TPi September 2019

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The trade magazine for tube and pipe products

September 2019

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Editorial Office: Editor in chief

Mr Rory McBride Email: rory@intras.co.uk Mr Christian Bradley Email: christian@intras.co.uk

Editorial Assistant

Design & Production

Mrs Lisa Wright Email: lisa@intras.co.uk

Publisher Founder

Ms Caroline Sullens

Mr John C Hogg

Advertisement Material & Production: Ms Liz Hughes Email: liz@intras.co.uk

International Advertising Sales: Mr Steve Martin – Sales & marketing

Email: steve@intras.co.uk • Tel: +44 1926 834688 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

Subscriptions: www.read-tpi.com Accounts Manager Ms Karen Low and Subscriptions Tube Products INTERNATIONAL is published by Intras Ltd, UK Europe: 46 Holly Walk, Leamington Spa Warwickshire CV32 4HY, UK

Email: karen@intras.co.uk

Tel: +44 1926 334137 Fax: +44 1926 314755 Email: tpi@intras.co.uk Website: www.intras.co.uk Intras USA Danbury Corporate Center 107 Mill Plain Road Danbury, CT 06811, USA Tel: +1 203 794 0444 Email: doug@intras.co.uk

USA:

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. US copies only: T ube Products INTERNATIONAL (ISSN No: 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 Asendia USA, 701 Ashland Ave, Folcroft PA. Periodicals postage paid at Philadelphia, PA and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: send address changes to Tube Products INTERNATIONAL, 701 Ashland Ave, Folcroft PA 19032.

© 2019 Intras Ltd, UK ISSN 1755-7216

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

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Contents September 2019

8 Business & market news 22 Products & developments 40 FABTECH 2019 42 Interview Azak Tool Technologies Inc – Turkey 46 Tube Southeast Asia 2019 48 TuboTech 2019 50 Tube inspection & testing technology 61 Welding new nickel alloy By Dr Michael Fletcher, independent consultant. Huntingdon Fusion Techniques – UK 63 Editorial index 64 Advertisers index

North America’s largest metal forming, fabricating, welding & finishing event

12 th international tube and pipe trade fair for Southeast Asia

10 th international trade fair for tubes & pipes, valves, pumps, fittings and components

The trade magazine for tube and pipe products

Events calendar

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September 2019

The trademagazine for tube and pipe products

Your New Cutting Partner Cutmore Supply faster Savemore

The September issue

2019

16-21 September EMO Hanover 2019 (Hanover, Germany) International exhibition www.emo-hannover.de

info@azaktool.com

Organize SanayiBölgesiMah.4.Cad.No:8/1,Dilovası,Kocaeli,Turkey Tel:+902629996001 Fax:+902629996002

Welcome to the latest Tube Products INTERNATIONAL magazine. In this issue you will find a feature on tube inspection & testing technology (page 50) and an interview with cutting blade experts Azak Tool Technologies (page 42) following the successful launch of the company in 2018. We also have an extended article about welding new nickel alloys from Dr Michael Fletcher, an independent consultant (page 61). The continued importance, and outstanding reliablility, of tubes, in even the latest and most cutting edge technology, was highlighted recently when a tube failed with near disas- trous consequences on board HMS Queen Elizabeth . The ship is the British Royal Navy’s newest and most advanced aircraft carrier, weighing 65,000 tonnes and with a top speed of 25 knots. It was forced to return early from a sea trial following a major leak on board. According to reports in the press a high-pressure salt water pipe burst, letting more than 200 tonnes of water into the ship. That caused flooding on several decks, which put a number of lives at risk, apparently. The high-pressure burst is understood to have buckled a stair- well, bent some bulkheads and split some deck-plates on the carrier although at no stage was damage to the integrity of the hull a risk. This highlights perfectly why so much attention is spent tire- lessly testing tubes and pipes for flaws. In fact it is so vital in our industry that tube inspection innovators have been responsible for some of the biggest leaps forward in scanning technology, which has had a massive positive impact on unrelated areas such as medicine and archaeology. Next up we have the November issue of the magazine, which will have features on steel & stainless steel tubes; fittings, valves, flanges & connectors; and plastic & composite tubes & pipes. If you are interested in submitting editorial for the forthcoming November issue, the deadline is 27 August. If you would like to advertise in the issue the deadline is 12 September.

