TPi March 2017

business & market news

New BPF Pipes Group president predicts ‘lively’ year ahead

Mr Muckle was closely involved with the new guidance document from the BPF Pipes Group on fusion jointing, following on from the revised WIS 4-32- 08 standard for fusion jointing PE80 and PE100 pressure pipeline systems. He has over 25 years’ experience in the sector, developing plastic pipes and fittings for successful operation in the water, wastewater and gas industries. Richard Hill from Aco Technologies has been appointed vice-president of the BPF Pipes Group, also with a two-year tenure. Part of the British Plastics Federation, the BPF Pipes Group is a trade association representing manufacturers and material suppliers of plastic piping systems across the UK. Committed to sustainable construction, its aims are to provide a forum for continue to make the catalogue much easier to search and significantly improve our customers’ user experience, which we expect will deliver additional growth in the next few years.” Improved features of MRCGO include enhanced search capabilities; product and category classifications; expanded use of product pictures to ease customer selection; business to consumer (B2C) look and feel with business to business (B2B) functionality; Excel spreadsheet upload capability; dedicated online support and online chat functions; and real-time inventory, pricing and order status integration. MRCGO will initially be rolled out to existing MRC Global online catalogue customers. Future phases will include offering MRCGO to MRC Global

Derek Muckle of Radius Systems has been appointed BPF Pipes Group president, taking over from retiring president Chris King of Wavin. The appointment has a two-year tenure, and Mr Muckle, who is also director of innovation and technology at Radius Systems, is keen to get started in his new role, commenting, “The BPF Pipes Group has a tremendous record in developing and raising standards in the utilities and construction industries, and I want to see more recognition for the work done highlighting and sharing best practice knowledge on plastic pipes in all of these areas, from large and small diameter utility applications to above and below ground heating, plumbing and stormwater alleviation. Sharing knowledge with a broad range of end users and those at the cutting edge will help speed up the adoption of new innovations.” MRC Global is a distributor of pipe, valves, fittings and related products and services to the energy industry, and supplies these products and services across each of the upstream, midstream and downstream sectors. The company’s US subsidiary, MRC Global (US) Inc, has implemented an enhanced online customer catalogue, MRCGO TM , for its US business. MRC Global has offered an electronic catalogue to its multi-year MRO customers for over a decade. The new MRCGO platform is built with the most current technology that has been enhanced with MRC Global specific, customer-requested functionality. “MRCGO delivers a more robust and intuitive ordering experience,” said Andrew R Lane, president and CEO. “We have, and will continue to make, investments in our online catalogue technology. These enhancements will

the exchange of technical expertise between member companies and to promote the importance of plastic as a pipework material. It works closely with the BPF and TEPPFA, the European Plastic Pipes and Fittings Association. Derek Muckle, new president of the BPF Pipes Group

BPF Pipes Group – UK www.bpfpipesgroup.com

MRC Global launches enhanced online catalogue

Dedicated supplier of seamless steel tube and pipe!

• EN 10294 • EN 10305 • EN 10216 • EN 10297 • EN 10210 • API 5L • ASTM A106 • ASTM A179

Member of the ITA Contact: Tel: +44 (0) 2084 530046 Emails: info@qualitube.co.uk 0.8A Europa Studios Victoria Road London NW10 6ND

customers worldwide. MRC Global Inc – USA www.mrcglobal.com

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March 2017 TUBE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL