TPi March 2013
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The trade magazine for tube and pipe products
March 2013
100 Years
Seamless welded flanges and rings
from steel, stainless steel and non-ferrous metals certified in accordance with DIN EN 9001.2008 and controlled manufacturing process from Flanschenfabrik Hüttental Germany www.ffh-flansche.com
EEW-CTS Düsseldorf
YOUR PARTNER FOR FAST TRACK STEEL SUPPLIES
SAW Pipes from stock or newly produced from Stock Plates in diameter 16” up to 48” Seamless Pipes from stock in diameters from 1” up to 24” Steel Plates from stock in wall thicknesses from 10mm up to 200mm Standard Piping Products from stock in diameters ½” up to 48” Special Piping Products produced from Stock Plates, Pipes or Forgings Material Grades: Various carbon- alloy- and stainless steel grades for structural-process and line pipe application.
Standards and Design Codes: API, ANSI, ASME, ASTM, BSI, EN, ISO, DIN, NACE
EEW-CTS GmbH Lindemannstr. 64 D-40237 Düsseldorf/Germany Tel: +49-211-49769914 or +49-211-4976990 Fax: +49-211-49769929 Email: ulrich_bergmann@eewcts.de www.eewcts.de
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SHIJIAZHUANG RUIDATONG P I P E F I T T I NG CO . , L T D
Specializing in the following: SIZE: 1/2” to 120” SEAMLESS & WELDED PIPE FITTINGS SCH10 TO 120MM
Carbon Steel Butt Weld Fittings: A/SA-234 WPB WPC High Yield Butt Weld Fittings: A860 or MSS SP 75 WPHY42 Y52 Y60 Y65 Y70 Y80 Low Temp Butt Weld Fittings: A/SA-420 WPL6 WPL3 Alloy Butt Weld Fittings: A/SA 234 WP-11 Class 1&2, WP-22 Class 1&3, WP-91, WP-5. WP-9
ADD: Room 804, No.4 Building, Qingshui ju - Qingshui street, Shijiazhuang City- Hebei Province, 050094 P.R. China TEL: +86-311-8399-0118 - FAX: +86-311-8399-0127 - MAIL: sales@ruidatong.com - www.ruidatong.com
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Tube Products INTERNATIONAL is published by Intras Ltd, UK
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US copies only: Tube Products International (ISSN No: 1755-7216, USPS No: 024-676) is published bi-monthly by Intras Ltd and distributed in the USA by SPP, 17B S Middlesex Ave, Monroe NJ 08831. Periodicals postage paid at New Brunswick, NJ. POSTMASTER: send address changes to Tube Products INTERNATIONAL, 17B S Middlesex Ave, Monroe, NJ 08831 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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© 2013 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
www.tubeproductsinternational.com
Contents March 2013
8 Business & Market News 26 Products & Developments 44 Made in Steel – Italy 48 Plastic and composite innovations 54 Large diameter pipe 60 Construction, building and structural tubes 65 Optimising pipe fit-up and logistics improves welding productivity by Dr Richard Gooch, director of technology at Optical Metrology Services (OMS) Ltd
67 Editorial Index 68 Advertisers Index
3-5 April 2013
The biggest trade show for the Italian and International steel industry
Whenyouhave finishedwith thismagazineplease recycle it
The trade magazine for tube and pipe products
events calendar
March 2013
www.read-tpi.com
The trademagazine for tube and pipe products
The March issue
100 Years
Seamless welded flanges and rings
2013
from steel, stainless steelandnon-ferrousmetalscertified inaccordancewithDINEN9001.2008andcontrolled manufacturingprocess fromFlanschenfabrikHüttentalGermany www.ffh-flansche.com
Welcome to the latest issue of Tube Products International. This issue our special features examine the worlds of innovations in plastic and composite pipes, large diameter pipe, and construction and building and structural tubes. We also feature a fascinating technical article looking at optimising pipe fit-up and logistics to improve welding productivity. This issue will be distributed at Made in Steel in Milan, Italy, and if you turn to page 44 you will find all the information you need about the show and some news on the Italian steel industry from the experts. It looks like it will be an excellent show with even more exhibitors and visitors than last time according to the organisers. One thing I particularly admire about the philosophy of the event is the strong emphasis on forums and panel discussions and the exchange of ideas, expertise and contacts. While it is great to exhibit machinery and products it is also invaluable if you can come away with a pearl of wisdom from one of the leading experts in the industry or make contact with someone who can solve a problem that was troubling you. So I would urge everyone who attends to throw themselves into the show with enthusiasm and I am sure you will be more than rewarded for this.
28-30 March Boru 2013 (Turkey) International Exhibition www.borufuari.com 3-5 April Made in Steel (Italy) International Exhibition www.madeinsteel.it
25-28 June Tube Russia International Exhibition www.metallurgy-tube-russia.com 25-26 June Valve World Expo Americas International Exhibition www.valveworldexpoamericas.com 16-21 September EMO Hannover (Germany) International Exhibition www.emo-hannover.de 17-19 September Tube SE Asia (Thailand) International Exhibition www.tube-southeastasia.com 1-3 October TuboTech (Brazil) International Exhibition www.tubotech.online.com 16-23 October ‘K’ Plastic 2013 (Germany) International Exhibition www.k.online.com 12-14 November Stainless Steel World Expo (Netherlands) International Exhibition www.stainless-steel-world.net
Next issue the deadline for editorial is 18 March and we will be featuring articles on hydraulic
tubes, valves, fittings, flanges and connectors, and will be taking a look at Tube Russia 2013 and Valveworld Expo 2013 in the USA.