18-20 September Tube Southeast Asia (Bangkok, Thailand) International exhibition www.tube-southeastasia.com 1-3 October Tubotech (São Paulo, Brazil) International exhibition www.tubotech-online.com

11-14 November FABTECH

(Chicago, Illinois, USA) International exhibition www.fabtechexpo.com

2020

13-16 January Steelfab (Dubai, UAE)

International exhibition www.steelfabme.com

10-13 March METAV

(Düsseldorf, Germany) International exhibition www.metav.com 30 March – 3 April Tube Düsseldorf 2020 (Düsseldorf, Germany) International exhibition www.tube.de 31 March – 3 April TOLexpo (Paris, France) International exhibition www.tolexpo.com

You can send your articles, news and any questions you might have to: rory@intras.co.uk

Enjoy the magazine.

Rory McBride Editor in Chief

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tubacex.com

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Business & market news

Major order to equip 1.8mn vehicles with cooling water tube systems

field of electromobility,” said Bernd Kleinhens, CEO of Norma Group. “Winning this major order underscores the confidence that renowned automobile manufacturers place in our expertise and innovative strength.” Norma Group is working closely with the client to develop the tube systems, which will be tailored to the customer’s specific requirements. The cooling water tube systems

Engineered joining technology firm Norma Group has received an order from a British car manufacturer for the development of cooling water and ther- mal management tube systems. The cooling water tube systems will be used in cars with conventional combustion engines, while the tube systems for thermal management will be used in cars with electric drives. Production will commence in 2020 and a total of around 1.8mn vehicles will be equipped with systems from Norma Group. “I am delighted that our customer is relying on the products and expertise of Norma Group, both in the area of conventional combustion technology and in the innovative

A cooling water tube system consisting of multilayer thermoplastic tubes and PS3 quick connectors

electric motor, the electronic control unit (ECU) and the driver’s cabin, saving energy, reducing the load on the battery and increasing the range of the electric vehicles. The tubes have high chemical resistance and are securely connected by connectors, ensuring the reliability and longevity of the entire systems. The cooling water and thermal management tube systems will be manufactured at the Norma Group plant in Pilica, Poland. An in-house test laboratory at the site allows for specific quality and stress tests, and supports the rapid product development process. Norma Group SE – Germany www.normagroup.com

designed for vehicles with conventional drive systems include weight-reducing thermoplastics and plastic connectors for quick and reliable assembly.

Multilayer thermoplastic tubes and plastic connectors are also used in the thermal management tube systems for electric vehicles. The flow- optimised line systems ensure optimal flow conditions for the coolant; sensors monitor the uniform temperature distribution. The thermal management tube systems ensure the ideal operating temperature of the

Production workplace in the Norma Group plant in Pilica, Poland

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Business & market news

TechnipFMC appoints directors to board TechnipFMC has announced that Olivier Piou, former chief executive officer of Gemalto NV, and John Yearwood, former chief executive officer of Smith International, Inc, have been named to its board of directors.

our board of directors and will further strengthen the board’s breadth of talent and competencies.” Mr Piou will serve on the strategy committee and Mr Yearwood will serve on the compensation committee. Both will serve on the nominating and corporate governance committee.

and the global perspective gained as the CEO of an international public company. Olivier’s extensive knowledge of digital enterprise development will be invaluable as we continue to execute on our digital transformation strategy. John’s deep knowledge of manufacturing and oilfield services will support the continued differentiation and growth of our businesses. Because of their diverse experiences, John and Olivier are a strong complement to

Doug Pferdehirt, chairman and CEO of TechnipFMC, stated, “I am pleased to welcome John and Olivier to the board as the first new members since our merger. Both bring proven leadership

TechnipFMC plc – UK www.technipfmc.com

Celebrating 70 years of innovation in welding technology

created a strong foundation; the second expanded Kemppi abroad; and the third generation is now building the company into a global corporation. growth has recently continued with the establishment of a new welding torch factory in Wuxi, China, and through the acquisition of Italian welding torch manufacturer Trafimet Group SpA. The 70 th anniversary will be marked at customer events organised by the company and its subsidiaries around the world during the remainder of the year. Kemppi Oy – Finland www.kemppi.com Kemppi’s international

including the first digital welding power source in 1993, and the first universal welding management software in 2014. In addition to manual arc welding equipment and welding management software, Kemppi provides welding safety gear and comprehensive automated welding solutions to meet growing needs around the world. The company operates globally, with subsidiaries in 17 countries and a partner network covering more than 60 countries. It remains a privately owned family company, led by Martti Kemppi’s grandchildren. Each generation has had its own role: the first grew the company and

Finnish welding equipment manufac- turer and software developer Kemppi is celebrating its 70 th anniversary this year. The company’s innovations have helped it grow from a small family business into a global welding technology firm. This year also marks 100 years since the birth of the company’s late founder, Martti Kemppi, who established the business with his brothers in 1949. His hard work and courage to experiment led the company to revolutionise arc welding equipment in 1977 with the world’s first welding power source to use inverter technology. Since then, Kemppi has continued to introduce innovations,

