling applications in the same customer segments FlexQube targets in other markets. With the partnership, Multitube will present and demonstrate both the FlexQube as a stand-alone concept for

info@multitube.nl www.multitube.nl FlexQube – Sweden sales@flexqube.com www.flexqube.com

FlexQube and Multitube in partnership

Sandvik a top achiever in 2017 Dow Jones sustainability index

corporate citizenship, philanthropy and human capital development and labour practice indicators. Sandvik is a developer and manu- facturer of products in advanced stainless steels and special alloys for demanding environments, as well as products and systems for nuclear applications.

“Sustainability is key to our ability to create increased customer value, enabling us to help our customers become safer, more efficient and more productive,” said Björn Rosengren, president and CEO of Sandvik. “Hence, it is a natural part of our business strategy.” Sandvik performed best of the assessed companies in the capital goods industry in the areas of customer relationship management, environmental reporting,

Sandvik has been selected as a member of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI). The top 10 per cent most-sustainable companies in each respective industry are included. The 2017 DJSI has awarded a percentile score of 97, which means that Sandvik performs better on the indicators overall than 97 per cent of assessed companies in the same sector, capital goods.

Sandvik AB – Sweden www.materials.sandvik

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TUBE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL January 2018

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business & market news

Discover plastics: international campaign unveiled

Floris Bordewijk, in his capacity as chairman of the applications group civils at TEPPFA, explained, “Following an intensive piece of market research which revealed the most important considerations that specifiers take into account, TEPPFA has collated the results of many years of investigation and study to create Discover: Plastics. “For decades, we have invested substantially in excavating existing systems to assess their longevity; undertaking controlled lab research to quantify the benefits of flexibility; and subjected plastic pipes to continual hours of strength testing. In addition, we’ve enlisted the expertise of many independent bodies who have provided

challenging situations, and are continuing to function decades after their installation. At the centre of the campaign is a dedicated knowledge hub (www. discover-plasticpipes.com) that brings together the results of multiple wide- ranging studies into the performance and behaviour of plastic pipes when used for sewers. These studies include the 100-Year Service Life of Gravity Sewer Pipes report, which investigated the effects of traffic loading and strain, corrosion and other factors on plastic pipes in both field conditions and laboratory testing. Independently reviewed by an expert from the world of academia, the project proved that a 100-year in-service lifetime could be confidently predicted for EN-compliant plastic pipes.

A major multinational awareness campaign championing the suitability of plastic pipe systems for subterranean sewer applications has been launched to inform and inspire the civil engineering and utilities sectors. ‘Discover: Plastics’ celebrates the flexibility, longevity and strength of plastic pipes, as well as their ease and speed of installation. Curated by TEPPFA, the European Plastic Pipes and Fittings Association, and in partnership with four national associations, Discover: Plastics is intended to drive awareness of the suitability of plastic pipes for sewer and storm water applications. It also highlights real-life case studies from across Europe, showcasing how plastic pipe systems have been successfully deployed in many

verification for our work.” TEPPFA aisbl – Belgium

info@teppfa.eu www.teppfa.eu

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January 2018 TUBE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL

It’s time to book your advertising for our forthcoming show issues

Advertise and be seen at... TUBE DÜSSELDORF VALVEWORLD Düsseldorf, Germany EMO EUROBLECH Hanover, Germany TUBE RUSSIA

Moscow, Russia MADE IN STEEL Milan, Italy LAMIERA Bologna, Italy BORU Istanbul, Turkey TUBE CHINA Shanghai, China GUANGZHOU TUBE FAIR Guangzhou, China TUBE SOUTHEAST ASIA Bangkok, Thailand INDOMETAL Jakarta, Indonesia TUBE INDIA Mumbai, India TOLEXPO Paris, France TUBOTECH São Paulo, Brazil

D O W N L O A D Y O U R 2 0 1 8 M E D I A P A C K N O W !