18-21 November Fabtech (Chicago, USA) International Exhibition www.fabtechexpo.com 19-22 November TOLexpo (France) International Exhibition www.tolexpo.com
Rory McBride Editor
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TUBE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL March 2013
See us at Boru 2013 Show
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news business & market
A new player in the US OCTG market Turkish steel pipe manufacturer Borusan Mannesmann will invest US$150mn in the United States to establish a steel pipe manufacturing plant to cater to the energy sector. shale gas production. The decision on the location of the investment is not yet finalised, but Texas and Oklahoma are the leading states to attract the investment through their incentive programmes. The facility will be built on nearly 125 acres of land and will provide 350 people with employment when it becomes operational.
know-how and expertise and our new CEO, Buddy Brewer, is among the few individuals with the experience and knowledge to carry this through. Not only that, Borusan Mannesmann is among the few firms with the strength to make such an investment.” Borusan Mannesmann has realised many oil and natural gas pipeline projects in Turkey, Central Europe and North Africa. The Elba Express and Line 300 natural gas pipeline projects brought the company prestige in the US market, and over the last three years it has become one of the largest international companies that exports to the United States the pipes used in oil and natural gas exploration and extraction.
After supplying the US market with pipes used in the energy sector for several years, Borusan Mannesmann now aims to become a local manufacturer in order to be closer to the market and its customer base. A pipe manufacturing plant with an annual production capacity of 300,000 tons will be established, focusing its output on OCTG and ERW line pipes. The target revenue for the US-based company is estimated at US$500mn. Scheduled to start production by mid- 2014, the plant is designed to produce the thick-walled and high-strength pipes suitable for state-of-the-art, advanced OCTG technology used in
Agâh Uˇgur, Borusan Holding Group CEO, commented, “Borusan Mannesmann is among the leading players of steel pipe market in Europe. One of its top goals is to become a global player in the pipe industry. This investment is not only a way to insert Borusan Mannesmann into the US market; it is also the first step to becoming an international manufacturer.” Board chairman Semih Özmen added, “Investing in a product that requires the use of advanced technology such as OCTG pipes requires significant
borusan Mannesmann – Turkey mannesmann@borusan.com www.borusanmannesmann.com
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Tube ProducTs InTernaTIonal March 2013
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business & market news
Specialised welding and fabrication Arc Energy Resources has completed a contract to carry out specialised welding and fabrication services on a pig launcher and retrieval system (PLR) destined for a time-critical application in the Cascade Chinook oilfield in the Gulf of Mexico, where operator Petrobras is laying an additional subsea pipeline to increase production.
discuss the critical welding elements of the project and carry out a design review for manufacture. Arc Energy’s welding engineers, led by managing director Alan Robinson, who has a Master’s degree in welding and is one of a small number of UK registered International Welding Engineers, helped the Vector team develop its drawings to a ‘designed for manufacture’ stage. The two companies then worked on a joint-venture basis to produce the fabrications that connect to the Vector PLR, which is 3.5m tall, 2m wide and weighs approximately 5 tonnes. Arc Energy Resources is a specialist in weld overlay cladding and fabrication for the oil and gas industry. The company’s expertise provides protection against corrosion and wear for a variety of process and pipeline equipment for use in hostile environments. Arc Energy also offers in-house test weld, heat treatment, PMI and NDT facilities. Industry certifications include ISO 9001:2008 quality management, ISO 3834-2 fusion welding of metallic materials, and the internationally renowned ASME U and R Stamps, as well as ISO 14001:2004 environment management, Investors in People and OHSAS 18001:2007 Health & Safety management system.
The contract, for the subsea division of Vector Technology Group, involved Arc Energy welding a soft landing arm system to the PLR as well as fabricating a structural split flange support to enable the hub of a Vector OPTIMA subsea connector to be attached to pipeline end terminations (PLETs). In addition, Arc Energy fabricated and welded a number of specialised components to produce lifting brackets and control panels that needed to meet similarly demanding welding procedures for the Vector specification. All components were fabricated to high standards and close tolerances by Arc Energy in accordance with American structural welding codes AWS D1.1 and ASME VIII. Output from the Cascade Chinook field has a high hydrogen sulphide content, which necessitates the use of very tight welding parameters in order to adhere to the demands of NACE. As a result of the long pipe lengths, the internal surfaces of the pipe quickly become coated with hard scale and wax deposits, reducing
The Petrobras pig launcher and retrieval system
production by restricting the delivery of oil ashore.
‘Pigs’ are introduced into the pipeline using specially designed launching and receiving vessels to clear debris, and to batch and clear residual product. Frequent pigging is required to ensure that production is optimised. Vector’s subsea division, which was awarded the contract for the 15,000psi rated pig launcher by Technip Group, completed the design for the Cascade Chinook field and, as part of the development programme, sent a team of engineers to Arc Energy’s facility to
Arc Energy Resources – UK sales@arcenergy.co.uk www.arcenergy.co.uk
Tube Hollows relocates headquarters Tube Hollows International has relocated its headquarters from Fryeburg, Maine, to a new, expanded and ultra-modern facility in Windham, Maine. customer service and communications, providing our clients with the specialised attention and access to information they require,” said Mr Morse.