Kemppi’s X8 MIG Welder, launched in 2016, introduced digital welding procedure specifications

Company founder Martti Kemppi had an entrepreneurial attitude

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September 2019 TUBE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL

Business & market news

MAC chairman William Gould passes away Magnetic Analysis Corporation (MAC) has announced the death of its chairman, William S Gould 3 rd .

current techniques. During the 1970s, he expanded the company’s products to include flux leakage testers and, in 1989, MAC introduced its own line of Echomac ® ultrasonic rotary testers for tube and bar. Mr Gould oversaw the company’s expansion into worldwide markets along with the development of automated test systems for a broad range of products – extending from small diameter tube, bar and wire for critical applications to 500mm diameter oil and gas pipe. “He combined his knowledge of science with a keen understanding of the financial and strategic positioning of the company and a genuine desire to provide an opportunity for each employee to grow to their full potential,” said his son Robert R Gould, MAC’s recently elected chairman. Magnetic Analysis Corp – USA www.mac-ndt.com

Mr Gould succeeded his father, a company founder, as president in 1964, and remained in that role until 2007, when he became chairman – a position he held until his death. During his tenure, he built the company from a small USA-based non-destructive test designer and manufacturer to its current position, providing NDT eddy current, ultrasonic and flux leakage systems and services. In 2016, Mr Gould was honoured by the American Society for Nondestructive Testing for his contributions to the NDT industry through his “knowledge and dedication” for over 50 years. He held a BS degree in mechanical engineering from Yale, where he was a member of Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society, and an MBA degree from Harvard

William S Gould 3 rd

Business School, where he was a Baker Scholar. Over the course of his years as president of MAC, Mr Gould led the company into many new developments, beginning with the introduction of the ERIC eddy current tester in 1968, which featured solid-state electronics, phase gating and, later, pulsed eddy

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TUBE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL September 2019

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Business & market news

Metalube partners with Blachford in North America

International lubricant manufacturers Metalube and HL Blachford Ltd have announced a North American partnership, which will initially focus on selling Metalube’s non-ferrous copper and aluminium wire drawing lubricants across the USA, Canada and Mexico. Mike Cundari, president of HL Blachford, commented, “This is a very exciting time for us. We have been working to develop our relationship with Metalube for some years now and we are delighted with the exceptional quality of the non-ferrous lubricants they produce. We look forward to a long and fruitful joint venture.” HL Blachford is a privately owned company, founded in 1921, with production facilities in Canada, the USA and the UK. Its ferrous and non-ferrous wire drawing products are sold under the trade name Chemdraw ® .

Douglas Hunt, commercial director of Metalube, added, “This partnership is also excellent news for Metalube. Blachford has a highly established presence in North America and like us are a privately owned family business with a similar ethos. “They have superb relationships with all of the key non-ferrous wire drawing producers in the region and we are highly confident that our products will be very well received here.” Metalube is part of the Bishopdale Group, a private holding company for industrial lubricants brands Metalube, Molyslip and UOP. The company exports 95 per cent of its production to over 90 countries worldwide. At its headquarters in Manchester, UK, the company has a fully integrated lubricant manufacturing facility, including new laboratories.

Metalube’s Douglas Hunt (right) with Mike Cundari, president of Blachford

Metalube Ltd – UK post@metalube.co.uk www.metalube.co.uk HL Blachford Ltd – Canada www.blachford.com

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Business & market news

New name and website for PPI division The Plastics Pipe Institute, Inc (PPI) has announced that its Corrugated Plastic Pipe Association (CPPA) division has become the Drainage Division of PPI. In addition to the newname announcement, the division introduced its new website at the association’s annual meeting held in Naples, Florida, USA. PPI is a major North American trade association representing all segments of the plastic pipe industry.

“These two initiatives were undertaken in part because of the dynamic nature of this group of PPI members,” stated Tony Radoszewski, CAE, president of PPI. “Ever since CPPA was formed, it has continued to grow along with the need and demand for large diameter pipe in storm water management projects. For decades, the division has focused on drainage, whether it be to increase crop yield, provide a path for roadway run-off, construct underground detention basins or long-life culverts. The new division name was chosen to better distinguish the markets served by its members, which remain the gravity flow storm water, culvert and drainage markets.” The updated website contains specific areas devoted to culverts and highways, storm sewers, storm water