FABTECH CANADA Toronto, ON, Canada FABTECH Las Vegas, NV, USA Chicago, IL, USA

STAINLESS STEEL WORLD Maastricht, The Netherlands

CSM and Dacapo

Photographs courtesy of

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business & market news

Tenaris opens new Aberdeen service centre Tenaris is enhancing its support to customers’ offshore and onshore operations in the North Sea region through Rig Direct™, with the inauguration of its new service centre in Aberdeen, UK. preparation and delivery of OCTG, both casing and tubing. The company also has a premium threading facility in Aberdeen, which expanded in 2016 with the opening of a new Dopeless ® technology line, increasing its production capacity.

growth for the two formerly competing businesses. Nick Crofts, CEO of Amiblu, and Claus Brun, the company’s international CCO and former MD of Hobas, agree that by merging they can better support the product and market investments required to transform the position of GRP pipeline solutions. This has global implications, given the positioning of Hobas and Flowtite Technology customers and licensees around the world. “Water is a precious resource, fundamental to life,” said Mr Crofts. “At Amiblu we believe we can better manage this resource without increasing investment rates. We can offer solutions to wastage, pollution, disruption and inefficiency of pipeline systems today whilst saving capital and operating costs.” Amiblu Holding GmbH – Austria “This development allows us to further enhance our service offering, granting us the flexibility to respond to our customers’ needs quickly, and to leverage our products’ strengths,” said Gary Thomson, Tenaris UK country manager. “We continue to invest in infrastructure and in opportunities for growth as conditions in the local market improve.” From the new service centre Tenaris will provide a full range of logistics, storage, cleaning and inspection services for OCTG and accessories, along with complete pipe management services such as Pipe Tracer™, a pipe-by-pipe identification system that allows customers to keep track of their inventories and to update pipe status and service conditions.

The new line applies the dry multi- functional coating in a fully automated process. Tenaris is a global manufacturer and supplier of steel pipe products and related services for the energy industry and other industrial applications. It operates an integrated network of steel pipe manufacturing, research, finishing and service facilities with industrial operations in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa, and a direct presence in most major oil and gas markets. Tenaris SA – Luxembourg www.tenaris.com

The merger of the European business activities of the Wietersdorfer subsidiary Hobas and Amiantit Europe (including Flowtite Technology) was officially closed following the approval of the European Competition Authorities (ECA). The two GRP (glassfibre reinforced plastic) pipe companies have combined forces to form the joint venture company Amiblu. An agreement between WIG Wietersdorfer Holding GmbH and Saudi Arabia’s Amiantit Company SAAC, the owner of Amiantit Europe, was reached in December 2016, with the ownership structure shared 50:50 between the part- ners. The headquarters of the joint ven- ture are located in Klagenfurt, Austria. GRP pipes provide sustainable solutions across infrastructure and industrial applications such as drinking water, irrigation, wastewater, hydropower and industrial plant systems. The brands Hobas and Flowtite each offer distinct benefits as pipeline solutions, and Amiblu will ensure both continuity and The company has been providing direct service to customers in the North Sea for 20 years. Its presence in the region has been critical to the continued deployment of its Rig Direct model of working directly with customers to optimise their supply chain, in addition to providing them with technical consulting and field services. Customers and suppliers joined Tenaris for the opening ceremony at the eight- acre facility, which includes pipe storage, an inspection facility, and an indoor warehouse to handle the management,

Hobas and Amiantit Europe join forces in European business

Dedicated supplier of seamless steel tube and pipe!

• EN 10294 • EN 10305 • EN 10216 • EN 10297 • EN 10210 • API 5L • ASTM A106 • ASTM A179 • EN 10305-1/-4 • EN 10216-1/-2/-3/-5 • E 25 L/L1/M • E 97 • EN 10210 • ASTM A106 • ASTM A179 • ASTM A213 • AST 268 • ASTM A312 • ASTM A789

Contact: Tel: +44 203 735 7247 Emails: info@qualitube.co.uk 3.08 Q West Great West Road

