TPT November 2010

I ndustry N ews Pipe mills from a single supplier MACHINE builders Gräbener, Weldec and Fontijne Grotnes are pooling their skills and strengths. Each of the companies is an expert in its individual branch, and together they say they are able to furnish pipe mills with the entire machinery necessary. As a consequence, the three companies have formed a joint venture in order to create machines for the production of large LSAW pipes. Gräbener Maschinentechnik has decades of experience in the production of large pipes. The company has detailed and comprehensive technical knowledge derived from the time when the company Theodor Gräbener as Gräbener Großrohr was operating a pipe mill for LSAW pipes. It also has knowledge gained from a holding in a renowned manufacturer of plate bending machines. In cooperation with well known pipe manufacturers, the company has developed milling machines, bending machines, pipe forming and post-bending presses, continuous root tacking machines, impanding and straightening presses, hydrotesters and end bevelling machines. The company also designs and engineers complete pipe mills. Using state-of-the-art CAD technology, all processing stations of a pipe mill are optimally aligned from the very beginning. Weldec GmbH, as a member of the EEW Group, has already gained experience in the machine building sector, especially with longitudinal and circumferential submerged- arc-welding systems. These systems have been developed specifically for pipe, vessel and apparatus construction, as well as

for the wind energy industries. Weldec submerged-arc-welding systems can be used for both internal and external welding of pipes in case of V and X seam preparations, as well as in narrow-gap-welding (U). In addition, Weldec manufactures submerged- arc plate welding machines as well as fully automatic ultrasonic and digital X-ray testing equipment. The alliance is completed by Fontijne Grotnes. Over a period of more than 40 years the company has become an internationally renowned manufacturer of pipe end and full length pipe expanders for the pipe mill sector. The full length pipe expander is a crucial processing station in the production of LSAW pipes. Fontijne Grotnes is continuously enhancing its products with respect to new market requirements, such as increased capacity, increased wall thickness, increased material grades up to X120, and stricter tolerances with regard to ovality and straightness. For the managing director of Weldec, Jörg Heinrich, the joint venture was a logical consequence: “These three companies make a great team. From now on, customers intending to build a pipe mill can purchase everything from one single supplier: from the initial engineering to the after sales service. If requested, it is even possible to conduct a theoretical instruction and practical training for the machine in question in one of our EEW workshops.” Gräbener Maschinentechnik GmbH & Co KG – Germany Website: www.graebener-group.de Weldec GmbH – Germany Fax: +49 2753 5070 330 Email: info@weldec.de Website: www.weldec.de Fontijne Grotnes BV – The Netherlands Fax: +31 10 435 26 55 Email: info@fontijnegrotnes.com Website: www.fontijnegrotnes.com landscape’, covering the issues of current pipe market conditions, an overview of capacities and key directions for producers in the central and eastern European region. Mr Pell commented: “The recent crisis and the present business environment should encourage producers in this region to seek to become highly differentiated at low cost. Investment will continue to be needed but in efficiency and quality related improvements with fast payback. The priority for producers

SAW equipment from Weldec

3,000 ton pipe forming press from Gräbener

A straightener of a full length pipe expander from Fontijne Grotnes

DUNCAN Pell, commercial director of Interpipe, spoke at the Metal Bulletin 13 th Central & Eastern European Steel Conference, held in September in Prague, Czech Republic. The conference addressed issues affecting the regional steel industry at present, reinforcing the dialogue between leading steel producers, purchasers and manufacturers. Mr Pell gave a presentation on ‘Evolving mill strategies in a challenging industry in central and eastern Europe should be to raise the level of technical and workforce competencesothattheoreticalcostadvantages are not wasted through inefficiency and poor quality. I am pleased that we are investing and maintaining a strong cost position and implementing quality improvement.” Interpipe – Ukraine Email: press-office@interpipe.biz Website: www.interpipe.biz Interpipe director speaks at steel conference

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N ovember 2010

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