(From left) Tony Radoszewski, Daniel Currence, and TJ Leason of Pacific Corrugated Pipe, who served as chairman of the management committee during the name-change process

our division and our industry feel that it is extremely important to push for more use of post-consumer recycled resin,” said Mr Currence. “It is a fact that our industry processes 25 per cent of all post-consumer HDPE bottles and converts them into products used in underground infrastructure.” The Plastics Pipe Institute, Inc – USA www.plasticpipe.org

management plus agricultural and turf drainage. Daniel Currence, PE director of engineering for the drainage division of PPI, commented, “Our members spent hundreds of hours reviewing the technical and application information in our database, in order to place it in the appropriate areas to make it easy to find and access.” Another key component of the new website is the sustainability area. “PPI,

Tube mill investment progresses with warehouse extension

completed by the end of the year. The dismantling of structural hollow section line H4 will begin in December, along

with continued work on installing a new line.

In October 2018, SSAB Europe announced that it was to modernise the production lines at the Hämeenlinna

Work relating to the invest- ments in the Hämeenlinna Tube Mill is expected to com- plete by the end of the first quarter of 2020. The number of employees is expected to increase once the lines have been completed. The steel structures and façade elements for the warehouse have been supplied by Ruukki Construction, which is part of SSAB Group. SSAB AB – Sweden www.ssab.com

Tube Mill in Finland as part of the restructuring of its tube production operations. The investment in the tube mill, amounting to around SEK 300mn, has progressed to the stage where the warehouse extension is at rooftop height, and the topping-out ceremony was held in June. The next stage in the investment will begin with the dismantling of the existing precision tube line H3 and continue with the installation of a new tube line. This will be

SSAB Europe’s Hämeenlinna Tube Mill investment

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TUBE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL September 2019

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Business & market news

Superior Tube re-awarded two Nadcap accreditations

conformity across a range of special processes in the aerospace and defence sectors. Located in Collegeville, Pennsylvania, USA, Superior Tube produces high- performance tubular products using premium raw materials and metals. The company’s small diameter tubes are used in critical applications across a wide range of industries, from aerospace to energy, and oil and gas to medicine. Ametek Specialty Metal Products (SMP) comprises six manufacturing business units in the UK and the USA: Reading Alloys, Ametek SMP Eighty Four, Fine Tubes, Superior Tube, Hamilton Precision Metals and Ametek SMP Wallingford.

chemical processing, metal coatings, conventional machining, heat treating, non-destructive testing and welding. Scott Bussinger, quality manager at Superior Tube, said, “We are very proud that we have once again been awarded these prestigious accreditations from Nadcap and are proud of our track record in manufacturing high- performance, bespoke metal tubing to challenging specifications. We look forward to continue working with Nadcap to ensure that we remain fully accountable in our heat treating and welding processes in our commitment to operational excellence in all of our manufacturing activities.” The Nadcap programme is run by the Performance Review Institute and was established in 1990 to develop and monitor an industry-wide set of criteria, providing independent certification of

Ametek SMP Superior Tube, a manufacturer of small diameter precision metal tubing for the aerospace and defence industries as well as other sectors, has announced two successful re-accreditations from Nadcap, formerly known as the National Aerospace and Defense Contractors Accreditation Program. Superior Tube met all of Nadcap’s requirements based on the exacting standards around heat treating and welding/brazing. independent accreditation and certification of special manufacturing processes and products to companies working across the aerospace and defence sectors. Superior Tube was re-awarded the heat treating and welding/brazing re-accreditations based on its ongoing commitment to continual improvement in the aerospace industry, as demonstrated in specific manufacturing processes. These include Nadcap provides

Superior Tube – USA www.superiortube.com

+353 47 80500 combili t.com

SAFETY | STORAGE | EFFICIENCY All over the world, Combili t is revolu ionising the way companies handle and store materials, especially long and awkward loads, or when space is limited. Our pioneering product range includes mul i-direc ional, ar iculated, pedestrian forkli ts as well as straddle carriers. Companies of all sizes, across a diverse array of industries, are using Combili t handling solu ions – but what our customers all have in common is an understanding of how clever design can maximize e iciency, safety and pro itability in their business.

