TPi November 2013

business & market news

Distributor’s Charlotte branch upgrades equipment

can better meet our customers’ exact needs,” says Tom Taucher, Charlotte warehouse superintendent. “The saw also features a rigid dual- column horizontal cutting head design and a wider blade, which have reduced cutting time by 30 per cent.” A wholesale distributor of tubular products for over 100 years, Marmon/ Keystone inventories more than 15,000 sizes and grades of carbon, alloy, stainless and aluminium tubular and bar products. The company also offers a full range of value added services

Marmon/Keystone’s Charlotte, North Carolina, USA, branch has invested in new cutting equipment, which is housed in a recently constructed addition to the company’s main warehouse facility. An Amada HFA530 CNC band saw with a 21" outside diameter capacity has been installed in conjunction with a Steel Storage Systems conveyer that extends over 70ft. The fully automated Amada saw replaces a 1992 HEM horizontal pivot band saw.

Marmon/Keystone has upgraded its Charlotte branch with an Amada HFA530 CNC band saw

to enhance manufacturing needs. Service centres and sales offices are located throughout North America, with corporate headquarters in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Marmon/Keystone LLC – USA sales@marmonkeystone.com www.marmonkeystone.com

“The Amada’s programmable CNC allows for increased accuracy so we

Future Pipe acquires Protesa Future Pipe Industries Group (FPIG), as part of its global growth strategy, has acquired 100 per cent of the fibreglass pipe manufacturing business Protecciones Plasticas, SAU, which will continue under the trading name Protesa. Heinrich Weiss leaves SMS HEINRICH Weiss, who has been responsible for the development and leadership of the group of companies for the last 45 years, will be resigning from his post on the managing board and will assume the chairmanship of the supervisory board. The present chairman, Dr Manfred Bischoff, will retain his commitment to the company as a member of the supervisory board. Dr Joachim Schönbeck, who is already a member of the managing board, will be appointed to represent the company

externally. Jointly with his colleagues, Burkhard Dahmen and Eckhard Schulte, he will continue to constitute the management of SMS GmbH.

SMS Meer GmbH – Germany www.sms-meer.com

around the world, and serves more than 300 major customers in over 50 countries. Protesa was founded in 1959 with the aim of researching, designing, producing, marketing and installing GRP pipes and fittings. The company is active in sectors that require advanced technological solutions, such as those involving sewage networks, wastewater treatment plants, water supply networks, transmission lines, irrigation networks, purification plants, power plants, desalination plants and fire protection systems.

Makhzoumi, chairman and CEO of Future Pipe Industries Group. “Protesa has been manufacturing GRP (glass fibre reinforced polyester) composite pipe systems for over 50 years and is one of the leaders in its field, with a strong network of clients across Europe, North Africa and globally. We are therefore very pleased to have been able to conclude this acquisition and are excited about the potential it brings to our growing group of companies, particularly as it significantly increases our ability to service our clients from a dedicated GRP facility in Europe.” Future Pipe Industries Group, established in 1984, offers a complete product range and solutions to complex engineering projects for a wide variety of applications in the oil and gas, marine, industrial, and infrastructure sectors. The group operates nine factories

Protesa has headquarters in Barcelona, Spain, with facilities in Zaragoza, Spain; Pune, India; and Jorf Lasfar, Morocco. The takeover is a major strategic addition to FPIG’s composite pipe business, and adds to its ability to service clients particularly in the water, desalination, industrial and infrastructure sectors in Europe, North West Africa and Latin America, as well as providing FPIG with its first manufacturing facility in India. “This acquisition marks an important step in our strategy to diversify outside of our core market in the GCC [Gulf Cooperation Council],” said Fouad

Future Pipe Industries Group – UAE www.futurepipe.com

Protesa – Spain info@protesa.es www.protesapipes.com

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Tube Products International November 2013

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