Brentford TW8 0GP

Member of the ITA

info@amiblu.com www.amiblu.com

www.qualitube.co.uk

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business & market news

Tata Steel reaffirms commitment to North Sea with new investment

the 20" mill’s five-year improvement programme to enhance workplace safety and improve productivity. As part of its ongoing investment in product quality at the 20" mill, the company has spent £400,000 to install automatic laser measurement to its hot structural finishing line and upgrades to the descaling process on the RHS (rectangular hollow section) furnace to improve product surface finish. Barry Rust, Tata Steel energy and sustainability manager, said, “These important investments demonstrate Tata Steel’s continued commitment to health and safety and in improving and increasing our product range to the North Sea to help it meet ever- increasing challenges. We look forward to supporting the North Sea and the international industry for many years.” Tata Steel – UK www.tatasteeleurope.com

temperature toughness capabilities for HFI welded line pipe produced at the Hartlepool 20" mill, resulting in improved and uniform fracture toughness across the mill’s product size range. The investment programme for the Hartlepool mill includes £1mn for the installation of accelerated cooling equipment, which will increase the mill’s range of high strength offerings for the structural requirements of the North Sea and the wider construction market. The company’s Celsius ® accelerated cooling process has been developed in conjunction with Tata Steel’s research and development teams, following extensive laboratory and mill-based trials. Tata Steel has also committed £350,000 for further safety improvements in guarding, pipe handling and immobi- lisation control access in the finishing and despatch areas at the 20" mill. This follows a £400,000 investment in 2017 in the weld mill area, and is in line with

Tata Steel has emphasised its commitment to the North Sea and the global oil and gas industry by announcing a programme of investments of nearly £2mn at its 20" high frequency induction (HFI) pipe mill in Hartlepool, UK, to offer a new generation of higher strength offshore construction grades. The company’s investment in Hartlepool is supported by a multi-million pound investment at its Port Talbot hot strip mill in Wales. The process investment in Port Talbot will offer enhanced low

Tata Steel employees at the company’s base in Hartlepool, UK

An N-Sea team working on Jumbo’s Fairplayer construction support vessel

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business & market news

A study of the European market for plastic pipes

types of pipe split by the national markets. Chapter 4 provides company profiles of the largest manufacturers of plastic pipes, arranged according to contact details, revenues, profit, product range, production sites and profile summary. Ceresana – Germany

and sewage continue to have a high backlog demand. Chapter 1 of Ceresana’s study provides a description and analysis of the European market for plastic pipes, including forecasts up to 2024. Chapter 2 deals with the different application areas of plastic pipes within individual countries, while Chapter 3 provides an overview of the demand for individual

Although sewage systems have been around for about 5,000 years, they are not available everywhere. In France, for instance, more than five million households are not connected to the public sewage network. In rural areas in particular, the sewage infrastructure in Europe still has to be expanded. In cities, it is less about new construction than replacing old piping systems. For sewage, potable water, cable protection, gas piping and other applications, pipes made of plastic are becoming more popular. They are lightweight, robust and handy, and are increasingly replacing aluminium, concrete cast iron, copper or steel. The market research company Ceresana has analysed the European market for plastic pipes for the third time, and has forecast demand to increase to over 5.2mn tonnes until 2024. The demand for plastic pipes particularly depends on the development of the construction industry, where plastic has turned into a real alternative to other materials. The degree of importance various application areas have for different types of pipe, however, varies considerably. For example, pipes made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) are relatively cheap and are used extensively in the sewage, potable water and cable protection sectors. Pipes based on polypropylene and polyethylene take a more important role in applications in potable water, gas supply and industry. Demand for high-quality pipes made of polypropylene and polyethylene is particularly increasing in the relatively saturated markets of Western Europe, while demand for PVC pipes is barely growing. In Denmark, Germany and Switzerland, for instance, the demand for plastic pipes is developing positively. Some southern European countries, such as Spain, are not expected to see any significant recovery in the short term. In Eastern Europe, PVC pipes are experiencing even higher growth compared to the west. The analysts at Ceresana expect higher growth rates of plastic pipe consumption for Eastern Europe in the future, especially because the networks for water supply

info@ceresana.com www.ceresana.com

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January 2018 TUBE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL