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September 2019 TUBE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL

Business & market news

Van Leeuwen celebrates 40 years in Asia and strengthens Singapore regional HQ

Van Leeuwen Pipe and Tube (Singapore) Pte Ltd has celebrated its 40 th anniversary and announced the further strengthening of its Singapore regional headquarters as project management hub for the Asia-Pacific region. From a two-man office in 1979, Van Leeuwen Singapore has grown into Van Leeuwen’s largest stock-keeping distribution centre in the Asia-Pacific region. In 2004, at its 25 th anniversary, Van Leeuwen Singapore received the Regional Headquarters Award from the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB). Since then, the company has further expanded and strengthened its network in the Asia-Pacific region. Next to sales offices and distribution facilities in China, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Australia, Van Leeuwen invested in an extra stock facility in Johor, Malaysia, and is currently expanding its warehouse capacity in Sydney, Australia. Van Leeuwen’s regional headquarters in Singapore is part of a global project organisation within Van Leeuwen that combines knowledge and expertise of the global project teams in Asia-Pacific, North America and Europe. As project management hub for the region, Van Leeuwen Singapore is

able to service large international engineering companies for complex CapEx projects. As project activity is expected to increase, Van Leeuwen intends to further strengthen its local project execution team in Singapore. Large CapEx projects are becoming more complex. The construction of different modules often takes place simultaneously in multiple locations, requiring key services such as project management and professional project execution, combined with custom logistics solutions and urgent deliveries from stock. The group companies in the Asia-Pacific region are an important part of Van Leeuwen’s worldwide network, and contributed significantly to the positive results of the Van Leeuwen group in 2018. As the overall market conditions in the oil and gas segment are improving, particularly in Southeast Asia, Van Leeuwen is positive about the outlook for the coming years. Joop Sassen, member of the board and CEO of the Van Leeuwen Pipe and Tube Group, commented, “In the same year of Van Leeuwen’s 95 th anniversary, we celebrate 40 years of presence in Asia. Our companies in the Asia-Pacific region have gone from strength to strength, contributing significantly to our group’s result. I am confident that by further strengthening our project teams in Singapore, Van Leeuwen will continue to grow in Asia, with the support of its staff, customers, suppliers and other business relations.” Van Leeuwen is an international trading company specialising in steel pipes, and pipe and tube applications. The group has more than forty branches spread throughout Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia and North America. Its Asia- Pacific network includes thirteen branches in Singapore, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Australia. From stock locations in Singapore, Malaysia (Kulai), Thailand (Chonburi) and Australia (Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Brisbane), Van Leeuwen supplies a broad product portfolio to many customers in various energy segments. Van Leeuwen Pipe and Tube Group BV – Netherlands

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Business & market news

CIBSE-approved CPD on press-fit solutions and materials of the future

timelines get tighter and costs increase it is important for installers to find more efficient ways of working. “The programme discusses the ‘leak before press’ indicator that alerts installers to fittings that have not been pressed or have been pressed incorrectly. This feature allows installers to work effectively and avoid mistakes. “Our ultimate aim is to show heating engineers, designers and installers modern technologies that can reduce their lead time and workloads. We want to offer the right training that can help improve confidence when using Conex Bänninger’s range of fittings.” Conex Bänninger – UK www.conexbanninger.com

Conex Bänninger, a manufacturer of plumbing fittings and valves, has introduced a new CIBSE-approved CPD programme for heating engineers, designers and installers. The CPD (continuing professional development) focuses on how modern technologies such as press-fit can benefit the industry while also discussing their advantages and disadvantages. Dan Wild, UK business unit director for Conex Bänninger, said, “We’re taking this opportunity to discuss ways in which we can help improve the industry and make it quicker and safer for those involved in the installation process. The CPD explains the benefits of press fittings over brazing, push- fit and compression, and as delivery

Installation using Conex Bänninger’s >B< Maxi and >B< Press products

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Business & market news

Pipe and sewer technology trade fair More exhibitors, more visitors and the best atmosphere both inside and outside: the review of this year’s RO-KA-TECH in Kassel, Germany, was positive. “We are extremely satisfied,” said Ralph Sluke, managing director of the organiser of the trade fair, the Association of Pipe and Sewer Technology Companies (VDRK – Verband der Rohr- und Kanal-Technik- Unternehmen eV). A total of 8,565 trade visitors went to Kassel in May to find out about the latest developments and technologies in the field of pipe and sewer technology. “Including the exhibitors and their employees, who traditionally use RO-KA-TECH to maintain contacts with each other, there were more than 11,000,” said Mr Sluke. Two years earlier, the VDRK registered 7,689

visitors who came to the fair at the invitation of exhibitors or as paying guests. With additional space outside and inside, the VDRK had already expected growth. Instead of the almost 2,000 square metres that had previously been available, the Kassel Exhibition Centre had almost 3,000 square metres of outdoor space at its disposal, which was used extensively on all three days of the fair. Compared to the last RO-KA-TECH, the number of exhibitors rose from 286 to 297. “We were fully booked, so growth was limited,” explained Mr Sluke. Visitor numbers, on the other hand, showed a strong increase of 11.4 per cent. A quarter of visitors came from abroad, from a total of 59 different nations, continuing the trend that had already become apparent at the last two events. The next RO-KA-TECH will take place from 19 to 25 April 2021. VDRK – Germany