Working with all commercial and medical alloys, Tube Hollows International can provide tube conditioning, (improvement of surface finishes and wall thickness variations), deep hole drilling, trepanning, honing, grinding and turning. Medical, industrial, aerospace, oil and gas, nuclear and automotive industries have benefitted by the precise attention to detail supplied by the company. Tube Hollows International – USA info@tubehollows.com www.tubehollows.com
Tube Hollows International supplies precision seamless tube hollows used for reduction, as well as for tubular devices and components, with many uses in surgical and implant applications. Various industries’ demands for near perfect diametric and wall thickness tolerances are routinely satisfied by Tube Hollows International’s proprietary, precision gun drilling process.
According to general manager David Morse, the move to Windham was an investment into the company’s continued and future success. “The move has not only enabled us to obtain a new, larger facility with additions to our equipment capacities and capabilities, but it has enabled us to add and implement a customer account management team whose focus will be
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March 2013 Tube Products International
business & market news
Norma acquires Australian distribution business
and offers around 35,000 products and solutions to approximately 10,000 customers in 90 countries. Its joining products can be found in vehicles, ships, trains, aircraft, domestic appliances, engines and plumbing systems, as well as in applications for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry.
builds on its water platform and complements its product range in the infrastructure business area. The company expands its distribution network with a focus on agriculture and irrigation. “We are pleased to grow our existing distribution network in Australia with the acquisition of Davydick,” commented Werner Deggim, CEO of Norma Group. “Furthermore, we step into the markets for pumps. The service range of Davydick ideally complements our recent acquisition of Chien Jin Plastic, a Malaysian manufacturer of pipe compression fittings and components for the irrigation, agriculture and water distribution markets.” Norma Group manufactures a wide range of innovative engineered joining technology solutions in three product categories (clamp, connect and fluid),
Norma Group, an international market and technology leader for engineered joining technology, signed an agreement in January to acquire the distribution business of Davydick & Co Pty Limited, Australia. The parties agreed to maintain confidentiality on the transaction details. Davydick, based in Goulburn, approximately 150km southwest of Sydney, is a distributor for various elements in the transportation of water in irrigation systems. The company is specialised in supplying a comprehensive range of rural irrigation fittings, valves and pumps under its Pumpmaster brand name to around 700 customers throughout Australia, in the agricultural, hardware and plumbing markets. Davydick maintains branches in Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane.
Norma Group AG – Germany www.normagroup.com
Sustainable manufacturer award A West Bromwich, UK-based manufacturer of precision cold drawn welded and seamless tube has received the prestigious Sustainable Manufacturer of the Year Award at the Insider Made in the Midlands Awards. Caparo Drawn Products, which needed to deal with both a declining and increasingly competitive market in the UK and abroad, introduced a cost reduction programme of which energy consumption formed a key strand. At its current rate, the company’s energy consumption constituted approximately 10 per cent of turnover, and its target was to reduce both its energy and carbon footprint by 10 per cent. As a result, Caparo introduced a group energy plan, monthly benchmarking, and appointed an energy champion. The company’s management also determined five areas where savings could be made in gas consumption. Kurt Jacobs, editor at awards organiser Midlands Business Insider, said, “Caparo Drawn Products stood out. Its commitment to sustainability has produced phenomenal results. It was clear that the sustainability agenda is clearly in their DNA – it’s the first company we’ve heard of with a committed energy director. The business set out clearly what it wanted to achieve with its green strategy and surpassed it.”
With the acquisition of the distribution business of Davydick, Norma Group
Caparo Drawn Products – UK www.caparo.com
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business & market news
ADIPEC generates interest in high performance tubing
Fine Tubes reports that its attendance at the 15 th ADIPEC event in Abu Dhabi in November 2012 generated high interest in the company’s product range of corrosion resistant tubes for the oil and gas industry. Participation in the oil and gas related conference and exhibition was part of the UK tube manufacturer’s plan in developing the Middle East region for exotic alloy tubing after recently establishing a network of partnering agents in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the Sultanate of Oman, in addition to its long- term partner, Petro Middle East, in the UAE. With over 1,500 exhibitors and 45,000 visitors, the ADIPEC exhibition provided a high number of visitors to the Fine Tubes booth, represented on the stand of Petro Middle East, an ADNOC approved company and agent for Fine Tubes for over ten years in the UAE. Nick Head, business development executive at Fine Tubes, commented, “The meetings at the show indicated strong interest in stainless steel 904L, 6Moly and nickel alloy tubing matching our expertise in manufacturing these specialist corrosion resistant products. “Particularly noticeable is the trend in moving from away from standard 316L type grades towards better performing alloys. Our discussions showed that 316L is still widely specified but the number of projects and applications where other grades are being used are clearly increasing. “The industry seems to come to terms with the fact that costs for re-fitting corroded instrumentation systems when combined with loss due to production down times now make ‘fit and forget’ tube systems in higher corrosion- resistant alloys a much more cost- effective solution in the longer term. The investment in higher performance alloys will certainly pay off.” Fine Tubes Ltd manufactures high specification tubes
Fine Tubes at ADIPEC 2012, on the stand of UAE agent Petro Middle East
in stainless steel, super-austenitic, duplex, nickel and titanium alloys for various mission critical applications in hostile sour well, subsea or downhole marine environments. The tube mill regularly supplies precision tubing in stainless steels 904L (UNS N08904) and 6Moly (UNS S31254), as well as nickel alloy 625 (UNS N06625) and alloy 825 (UNS N08825) for global offshore and onshore projects. “Despite the majority of drilling projects being onshore in the Middle East, the number of offshore developments are increasing,” commented Ryan Dover, responsible for oil and gas upstream projects at Fine Tubes. “This means much deeper, more hostile and corrosive environments, which again drives the demand for higher corrosion-resistant tubing because stainless steels just would not last in these hostile corrosive conditions.”