business & market news

FES delivers and supports installation of DBSCs in Ghana UK oil and gas engineering firm FES International (Flexible Engineered Solutions) has successfully delivered and supported the installation of equipment to the Offshore Cape Three Points (OCTP) project, located approximately 60 km offshore Ghana’s west coast, in a multi-million-pound deal. The company delivered 19 FES diverless bend stiffener connectors (DBSCs) to the project. The delivery consisted of multiple phases, with each step including on-site support from FES to ensure the best possible installation. The managing director of FES International, Rob Anderson, said, “For this project the client did not want to use divers during the installation of equipment as this was deemed to be too dangerous, but they did opt for on-site support, which we strongly advocate, to ensure the best possible outcome, which ultimately can save time and money by avoiding problems in the future. “This project was very challenging due to its tight delivery time frame; however, using FES’s established relationship within our supply chain across Europe, we were able to provide the required equipment deliveries to meet the clients’ requirements.” With more than 40 years’ experience, FES International designs, manufactures and supplies products to the oil and gas and offshore renewables markets. Focusing on the provision of fluid transfer systems and five other core product lines, FES employs experts in design including FEA

A FES diverless bend stiffener connector

analysis and modelling, draughting (on the latest 3D software), machining and manufacture, assembly and testing to manage every stage of a project commission. FES International – UK fes@fesltd.co.uk www.fesinternational.com

Voss Fluid strengthens system business

Alexander-Peter Schmidt has assumed management of Voss Fluid’s ready-to- install hydraulic line systems division. In the newly created position, Mr Schmidt is immediately responsible for the optimisation and expansion of the system business. “There are only very few suppliers globally that offer a similar broad product range for hydraulics,” he commented. “Our customers get everything from one source – from the single connection, to individual tube geometries and fabricated hose lines, right up to ready-to-install assemblies or prefabricated assembly kits. We are going to expand and strengthen this position.” Mr Schmidt has worked in the hydraulic branch for 17 years, and has worked for a manufacturer of circuit breakers, which also gained recognition as a robot developer. In addition, he supported the development of a smaller manufacturer as a specialist for hose lines. Voss Fluid has its origins in hydraulic connection technology. In 2016 the company acquired the Italian market competitor Larga, enabling it to integrate hose fittings into its product line. The company later formed the ready-to-install hydraulic line systems department in order to create a demand-orientated range of products. Voss Fluid GmbH – Germany www.voss-fluid.de

Alexander-Peter Schmidt Photo credit: © Voss Fluid

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business & market news

Combilift set for expansion Combilift, a manufacturer of four-way forklifts and other handling solutions, is set to double its output in the next few years as its new factory nears completion. €40mn has been invested in the new 46,000m² factory on a 40-hectare site, which will be the largest single manufacturing plant under one roof in Ireland.

The company exports its wide range of products to more than 75 countries around the world. The new global HQ and production facility will include a dedicated research and development building and adjoining administrational offices, and is based in the company’s home of Monaghan, Ireland, close to where Combilift was first established. Production of some model ranges, such as the Straddle Carrier, has already moved to the new site, which will be fully operational in the spring of 2018. The

“Whether you handle long, awkward loads, pallets, containers, over- sized products or a combination of these, there is a Combilift to suit your requirements,” said Combilift MD Martin McVicar.

expansion will also create around 200 new jobs, mainly for skilled technicians and design engineers. Combilift states that its products are a popular choice in the tube and pipe sector due to their ability to handle loads safely in confined spaces and for their space-saving storage and versatile indoor/outdoor operation.