More than 8,500 visitors attended this year’s RO-KA-TECH in Kassel

info@vdrk.de www.vdrk.de

International trade fairs wire and Tube sponsor first CRU conference in Johannesburg, South Africa

to discuss future joint investment and ventures. The current investment climate as well as the political framework and economic conditions will be illustrated and discussed by local and international experts and serve as a decision-making tool for potential foreign investors interested in Africa’s industries. CRU – UK conferences@crugroup.com www.africawirecabletubeconference.com Messe Düsseldorf GmbH – Germany

and tubes are required in mining and the energy sector and in infrastructure. Messe Düsseldorf, the organiser of the wire and Tube trade fairs, is taking part as a sponsor in the Africa Wire, Cable & Tube Conference, held for the first time by the British organiser CRU in cooperation with AHK, the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce for Southern Africa, in South Africa from 11 to 13 November 2019. The inaugural conference will be held at the Emperors Palace, Johannesburg. The conference aims to bring together local suppliers and international experts

The African continent is full of economic challenges. Its enormous oil and gas reserves, numerous copper mines, large aluminium deposits and expanding regional steel industry have moved the continent into the focus of international investors. Ambitious infrastructure projects fuel the local economy which, in turn, seeks foreign know-how for implementing these measures. International manufac- turers of machinery and equipment for the wire and cable industries and the producers of tube making and finishing machines are therefore highly sought- after partners for industry. Wires, cables

info@messe-duesseldorf.de www.messe-duesseldorf.de

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Business & market news

Brennan to acquire Miric Engineering Brennan Industries Inc has announced the acquisition of Miric Engineering, a UK-based manufacturer of standard and special fittings and adapters for the material handling industry, tube manipulators, offshore market, OEMs and other end users. for our current employees as we increase our production capabilities with new products and services. We are all very excited about what the future may bring for Miric as part of the Brennan family.”

adapter types such as tube, O-ring face seal, instrumentation, metric bite type, push-to-connect, conversion and flareless bite type, as well as valves, clamps and swivels. Brennan products are stocked at strategically located, full- service distribution centres across North America, Europe and Asia. Miric was formed in 1991 to take advantage of a niche in the hydraulic fittings market, and is a second- generation family-owned business. Its advanced manufacturing centre includes chucking machines for forgings, bar-fed machines for bar work and a complete lights-out machining cell with Miyano CNC machines for 24-hour unmanned production. Brennan Industries, Inc – USA www.brennaninc.com

Dave Carr, president of Brennan Industries, commented, “Miric’s advanced manufacturing capabilities will significantly improve our offering to customers in the UK and Europe. As our company grows globally, the ability to carefully control all aspects of manufacturing and quality is critical to successfully serving our valued customers. The opportunities ahead of us continue to be tremendously encouraging, which will greatly benefit the associates and customers of both Miric and Brennan.” In business for over 65 years, Brennan supplies customers worldwide with more than 50,000 standard and special hydraulic fittings, adapters and O-rings in sizes ranging from 1 / 16 " to 3". These include a wide choice of fittings and

The acquisition of Miric expands Brennan’s global manufacturing footprint to five manufacturing centres. Brennan’s manufactured product range includes flare JIC adapters with O-ring seals, a proprietary range of thrust wire BSP adapters, and JIC, ORFS, BSP and specials in stainless, brass and aluminium. David Yates, former owner of Miric Engineering Ltd, said, “Becoming part of the Brennan team enables Miric to offer superior products and service to our existing customers, while presenting greater opportunities and resources to secure new customers. Joining Brennan will also provide excellent opportunities

Miric Engineering Ltd – UK sales@miricengineering.com http://miricengineering.com

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Business & market news

ASMAG expands production space to increase manufacture of tubes and profiles

and the participating construction companies, and the first machines and systems are being assembled in the new buildings. Bars, tubes and profiles in a wide range of qualities, sizes, lengths and materials are in demand globally. ASMAG’s machinery provides solutions that are tailored to the customer’s needs. The ASMAG team is constantly challenged to develop new and smart solutions. ASMAG’s scope of equipment and services range from the supply of individual machines to the design and realisation of entire production lines or factories for the steel and non-ferrous metal industry, where the synergies of all companies belonging to the ASMAG Group are utilised. This includes the machines and systems engineered and manufactured by ASMAG, as well as Seuthe GmbH, a manufacturer of tube welding and roll forming systems based in Germany, and Ingenia, located near Linz, Austria, which offers materials logistics and conveyor technology as

modern new halls was met to the day. “It had become tight in our production halls. Quality needs space – therefore, this step was necessary,” commented owner and CEO Johann Vielhaber. The new “free spaces” were used for an inauguration ceremony with employees