PLASTIC MOULD FACTORY
PP COMPRESSION FITTINGS 20 BAR www.arangul. com E-mail: arangul@arangul.com Tel : +90(312) 394 40 95 Fax : +90(312) 394 40 99 100% ORIGINAL MADE IN TURKEY
Fine Tubes ltd – UK sales@finetubes.co.uk www.finetubes.com
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business & market news
Reducing carbon emissions targets Wolseley UK has announced that it will aim to reduce carbon emissions from energy consumption by 30 per cent in the next three years, as part of its new environmental policy for sustainable development. professional trade, has
“As part of our strategy for reducing total carbon footprint, we plan to implement a range of environmentally friendly initiatives, as we believe creating and setting a green agenda is an important part of any successful business – particularly now that these credentials are such an important criterion in supplier selection.” In 2011, the company was awarded the Carbon Trust Standard for its dedication to reducing carbon emissions by 18 per cent during a one-year period. With a qualitative assessment score of 76 per cent, Wolseley UK was commended for showing “demonstrated effectiveness at responding to climate change through governance, carbon accounting and carbon management”. Wolseley UK, a subsidiary of Wolseley plc, provides construction products and materials through a nationwide branch network, including Drain Center, Plumb Center, Pipe Center, Climate Center, Parts Center, Integrated Services and William Wilson.
put environmental considerations at the heart of its day-to-day operations, pledging to cut carbon emissions from energy usage by almost a third by 2015. In order to achieve the reduction, Wolseley will carefully monitor and manage environmental performance at all levels of the business, particularly in areas of energy and waste. Other initiatives are also being considered, such as the installation of PV technology and LED lighting. ConnorDalton,environmentalmanager, Wolseley UK, explained: “We have always been dedicated to delivering
The company, a distributor of construction products to the
a service which considers the environmental impact of all areas of our business and we believe the ambitious target of reducing carbon emissions by 30 per cent really demonstrates how seriously we take green issues. By closely examining levels of energy consumption and reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill through an established recycling programme, we will dramatically improve the environmental impact of our processes.
Wolseley UK’s head office
Wolseley UK www.wolseley.co.uk
BSS continues support for industry excellence
students to showcase the level of talent currently operating in this sector and be rewarded for their exceptional skills and abilities. Congratulations to Patrick and all of the finalists who have been recognised as the best at what they do.” BSS Industrial, part of the plumbing and heating division of Travis Perkins plc, is a UK pipeline and heating distributor with over 60 branches, a national distribution centre in the East Midlands, and a national tube distribution centre in Coventry.
controls, commissioning valves and a circulating pump. The installation was then inspected by a judging panel of industry experts, before Mr O’Leary was crowned the overall winner. Chris Hufflett, sales and operations director for BSS Industrial, commented, “BSS Industrial was pleased to once again show its support for SkillPIPE. It’s an innovative competition that rewards those who are already achieving excellence in the industry, whilst promoting the need to continue improving standards nationwide.
BSS Industrial has sponsored the annual SkillPIPE competition for the fourth year in a row, and has offered its congratulations to gold medal winner Patrick O’Leary of NG Bailey Engineering Academy. The distributor once again donated materials such as pipes, valves and Boss consumables, which were used in practical challenges throughout the competition. The latest event was held at the NEC in Birmingham, UK, alongside the UK finals of SkillELECTRIC, SkillFRIDGE, SkillPLUMB and SkillBUILD. After a series of challenges, the six SkillPIPE finalists had to cut, thread, weld and install pipework with temperature
BSS Industrial – UK www.bssindustrial.co.uk
“SkillPIPE provides a fantastic opportunity for employees and
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business & market news
Pipex chairman awarded MBE Alan Smith, founder and chairman of Pipex px ® , has been awarded an MBE in the 2013 New Year Honours List for “service to the manufacturing industry”. Pipex px is a privately owned, family- run SME manufacturing business, specialising in manufacturing
projects in the Middle East. “Pipe exports” was abbreviated to give the company name Pipex Ltd. At that stage there was no manufacturing facility, so fabrication work had to be sub- contracted. 38 years on, the company (now Pipex px) has manufacturing facilities in Plymouth and Glasgow, five engineering divisions, employs 130 people, runs an apprenticeship scheme, donates 5 per cent of surplus profits to national and local charities, and is multi-award winning in all areas of the business. Mr Smith commented, “I am humbled and very touched to receive this award. I feel this MBE is for Pipex px and all my colleagues who have worked so hard with me to make the company what it is today.”
