TPT January 2010

I ndustry N ews

Rafter and TAKECO reveal far reaching business partnership

machines, cutoff machines, auxiliary and other related tube and pipe mill machinery. Additional services include rebuilding and upgrading mill equipment. Originally started in 1917, the Rafter name is known for reliable, high-quality tube mill and roll forming equipment. Rafter Equipment Corporation – USA Fax: +1 440 572 3703 Email: mprasek@rafterequipment.com Website: www.rafterequipment.com

RAFTER Equipment Corporation, USA, has formed a strategic alliance with TAKECO Company Limited of South Korea to sell and service TAKECO’s strip entry, flying saw cutoff, and tube packaging equipment to the North American market. The partnership now gives Rafter the ability to be a turnkey line provider to the tube & pipe industry. Under this collaboration, Rafter will have exclusive rights to North America for TAKECO’s product line of strip coil payoff reels, strip peelers, strip flatteners, strip coil end joiners, strip accumulators, flying saw cutoffs, and tube packaging systems. To make the equipment more acceptable to the North American market, Rafter will work with TAKECO to integrate US-sourced electrical components, programming, and hydraulics wherever AFTER and expansions of offices and warehouses in Brisbane and Adelaide, a new office and warehouse facility in Sydney, Australia has been officially opened by Mr Peter Rietberg, chairman of the board of the Van Leeuwen Pipe and Tube Group in the presence of a large group of customers, suppliers, business relations and Van Leeuwen management and staff from all over Australia. The new premises in St Mary’s, about 60km west of Sydney, include the new head office of the Australian operations, an office for the New South Wales branch earlier investments

practical. In addition, Rafter will be the customer’s primary contact for any after- sales service and support issues. Originally a Japanese-based company with a 30-year history, TAKECO became a wholly-owned, private Korean company in 1988 and a limited shareholding company in 2004. During this time, they have been a strong OEM supplier of tube mill equipment to the Asian markets. Their patented vertical strip accumulator design offers a unique solution that is both simple and rugged. Rafter is pleased to have partnered with a company that so nicely complements our own business philosophy. Please visit Rafter’s website at www.rafterequipment.com for more information. Rafter Equipment Corporation manu- factures tube and pipe mills, roll forming operations and a state of the art new warehouse with enlarged inside and outside storage capacity. Customers throughout New South Wales will benefit through even higher service levels and the availability of a broader and deeper stock assortment. As put forward by Mr Emmanuel Zammit, managing director of Van Leeuwen Australia, in his opening address, Van Leeuwen Australia is now truly ready for further growth in the various industry segments that are currently being serviced. Its nation wide branch network and strong product offering combined with the strength

A Rafter cutoff press machine

Van Leeuwen Pipe and Tube Australia open facilities

better fittings: from a leading manufacturer. Proven and used throughout the world. ERNE buttwelding fittings are made of alloyed and unalloyed steels, stainless steel and further materials. best connections: that means product availability, rapid response times and reliability in quality and delivery. Outstanding logistical capabilities and excellent service make ERNE FITTINGS a flexible partner for stockists/distributors and project specialists the world over. e of being part of an international group of companies, will enable Van Leeuwen Australia to further focus on segments such as the hydraulic and mechanical industry, construction/building and mining industry and the larger projects in the oil and gas industry. Through organic growth and possibly future acquisitions, Van Leeuwen Australia will further expand its market share. Van Leeuwen Pipe and Tube Group BV – The Netherlands Fax: +31 78 625 27 05 Email: idenhartog@vanleeuwen.nl

n

better fittings. best connections.

erne fittings

erne fittings gmbh, A-6824 Schlins, Hauptstrasse 48, Austria/Europe, office@ernefittings.com

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J anuary 2010

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