With an additional 3,200 square metres, ASMAG GmbH has created a new building at its headquarters in Austria for the assembly of machines and systems. Despite adverse weather conditions, the ambitious four-month schedule for the construction of the

well as galvanising plants. ASMAG GmbH – Austria

Johann Vielhaber, owner and CEO of ASMAG, and his daughter Tina Ettinger (company relations)

sales@asmag.at www.asmag.at

TMK and Novatek in strategic partnership to supply premium tubular products

TMK manufactures and supplies steel pipes for the oil and gas industry, with more than 20 production sites in the USA, Russia, Canada, Romania and Kazakhstan. It operates two R&D centres in Russia and the USA. The largest share of its sales belong to high-margin oil country tubular goods (OCTG), which it ships to customers in over 80 countries. TMK – Russia

pricing to promote efficient production and ensure timely and reliable supplies, and will remain effective until the end of 2023. “TMK has had long and successful relations with Novatek,” said Mr Pumpyanskiy. “We supply tubular products with premium threaded connections to many of Novatek’s projects, including Arctic LNG 2, Yamal LNG and the Yurkharovskoye field. This agreement aims to reinforce our partnership.”

PJSC TMK and PJSC Novatek signed a strategic partnership and cooperation agreement at the 23 rd St Petersburg International Economic Forum. The document was signed by Dmitry Pumpyanskiy, chairman of TMK’s board of directors, and Leonid Mikhelson, chairman of Novatek’s management board. The agreement outlines key policies and approaches for supplying TMK’s premium casing and tubing pipe to Novatek. It introduces formula-based

tmk@tmk-group.com www.tmk-group.com

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Business & market news

Success for SeaCure cementing services Well construction specialist DeltaTek Global has announced the successful completion of its first SeaCure deployment for Total E&P UK. “The DeltaTek team executed the job with clinical precision, minimising the volume of cement pumped, cement contamination, displacement and the patio around the well head.

Launched in 2015, DeltaTek’s SeaCure, ArticuLock, ControlCure and QuikCure were created in response to the grow- ing requirement for efficiently imple- mented, intelligent, cost-saving and

risk-reducing products. DeltaTek Global – UK enquiries@deltatekglobal.com www.deltatekglobal.com

Located in the energy major’s Ballindalloch oil field, the workscope was the first 20" surface casing SeaCure job completed in the North Sea. SeaCure was deployed from the Ocean Valiant mobile offshore drilling unit in a water depth of 115m. DeltaTek’s SeaCure service provides stabbed-in, inner string cementing for subsea wells, which delivers rig time savings. Benefits include no need for shoe tracks and therefore clean out runs, improved cement placement and reduced displacement, offline casing pressure testing, improved drill out performance and minimised risk of damage to the bottom hole assembly. Dave Shand, chief commercial and operations officer of DeltaTek, said, “We are absolutely delighted with the results of the Total deployment. A key deliverable was to get cement back to the seabed. SeaCure facilitates improved cement placement and this was the first time cement has successfully been brought back to the seabed in this part of the North Sea.

“This project was a major success and again illustrated how SeaCure can optimise drilling operations.”

The Test Of Time

Visit Us at Tubotech

2019

Booth 205

For over 90 years, MAC® has been a leader in nondestructive testing.

High-Speed 25mm UT Rotary System for Tube Inspection www.mac-ndt.com/25mm-ut-rotary/

mac-ndt.com

Dave Shand, DeltaTek’s chief commercial and operations officer

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6/27/19 10:13 AM

Products & developments

Products & developments

Elevating the welding training experience Lincoln Electric ® has launched the new VRTEX ® virtual reality welding training simulators to provide a solution for quickly and efficiently training welders. The VRAW™ (virtual reality arc welding) experience offered by VRTEX simulators transfers seamlessly into real-world, hands-on welding training. The new VRTEX 360+ allows schools or training centres to train two welders at the same time from one machine, each independently performing welds using different processes, coupons, joints and welding procedure specifications (WPS). steel, as in actual welding. Demo and replay modes can be used by instructors to display optimal welding techniques and review actual student behaviour, while virtual bend tests instantly provide results to reveal what causes a weld to pass or fail.