construction products from thermo- plastics and advanced composites, and spearheading innovation in fast track, corrosion resistant, minimal maintenance solutions. Recent projects include a fibre reinforced polymer footbridge installed at a Grade II listed railway station; glass reinforced epoxy pipe systems and FRP phenolic gratings for the flight deck walkways on the Queen Elizabeth -class aircraft carrier (the largest warship ever built in the UK); and thermoplastic polypropylene passive rainwater harvesting systems that are currently being installed in various UK schools. Having started the business in 1975 with a small bank loan secured against his house, Mr Smith began by exporting thermoplastic pipe systems to pharmaceutical and petrochemical
Pipex founder and chairman Alan Smith
Pipex px – UK sales@pipexpx.com www.pipexpx.com
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Magnetic Analysis Corporation
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business & market news
Paradigm wins £3mn of contracts Pipeline blockage remediation
as chronic blockages can sometimes leave replacement as the only option. Oilfields in different regions face their own unique challenges, but our Pipe-Pulse technology allows vital remediation work to be completed effectively in a range of environments.” The Pipe-Pulse unit delivers high energy and volume pressure pulses into the pipeline or subsea umbilical; these pulses are then transmitted to the blockage several miles away. The system is designed to be connected on the topsides of the host platform to remove the blockages. Prior to Pipe-Pulse, these problems were usually remediated by expensive methods such as deploying a coiled tubing system from a rig into the pipeline, or undertaking subsea interventions using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) or saturation divers. Paradigm Flow Services develops groundbreaking technologies for detecting, remediating and preventing subsea and topside pipeline blockages, for the oil and gas industry.
specialist Paradigm Flow Services has secured £3 million worth of new business with major oil and gas operators for work using its pioneering Pipe-Pulse technology. The company has netted four contracts to unblock subsea pipelines across four major oil and gas regions: the UK, US, West Africa and South East Asia, growing its market position on a global scale. Pipe-Pulse is a remote, non-intrusive method of locating and removing blockages in long distance pipe-work up to 30 miles. The current campaign of work will involve clearing umbilicals and flowlines to allow operators to re-inject chemicals and protect the integrity of their systems. Rob Bain, managing director of Paradigm Flow Services, said, “Integrity of subsea systems, pipelines and umbilicals is a major issue for operators around the world, particularly as assets age. Pipe-Pulse has the potential to save operators millions
Rob Bain, managing director of Paradigm Flow Services
The company was launched in 2010 and now has 32 staff, with plans for further recruitment as demand for services continues to grow. The company recently won a Northern Star Business Award for Commitment to Innovative Use of R&D, and also secured a Gold Award for Safety from Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) in recognition of its approach to the prevention of accidents and ill health. Paradigm Flow Services Ltd – UK info@paradigmflow.com www.paradigmflow.com
An engineer using the Pipe-Pulse unit
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Offshore processing centre Tata Steel has inaugurated its new £2 million offshore processing centre (OPC) at an event attended by more than 40 leading business figures from the European renewable energy sector. sector that can be prepared for welding onto finished structures, shortening throughput times and improving cost efficiency for customers.
In addition to tubulars for jacket foundation structures, Tata Steel will also supply smaller sized tubes and sections suitable for primary and secondary steel work within wind turbine fabrications. Deirdre Fox, sales and marketing director for energy and power at Tata Steel, said, “The creation of a strong renewable energy industry is dependent upon delivering efficient, cost-effective supply chains.” “The investment in our new offshore processing centre is a key part of our drive to meet this challenge and offer the products and services the industry needs to meet the growing renewables requirement.”
Once manufactured, the components will be stored for shipment in kit form to fabricators in the UK and mainland Europe, using local deepwater ports and the UK rail network. Tata Steel has also forged a supply agreement with German steel tube producer Eisenbau Krämer (EBK) to complement its own product portfolio, creating a comprehensive package across a full size range of tubulars. Under the supply agreement tubes from 400mm diameter upwards will be produced by both companies from plate manufactured by Tata Steel’s plants in England and Scotland.
Following a presentation at Hartlepool College of Further Education, guests were shown round the company’s new centre, a high-productivity processing facility that will produce welded tubular assemblies to be used in the fabrication of jacket foundations for offshore wind turbines. They also visited Tata Steel’s 42" tube mill, one of three tube mills located at the Hartlepool site. The OPC will play a pivotal role in supplying the renewables sector, manufacturing highly refined components for the offshore wind
Tata Steel Europe Ltd – UK www.tatasteel.com
Premium pipes at Yurkharovskoye field
with our premium connections,” said Sergei Bilan, TMK’s vice president for premium products and services. “The use of TMK’s premium pipes in the Far North for deep and complex shape wells is a great evidence of their high performance and a source of important data for our experts enabling them to improve our products and work out effective innovative solutions.” TMK operates around 30 production sites in the United States, Canada, Russia, Romania, Oman, UAE and Kazakhstan, and two R&D centres in Russia and the USA. The largest share of TMK’s sales belongs to high margin oil country tubular goods, shipped to customers in more than 80 countries. The company delivers its products along with an extensive package of services in heat treating, protective coating, premium connections threading, warehousing and pipe repairing.
