TPT September 2008

C ontents

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E ditorial I ndex

“This goodly frame, the earth…” One of the earliest lessons I learned working on Tube & Pipe Technology was to treat every company and market with fairness from an international perspective. It was vital to cast any patriotism aside in order to deal with such a vast international market as the tube and pipe industry. As readers will know from browsing each issue, this magazine is a broad and all-inclusive canvas of nationalities, without prejudice or bias. Not only is this good for the industry and the magazine, but as an editor I feel enriched by it. Globalisation has led to a tight-knit business community without borders that transcends nationality, culture and religion. It is fascinating to observe how trade in one part of the world can impact another region, based on a collective effort to overcome obstacles such as specific trade interests and laws. But just as the world is united in business success, what is also now felt more acutely on an international scale are economic difficulties. A prime example of this is the airline industry, which combines business travel, tube and pipe products and globalisation under one domain. With pressure from economic problems and the rising cost of oil, the airline industry is currently undergoing a severe crisis. A number of strategic airline mergers are under review to combat the cutback in flights, spiraling cost of airfares and lower numbers of passengers in first-class and business class. British Airways is currently holding talks with Spain’s leading airline Iberia, while in the USA rivals Delta and Northwest have recently agreed to a $5bn merger deal. There is also the specter of airlines going bust hanging over the industry. Discussing the aviation difficulties,

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I ndustry N ews

42 T echnology U pdate

130 F rom T he A mericas

160 O il & G as N ews

200 A dvertisers I ndex

Virgin Blue CEO Mr Brett Godfrey, comments, “I am convinced you will see one of the major US airlines which form five of the top 10 airlines in the world not being with us by Christmas-time if fuel stays where it is.” (source: ABC News). Let’s all hope that the global industry remains successfully airborne for many years to come. Rich Sears Editor • Email: richard@intras.co.uk

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The international magazine for the tube & pipe industries

Published by: Intras Publications , 46 Holly Walk, Leamington Spa, CV32 4HY, UK Tel : +44 1926 334137 • Fax : +44 1926 314755 Email : tpt@intras.co.uk Website : www.read-tpt.com USA Office (Editorial only): Intras Limited, 272 First Ave, Apt 12G, New York, NY 10009, USA Tel/Fax : +1 212 614 9266 Email : dfabian@rcn.com Indian Office: Jintras Ltd, Subarna (Ground Floor) P21/N, Block A New Alipore, Kolkata 700 053, India Tel: +91 33 2407 0701 • Fax : +91 33 2407 0700 Email : jeroov@vsnl.com All rights reserved – © Intras Ltd ISSN 0953-2366 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 & Pipe Technology reserves the right to edit, reword and subedit all editorial submissions in accordance with editorial policy. Tube & Pipe Technology 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.

Editor • Rich Sears Features editor (USA) • Dorothy Fabian Editorial assistant • Christian Bradley Production manager • Lisa Benjamin Design • Julie Tomlin

• Catherine Sayers English speaking sales • Giuliana Benedetto Italian sales • Hendrike Griffin German speaking sales • Linda Li Chinese sales • Jeroo Vandrevala Indian sales

Sales & marketing

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• Liz Hughes

Advertising co-ordinators

Andrea McIntosh

• Liz Hughes

Subscriptions

• Richard Babbedge

Accounts manager

• Caroline Sullens

Publisher

• John C Hogg

Founder

US Copies only: Tube & Pipe Technology (ISSN No: 0953-2386) is published bi-monthly by INTRAS Ltd and distributed in the US by DSW, 75 Aberdeen Road, Emigsville, PA 17318-0437. Periodicals postage paid at Emigsville, PA. POSTMASTER: send address changes to Tube & Pipe Technology , PO Box 437, Emigsville PA 17318-0437. Tube & Pipe Technology magazine is available on subscription, or via membership of the International Tube Association – See www.itatube.org for more membership benefits

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