Combilift – Ireland info@combilift.com www.combilift.com

Custom made pipe nipples made in house Custom made pipe nipples in house Custom pipe nipples made in house

IMPORTERS AND DISTRIBUTORS OF eUrOPeAN FAsteNers, FittiNGs AND Metric hArDWAre IMPORTERS AND DISTRIBUTORS OF eUrOPeAN FAsteNers, FittiNGs AND Metric hArDWAre IMPORTERS AND DISTRIBUTORS OF eUrOPeAN FAsteNers, FittiNGs AND Metric hArDWAre

BritishMetrics stocks a comprehensive range of hydraulic & pneumatic fittings, tubing, adaptors and flanges. Full range of adaptors BSP/BSPT/NPT/Metric in all materials for hydraulic, pneumatic and electrical use. Metric, British, BSF, BSW, and BA fasteners are available. BUY ONLINE NOW, we ship WORLDWIDE, ask about your discounts . Now offering metric Aseptic fittings and stainless Pro Press fittings. BritishMetrics stocks a comprehensive range of hydraul c & pneumatic fittings, tubing, ada tors and flanges. Full range of adaptors BSP/BSPT/NPT/Metric in all materials for hydraulic, pneumatic and electrical use. Metric, British, BSF, BSW, an BA fasteners re vailable. BUY ONLINE NOW, we ship WORLDWIDE, ask about your discounts . Now offering metric Aseptic fittings and stainless Pro Press fittings. BritishMetrics stocks a comprehensive range of hydraulic & pneumatic fittings, tubing, adaptors and flanges. Full range of adaptors BSP/BSPT/NPT/Metric in all materials for hydraulic, pneumatic and electrical use. Metric, British, BSF, BSW, and BA fasteners are available. BUY ONLINE NOW, we ship WORLDWIDE, ask about your discounts . Now offering metric Aseptic fittings and stainless Pro Press fittings.

www.britishmetrics.com www.britishmetrics.com www.britishmetrics.com

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business & market news

New Victrex CEO to execute growth strategy Jakob Sigurdsson joined Victrex in September 2017 as CEO-designate, and became CEO on 1 October, succeeding Dave Hummel, who retired after 24 years as CEO. Driving polyetheretherketones such as Victrex™ PEEK into new applications in a range of key industries, including automotive, aerospace, electronics, energy, manufacturing and engineering, and medical has seen good progress over the past 24 years with Dave Hummel as chief executive.

Mr Hummel said, “Jakob joins Victrex at a good time for the business as we continue to perform well.” Mr Sigurdsson commented, “It is a privilege to become the chief executive of such a highly regarded global company. “I look forward to executing on growth opportunities over the coming years for Victrex, as well as for our partners and customers.” Victrex plc – UK customerservice@victrex.com www.victrex.com

Victrex, headquartered in the UK, deliv- ers a wide range of high-performance polyaryletherketone (PAEK) polymer- based materials and technologies, from new polymers to product forms such as film, piping and UD-tape, as well as selected parts for applications that include gears and dental discs. Chairman Larry Pentz said, “I am delighted that Jakob has joined Victrex. With his track record of making markets and delivering growth, the board believes he is a strong fit for Victrex, as we focus on executing our polymer, forms and parts strategy over the coming years.”

Jakob Sigurdsson Photo credit: © Victrex

Teletest business transfer to Eddyfi opens new opportunities

very happy to welcome a fourth brand and the guided wave science to Eddyfi Technologies. In particular, this high- end yet proven and established science will nicely complement our Lyft ® pulsed eddy current platform to improve our corrosion solutions portfolio. “In addition, we believe that access to the global Eddyfi Technologies sales network, as well as significant investment in R&D and new product development, will deliver new possibilities for Teletest for the benefit of our customers and the industry.” Plant Integrity staff involved in the product portfolio acquired by Eddyfi Technologies have transferred to the new Eddyfi Teletest business unit and will relocate to a new site in Cambridge, UK. Staff in the USA will relocate to Eddyfi Technologies’ office in Houston, Texas. Eddyfi Technologies – Canada www.eddyfi.com

instruments, WaveScan software and transducer rings, including rental, calibration and repair, together with CSWIP LRUT training and support, will be provided by Teletest as part of Eddyfi Technologies. The long-range ultrasonic inspection services activities of TWI and Plant Integrity, including collaborative and industrially sponsored projects, are not included in the business transfer. Plant Integrity will continue to deliver inspection, consultancy and R&D services worldwide. TWI director of technology Aamir Khalid commented, “This transaction completes the story for TWI. TWI developed the Teletest guided wave equipment and now passes it to a reputable industry player to productise it further and realise the full potential of the science that we developed.” Martin Thériault, president and CEO of Eddyfi Technologies, said, “We are