TMK, a global manufacturer and supplier of steel pipes for the oil and gas industry, has run its casing pipes with ТМК PF premium connections in the onshore and offshore parts of the well at Novatek’s Yurkharovskoye field. The company’s specialists already provided support of the two similar runs at this field in 2011 and in 2012 – then the first instance of Russian pipes being used in the construction of wells consisting of a vertical onshore part and a horizontal offshore one. The total depth of the runs was 5,602m and 5,786m respectively. This time, a column of 204 casing pipes with ТМК PF premium connections was also run into the well that starts on land and goes under the bed of the Karsk Sea. The total depth of the run reached 5,845m – the deepest well made with ТМК premium casing pipes. Field tests confirmed the column’s serviceability.
Dedicated supplier of seamless steel tube and products! • Mechanical • Precision tubes • Hydraulic
• Machining • Boiler tubes • Line Pipe
• Centrifugally cast pipes • Heat Exchangers tubes
Contact: Emails: info@qualitube.co.uk 0.8A Europa Studios Victoria Road London NW10 6ND
Member of the ITA
TMK – Russia www.tmk-group.com
“We continue accumulating the valuable experience of running pipe columns
www.qualitube.co.uk
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March 2013 Tube Products International
Hydratight gains MASE certification
São Paulo
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Shanghai Bangkok
MRC acquires Production Specialty Services McJunkin Red Man Corporation, the US operating subsidiary of MRC Global Inc, has completed the previously announced acquisition of the operating assets of Production Specialty Services, Inc. Headquartered in Midland, Texas and established in 1990, Production Specialty Services adds 18 service locations, including one distribution centre, in the Permian Basin and Eagle Ford shale regions of Texas and New Mexico to MRC’s current location network. “We are pleased to have completed this acquisition and welcome all of the Production Specialty Services employees to MRC,” said Andrew R Lane, MRC chairman, president and CEO. “I look forward to combining our strengths to better serve our customers in the Permian Basin and Eagle Ford shale.” Headquartered in Houston, Texas, MRC is a global 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. Global joint integrity specialist Hydratight has gained full MASE certification in France, meaning the company can now work directly as a certified contractor. MASE is a France-only certification system formulated by chemical, oil and gas industries for contractors, to ensure safe working and consistent working standards. The MASE framework is generally equivalent to the Safety Contractor Checklist recognised in other parts of Europe, such as Germany and the Benelux countries, and though similar to OHSAS 18001, makes more stringent demands on training, metrics and safety communication. Until the end of October 2012, Hydratight was required to work as a sub-contractor with a MASE-certified contractor, but after two years of preparation has successfully achieved full MASE status following a system and on-site audit by the LRQA auditor. The certification stands for three years. Hydratight UK www.hydratight.com
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Tube Düsseldorf: Innovations go global
Take advantage of the highest calibre expertise of the No. 1 international fair as the show goes global. Draw on international synergies from these leading trade fairs. A cycle of regional events, staged in succession around the globe, responding to local market and customer needs. Detailed information on the full programme can be found at: www. t ube . de
Messe Düsseldorf GmbH Postfach 101006 _ 40001 Düsseldorf _ Germany Tel. +49(0)211/4560-01_Fax +49(0)211/4560-668 www.messe-duesseldorf.de
MRC Global Inc – USA www.mrcglobal.com
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business & market news
HPT relocates to Tampa facility Heat Pipe Technology, Inc (HPT) has completed its relocation to Tampa with a grand opening event at the new 58,000ft 2 manufacturing facility and corporate headquarters. The event was attended by the top leadership of HPT’s parent company, MiTek, as well as representatives of the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Council (EDC) and the Tampa Bay Workforce Alliance. The increased manufacturing capacity and larger staff will allow HPT to respond to rising demand for its new and retrofit HVAC solutions. The new facility also allows HPT to demonstrate its dehumidification and energy recovery heat pipes and to properly showcase the company’s Innovation Center.
in demand for HPT’s HVAC solutions, because the return-on-investment for their use is so clear and compelling,” said Mr Toombs. “This new, expanded facility, which is near to major domestic and international shipping routes, will allow us to take full advantage of the interest in heat pipe technology, and we were pleased to share our excitement with all those in attendance at our grand opening event.” Heat Pipe Technology, Inc – USA info@heatpipe.com www.heatpipe.com
Gene Toombs IV, HPT’s president, and Tom Manenti, chairman and CEO of MiTek, joined Mark House of the EDC executive committee for a ribbon cutting in front of HPT’s new offices. “We are seeing a remarkable uptick
The Tampa manufacturing facility is 45 per cent larger than the company’s previous location in Gainesville, Florida.
Contract awarded for the Juliet Project Technip has been awarded by GDF Suez E&PUKLtdanengineering, procurement, installation and construction contract for the Juliet project, located 40km east of the Humberside estuary, at a water depth of approximately 20 to 60m. The contract, which is a tie-back to the Pickerill A platform, will cover the installation of a 12" 22km rigid flowline, 22km static controls umbilical, 12" riser, 16" J-tube assembly, and 100-ton manifold. Technip – France www.technip.com
Technip’s operating centres in Aberdeen, Scotland, and Oslo, Norway, will work in conjunction to deliver this project.