VRTEX virtual reality simulator benefits include reduced training costs; faster training; an increase in certification rates; safety (no metal, sparks, heat, gas or fumes); and immediate performance evaluation and enhanced student engagement. The weld puddle action and audio/visual response to operator behaviour differ for mild steel, aluminium and stainless

Additional features include advanced scoring for weld tie-ins; pipe-on- plate coupon and welding procedure specifications; lap coupon with support for mild steel, aluminium and stainless steel; and a record of material savings for each practice weld performed. All new VRTEX models feature the realistic GTAW process and welding devices. VRTEX 360 Single User offers multiple welding processes, positions and joint configurations; VRTEX 360+ Dual User trains two people at the same time from one machine to increase throughput; and VRTEX Transport™ is a tabletop-based system. To complete the range, the VRTEX Engage ® is suitable for introductory career pathways programmes. All VRTEX models feature a three-year warranty.

The next-generation VRTEX welding systems feature a realistic GTAW (TIG) welding experience. The accurate weld puddle, including weld discontinuities, is visually and audibly responsive to operator behaviour. The operator uses an adaptive current foot control and can perform welds with and without filler metal on a variety of materials.

Lincoln Electric’s virtual reality welding training simulators provide a solution for training welders quickly and efficiently

Lincoln Electric – USA www.lincolnelectric.com

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Products & developments

Hydraulic hose connection system for tight spaces

Photo credit: Voss Fluid Photo credit: Voss Fluid

a retaining element and a sealing element. Between the connecting stud (made of machining steel with zinc- nickel coating) and the wedge gate valve, a special snap ring is placed as a fastening element along with an O-ring and a support ring as a “sealing package”. With the patented wedge slider locking system, Voss Plug achieves plug-in reliability even with a high-pressure load capacity of up to 450 bars. The special snap ring automatically adopts its holding position due to the active locking mechanism, which is clearly visible from the outside. In this position the fastening ring is completely chambered (360°). Absolute safety is also ensured when the system is released: if the fitter accidentally unlocks the Voss Plug system even though the hose is under pressure, at first nothing happens. Only when the fitter moves the plug approximately 3mm against the pressure direction can the retaining ring take up its opening position and the plug system be released. The system can be unlocked very easily, for example using a screwdriver. While classic threaded fittings tend to rotate during installation and can cause stresses in the hoses as well as directional deviations, Voss Plug adapts to the ideal, tension-free course of the hose line. Voss Plug is available in two versions: as an integrated plug-in version and as a

In hydraulic connection technology, threaded solutions for safe, reliable and leakage-free installation have stood the test of time. However, there are situations in which they reveal weaknesses, when compromises have to be made in the design or when it comes to ease of installation – for example in cramped installation spaces. Engineers at Voss Fluid have developed a plug-in system that could replace the usual threaded solutions for hydraulic lines. Voss Fluid’s aim with Voss Plug was to develop a solution that ensures a reliable and fast installation, but also exhibits advantages in difficult assembly situations. This required a system that could be installed stress-free and could be mounted in such a manner that directional deviations during installation were prevented. The underlying principle of the system is simple. Voss Plug can be mounted and dismounted from above to save space. The installation takes only about five seconds – around 30 seconds less than the installation of an average taper coupling that has to be screwed together. While classic threaded fittings require a large radial mounting space to attach an open-end wrench, Voss Plug allows a high degree of installation flexibility. To ensure this simplicity, Voss Plug was designed so that all components sit captive on the plug. The system comprises two wedge slider elements,

Voss Fluid has developed a connection system that can replace the usual threaded solutions for hydraulic lines

plug-in version with adapter connection piece. With the integrated variant, the customer is provided with appropriately shaped holes in the connection area of the system. With this solution, the adapter socket can be completely omitted and no further components have to be mounted on the customer’s plant end. Voss Fluid GmbH – Germany The system comprises two wedge gate sliders, a retaining element and a sealing element

info@voss-fluid.net www.voss-fluid.net

Keeping pipes and tubes safe from pests Chewing activity by insects and rodents has been reported as a major cause of leaks in domestic, industrial and micro- irrigation tubing, water supply, sewerage, plumbing, and oil and gas pipes. Termites and ants secrete formic acid, which can dissolve the hardest of engineering plastics such as nylon 12.

or insect attack in these industries can lead to human and monetary losses. The products Rodrepel TM , Termirepel TM and Combirepel TM can be used to combat the nuisance caused by pests to pipes and tubes. The products work on the mechanism of repellence. C Tech Corp – India technical.marketing@ctechcorporation.com www.ctechcorporation.com

Subterranean insects and burrowing rodents are responsible for damage to pipes and tubes laid underground. Polymeric pipes can withstand chemical environments and abrasions, and have applications in mining and in oil and gas industries. The hazards caused by rodent

Rodents, as well as insects, are attracted to the colours and smells of polymers, leading them to chew on polymeric pipes and tubes, sometimes causing flooding and extensive water damage.

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