With effect from 13 October 2017, Plant Integrity Ltd – a wholly owned subsidiary of TWI – sold its Teletest ® equipment business to Eddyfi Technologies, a specialist in advanced non-destructive testing solutions. Plant Integrity and TWI have developed, manufactured and commercialised the Teletest guided wave ultrasonic testing system for detecting corrosion in pipes and pipelines over the past 20 years. The business transfer is a result of growing demand for the Teletest suite of equipment, and an opportunity to substantially expand its application. It will offer clients continued service, while allowing accelerated Teletest product development to meet growing and complex industrial need. The new Teletest business unit created by Eddyfi will design, manufacture, sell and service guided wave equipment globally. Sales and service for Focus

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business & market news

New CEO appointed at Kemppi Ville Vuori has been appointed CEO of Kemppi Oy. Mr Vuori previously acted as CEO of Incap Oyj. He began his work at Kemppi at the end of 2017.

Before working at Incap Oyj, Mr Vuori worked as CEO of Kumera Drives and Finavia’s SkyHow Ltd. In addition, he has extensive experience in global management positions from ABB. “We are very pleased to welcome Ville to the Kemppi team,” commented Teresa Kemppi-Vasama, executive chairman of Kemppi Oy. “He has extensive experience in leadership and business and holds strong proof of managing companies successfully. Ville is familiar with the characteristics of both large and small companies as well as public companies and family-owned businesses. He is used to operating in an international environment and has experience in working with many of the customer segments important to us. Ville has actually worked as a plater-welder before starting his studies, which means he has seen the world of welding also on a more practical level.” “Kemppi is a modern company with a long history, and one of the leaders in its industry,” added Mr Vuori. “Kemppi has excellent opportunities for growth in international welding. I am proud to become a part of Kemppi’s strong team.”

Local expertise is available via its global partner network covering more than 60 countries. Kemppi Oy – Finland www.kemppi.com

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Conex Bänninger strengthens UK team with two appointments

schools and office blocks, Mr Curley and Mr Norgate will bring a wealth of expertise and contacts. Mr Curley said, “My new position with the IBP Group is a great fit, the quality of Conex Bänninger products is second to none and the wide range of products provides a great opportunity for me to build the brand across a variety of sectors.” Mr Norgate, who previously held similar positions working at other manufacturers or distributors, commented, “In my region within five years I would like Conex Bänninger to be the number one choice for merchants, contractors and specifiers alike. As part of our work towards achieving this goal we’re dealing closely with big national distributors, local independent merchants and specification firms. I’m very much looking forward to this, along with the challenges it will bring.”

to get Conex Bänninger products in the hands of merchants, consultants and specifiers – important areas of focus for the brand. As the company makes this push towards specification, supplying large commercial projects like hospitals,

Fittings and valves manufacturer Conex Bänninger is pursuing further growth by appointing two experienced UK regional technical sales managers. With a combined experience of more than 50 years, John Curley and Stephen Norgate are primarily looking

Conex Bänninger – UK salesuk@ibpgroup.com www.conexbanninger.com

John Curley and Stephen Norgate

Gränges to invest $110mn in US capacity expansion to meet increased demand in the foil and automotive market

making Tennessee the No 1 location in the southeast for high quality jobs.” The project is estimated to take around two years to complete, and to contribute positively to Gränges’ operating profit in 2019. This will be the second major investment in Huntingdon since 2000, strengthening the company’s focus on foil and automotive heat exchanger products. Gränges AB (publ) – Sweden

The expansion includes investment in buildings, casters, cold rolling mills, annealing furnaces and slitters. This further positions Huntingdon as a modern and efficient rolling mill in North America. When completed, the capacity in Huntingdon will increase from around 160 kt to nearly 200 kt per year. Tennessee governor Bill Haslam, who supported the expansion, commented, “In Tennessee, we take pride in the fact that our hard-working residents still make things. The Gränges facility is a vital part of the Carroll County community and I’d like to thank Gränges for committing to create new jobs in Huntingdon and bringing us closer to