World leadingmanufacturers of gridded tubes and thyratrons
60 years of engineering excellence For over 60 years, e2v has manufactured and supplied quality industrial triodes and tetrodes to the industrial market. Contact us for a quote today e2v.com/tubes manufacture are also direct equivalents for other manufacturers’ tubes, or can be used to replace them with our guidance. Ranging in power output from 25kw to 530kw, our power tubes deliver outstanding performance and a long service life. We supply an exceptional level of customer service and support, and many of the gridded tubes that we
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March 2013 Tube Products International
business & market news
Milestone for fittings provider Nero Pipeline Connections, a provider of stainless steel fittings and accessories, is celebrating 25 years in business with a number of customer-focused changes throughout 2013.
Managing director Ross Mooney commented, “Reaching our 25-year milestone is a real cause for celebration and we want our customers to benefit from our achievements. We will be celebrating our birthday with the launch of a brand new website, a vastly improved, user-friendly product catalogue and a new level of marketing investment. We want to ensure our customers can get what they want, where they want, so we’ll also be exhibiting at a number of top industry exhibitions throughout the year.” Nero was founded in 1988 by Mr Mooney and Neil McDermott, who combined decades of industry experience. With strong links throughout many industries, including the process, water and pharmaceutical sectors as well as the commercial and domestic heating and plumbing industries, the duo began recruiting staff after just nine months of trading to accommodate high levels of customer demand. Years of rapid growth followed and the team moved to larger premises in 1989, 1998 and again in 2006 to house increased stock levels from which they could offer a fast and reliable overnight delivery service.
A selection of valves from Nero
the bid has particular significance, as it indicates that Sage Forming (SGF), with Chinese independent intellectual property rights and innovative forming method, has been recognised by the international market. The SG/508 HF welding pipe line will be put into operation in August 2014, and will become the largest diameter, thickest wall, highest steel grade ERW producing line in Indonesia after completion. change this. We strived to support our struggling customers by offering as much flexibility as possible during their times of difficulty. We delivered goods at short notice when work was made available to them, sourced cost effective products that would meet their financial requirements and have always been at the end of the phone to offer technical advice and expertise to their teams.” Mr Mooney added that expansion plans are in place to increase the size of the company’s current premises, and the launch of a new e-commerce website will offer customers the latest in online product browsing and purchasing opportunities. Nero Pipeline Connections – UK info@nero.co.uk www.nero.co.uk
and Mr McDermott took particular interest in the stainless steel industry as it continued to advance in line with customer requirements. Eventually they decided that stainless steel would be the area of expertise that would drive the company forward. Despite the continued success, growth inevitably slowed during the economic decline of the 1990s and again during the recession of 2008 and 2009, particularly due to the fluctuation of exchange rates and customers struggling to secure work. However, Mr Mooney explained that both downturns were followed by quick recovery: “Customer service has always been at the core of our business and we were determined that economic downturn would not
Although the company initially offered a variety of pipeline materials, Mr Mooney
Straight seam welding pipe line contract signed
Indonesia attended the contract signing ceremony.
On 30 November 2012, in Jakarta, Indonesia, Dalian Sage Group and Krakatau Steel Group signed a contract for SG/508 HF straight seam welding pipe line. Chairman and board members of Krakatau Steel Group and PT KHI Pipe Industries, chairman and vice chairman of Dalian Sage Group, and the Counselor of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China Embassy in
Krakatau Steel Group is a state-owned iron and steel enterprise in Indonesia, and has a pivotal position in the national economy. The bidding process for SG/508 welding pipe line lasted for one year, and included eight competitor firms. Dalian Sage Group stated that the winning of
Dalian Sage Group – China
sage@csage.com www.csage.com
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Vallourec in long- term collaboration with Petrobras Vallourec, a provider of premium tubular solutions, has renewed its main frame agreement with Brazilian national oil company Petrobras. Vallourec’s Brazilian subsidiary, V&M do Brasil, and Petrobras have signed a five-year contract to supply Petrobras’s operations with premium OCTG products, including seamless pipes, steel grades and connections using state-of-the art technology. These products will be used for offshore oil and gas exploration and production wells, including the huge reservoir of the pre-salt fields. With proven reserves of up to 16 billion barrels, pre-salt should represent about 30 per cent of Petrobras’s production by 2020. The company is engaged in one of the largest investment plans in the world, amounting to US$236.5bn between 2012 and 2016, including US$141.8bn for exploration and production, according to the business plan announced by the company in 2012. Philippe Crouzet, chairman of Vallourec’s management board, declared, “The renewal of the main frame agreement with Petrobras is an important step in our long-term collaboration, dating back to 60 years. We are honoured to be trusted by Petrobras, who is renowned for its technological excellence, to supply our most advanced premium tubular solutions, and support them with our best innovation capability in order to tackle the unequalled challenges of the pre-salt exploitation.” The Brazilian pre-salt fields combine several additional challenges besides the salt layer itself: well depths up to 7,000m, ultra deepwater conditions with up to 2,000m between surface and seabed, acid corrosion caused by H 2 S and CO 2 contaminants, and a tendency toward high pressure/ high temperature conditions in certain areas. Associating all these parameters together has an important impact on the exploration models, and on the requirements for OCTG material able to withstand such a combination of mechanical, corrosive and thermal constraints. Vallourec, through its sustained innovation capability, is able to meet all these technological needs and will supply Petrobras with advanced seamless pipes for sour service using high alloyed material as well as the latest premium connection, VAM ® 21. Anticipating new demands for the pre-salt and growing challenges in the still unexplored equatorial margins, Vallourec will open a new R&D centre in the State of Rio de Janeiro this year, located next to Petrobras’s CENPES research centre in the Technological Park of Rio de Janeiro, and will expand its current R&D facilities located in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais.
I n t e r n a t i o n a l T r a d e F a i r f o r M e t a l l u r g y , M a c h i n e r y , P l a n t T e c h n o l o g y & P r o d u c t s
T h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l T u b e a n d P i p e T r a d e F a i r i n R u s s i a
I n t e r n a t i o n a l T r a d e F a i r f o r A l u m i n i u m a n d N o n - F e r r o u s M e t a l s , M a t e r i a l s , T e c h n o l o g i e s a n d P r o d u c t s
25 – 28 June 2013
Krasnaya Presnya Moscow, Russia
www.metallurgy-tube-russia.com
in conjunction with:
RUSSIA ESSEN WELDING & CUTTING 2013
Messe Düsseldorf GmbH P.O. Box 1010 06 _ 40001 Düsseldorf _ Germany Tel. +49(0)211/45 60-7793 _ Fax +49(0)211/45 60-7740 RyfischD@messe-duesseldorf.de www.messe-duesseldorf.de
Vallourec – France contact@vallourec.fr www.vallourec.com
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business & market news
Special delivery for Britain’s oldest hospital
Drain Center is working with public health engineers PSI to deliver all of the drainage requirements on phase two of the St Bartholomew’s new hospital project in London. This involves Drain Center arranging special deliveries into a centralised depot outside the city, to consolidate and reduce the number of deliveries onto the busy site. St Bartholomew’s (Barts) in London is Britain’s oldest hospital, founded in 1123. As part of Barts and the London new hospitals programme, many of the ageing buildings are being replaced with state-of-the-art healthcare facilities. The first phase of construction at Barts saw the opening of one of Europe’s most advanced cancer centres, and work is now underway on the second phase, a cardiac centre of excellence due for completion in 2014. PSI was appointed to install syphonic rainwater, gravity rainwater and soil and vent pipes for phase two of the hospital project. It chose Drain Center as supply partner to provide all the drainage materials, including Geberit HDPE specialist drainage and Wade Ltd floor gullies.
Drain Center supplied drainage materials for the hospital project
environment, considerate construction is vital throughout the phased building programme. Deliveries onto site have to be carefully timed to minimise traffic congestion and safeguard patients and visitors around the hospital. We are working with PSI and [main contractor] Skanska to deliver the materials to a consolidation centre six miles outside of the city, so that site deliveries can be carefully coordinated. We also deliver parts for pre-fabrication straight to PSI’s own pre-fab shop.” With over 80 branches across the UK, Drain Center stocks a wide variety of products for both above and below ground applications and the utilities industry.
John Whybrow, project director at PSI, commented, “Some of the parts are pre- fabricated at our own pre-fab shop, then delivered to site via the consolidation centre. Then the rest are electro-fused together at the Barts construction site. We selected Drain Center to supply all of the drainage materials we needed, not only because they offered us the best deal on pricing but also because of stock availability. “The programme is tight on this project and any materials shortages would have caused problems. We had to choose a supply partner who could always deliver the stock when we needed it and we’ve been impressed with all the deliveries on the project so far.”
drain center – UK www.draincenter.co.uk
Dave Hodgson, southern sales manager for Drain Center, added, “In a hospital
Pipes in Infrastructure conference A new conference – Pipes in Infrastructure – will take place from 9 to 11 April 2013, at the Hotel Nikko in Düsseldorf, Germany. thanks to a panel of expert international speakers gathered by AMI.
AG, Reinert-Ritz GmbH, Amster- Howard, Hobas, TWI Ltd and SHS Energieefizienz GmbH. Pipes in Infrastructure 2013 will offer a networking opportunity for delegates representing the entire industry, including pipe specifiers and installers and end users, resin suppliers, additive producers, machinery makers, pipe manufacturers and fittings suppliers, and testing and certification bodies. The event will offer a comprehensive overview of the latest material, technology and business trends.
The different sessions will cover topics such as installation techniques, developments in material technology and process technology, testing and sustainability. There will also be a market overview session with papers from AMI and Eandis. Pipe producers such as Wavin GmbH, Jain Irrigation Systems Ltd, Rollepaal and Georg Fisher Piping Systems Ltd will share their experiences and latest developments for the industry. Other companies taking part in the programme include Friatec
The conference will focus on plastic pipe systems used within infrastructure applications, such as drinking water supply and distribution, gas transmission and distribution, underground drainage and sewerage, road and railway drainage, land drainage, underground cable protection and district heating. The conference will provide an opportunity to highlight the latest innovations and discuss current and future challenges faced by the industry
applied Market Information ltd – UK www.amiplastics.com
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