Gränges will invest US$110mn to expand its aluminium rolling operation in Huntingdon, Tennessee, USA, meeting growing demand for light gauge foil, automotive heat exchanger materials, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) applications. The expansion will create 85 permanent full-time jobs. “The expansion in Huntingdon marks the next step in our strategic growth plan for the North American market,” said Gränges CEO Johan Menckel. “Gränges has built a strong reputation in the aluminium rolling industry, and this expansion allows us to further support our customers’ growth.”

info@granges.com www.granges.com Gränges Americas Inc – USA usinfo@granges.com www.granges.com

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Make yourself visible…

Exhibiting at wire 2018 or Tube 2018 in Düsseldorf? Check out all the available advertising options to make yourself visible in the official trade show media via the Online Order System at www.oos.messe-duesseldorf.de. The order deadline for media entries is January 31st, 2018!

business & market news

AB&I Foundry earns ILFI Declare label AB&I Foundry, amember of theMcWane, Inc family of companies, has earned the Declare label from the International Living Future Institute (ILFI). of transparency that change for the better will occur.”

Thirkettle said, “We are delighted to be supporting Jumbo Offshore with the expertise of N-Sea’s dive team, who will be utilising our ROVs on this FLNG project. Whilst N-Sea has been active in Nigeria since early 2016, this contract award represents not only our first partnership with Jumbo, but also our first project offshore in Cameroon. As such, the contract reflects our continued strategy to actively target potential clients throughout West Africa.” N-Sea specialises in IMR services for the oil and gas, renewable and telecom/ utility industries, as well as for civil contracting communities. The company provides near shore, offshore and survey services to major operators and service companies. Jumbo Offshore is a heavy lift, transport and installation contractor for the offshore industry. Its offshore scope includes the installation of subsea structures and moorings, jackets, topsides and wind turbine foundations. N-Sea Group – Netherlands info@n-sea.com www.n-sea.com Jumbo Offshore – Netherlands The company stresses that specifiers should understand the importance of building products that do not off-gas toxins or generate dangerous gases when burned. “Transparency is paramount to all AB&I’s products,” said Michael Lowe, GM and VP sales and marketing. “The IFLI’s Declare programme offers an important opportunity for us to share our company’s industry leadership in products that contribute to healthy and environmentally safe design.” AB&I Foundry – USA info@mcwane.com www.abifoundry.com

performing all subsea installation of the soft yoke system. The activity N-Sea is performing on the floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) mooring and loading facility includes seabed measuring, mattress placement, anchor base and pile positioning support, and pile sleeve sediment removal. Commenting on the contract win, N-Sea Group commercial director Gary AB&I states that consumers and product specifiers are increasingly looking for transparency in products, whether to verify point of origin, to understand environmental impacts, or to eliminate exposure to toxic ingredients. The manufacturing atmosphere is changing, and there are many forward-thinking companies that feel strongly about embracing sustainable practices. AB&I Foundry is a US manufacturer of cast iron soil pipe and fittings for storm and sanitary plumbing systems. Its products are non-combustible, strong and durable.

Declare, a ‘nutrition label’ that provides a clear and informative method to disclose a product’s ingredients, was created by ILFI to provide manufacturers with the option for an additional level of confidence – validation from trusted third-party verifiers. “Declare is designed to transform the way buildings are designed and built, making them safer for occupants and first responders,” said Kurt Winter, executive vice president of McWane Plumbing Group. “It’s through this kind

N-Sea’s inaugural Cameroonian contract Subsea infrastructure services

provider N-Sea has begun work in the Cameroonian offshore market, via a contract win with Dutch offshore lifting and transportation company Jumbo Offshore. With phase one completed in July 2017, the project is taking place off the shores of Cameroon’s South Province, as part of the Hilli Episeyo subsea soft yoke installation. N-Sea’s work scope comprises diving and ROV support,

info@jumbomaritime.nl www.jumbomaritime.nl

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