TPi July 2008

Tube making Raw mater ials for

Heat and corrosion resistant materials Hart bv, Netherlands, is a distributor of heat and corrosion resistant materials. The company supplies nickel, Monel, Incoloy, Hastelloy, and titanium alloys to the chemical, petrochemical and offshore industries. Complete packages of pipe, flanges, forgings, plate, bar and fittings are supplied to fabrication companies, contractors, engineering companies, and direct to the oil and gas industries. Hart works together with worldwide partners who specialise in these materials, and supplies either through its extensive stocks of material or, for larger quantities and longer deliveries, through major nickel and titanium manufacturers. Since the start of 2008, the company has had an extensive stock range of seamless pipe in alloy 200/201, alloy 400, alloy 600, alloy 625 and titanium grade 2. The company will be exhibiting at the Tube China 2008 show, 23-26 September.

Mining rights to chrome ore deposit The Cronimet Group, Germany, trades, produces and recycles alloying raw materials for the stainless steel industry. As of 1 April, a consortium of German and South African companies, headed by the majority shareholder Cronimet Mining GmbH, has acquired the mining rights to a substantial chrome ore deposit in South Africa. The area is located in the Western Limb of the Bushfeld Complex near the town of Northam. The Bushfeld Complex is home to some of the most substantial chrome ore deposits in the world, with an average content of 48% of chromite in its ores. Purchasing price and other contractual information is withheld. The new venture has already been checked by the cartel authorities and has been granted. The new company, working under the name Cronimet Chrome South Africa (PTY) Ltd (CCSA), will develop a reliable future supply source for the chrome products required in steel production. Chrome is a product necessary for stainless steel production. It is expected that the geological model of the deposit will become available in the third quarter 2008, and will be the basis for the mine plan. Mining will start as soon as the mine plan has been developed. The reserves will ensure a continuous supply of ores for the next 30 years. The first investments of the CCSA have been set aside for the machinery and production equipment for mining. CCSA has reported that the company fully complies with the legal requirements of the BEE laws through the participation of a Broad Based BEE as partner in the company. The Black Economic Empowerment Program is an important step for the domestic political stability and establishment of long-term economic and social development in South Africa.

Hart bv – Netherlands central@hartbv.nl www.hartbv.nl The benefits of PVC pipes

The first goal of this legislation is to ensure the active participation of the formerly disadvantaged population in the economy of South Africa.

Through the shareholding of trusts in CCSA, representing the population living near the mining area, it is ensured that they take part in the economic success of the company.

Cronimet Group – Germany mail@cronimet.de • www.cronimet.com

SolVin, a leader in the PVC and PVDC markets, was set up in 1999, whenSolvay and BASF joined their competencies in the vinyls sector. In 2002 the company integrated the polyvinyl chloride production activities located in Martorell, Spain, which had previously been owned by Solvay. These activities comprise a 65% share of the PVC and VCM production joint venture operated with Atofina. SolVin has operations in Belgium, France, Germany, Spain and Italy, and has an annual capacity of 1.3 million tonnes of PVC and 35 kt of PVDC.

The company has founded, together with Vulcaflex, Adriaplast and Technometal, a joint venture for the recycling of PVC wastes using the Vinyloop-process developed by Solvay. On SolVin’s website, it is possible to download a presentation made by Bruno van der Wielen, president of PVC4Pipes, at the Plastic Pipes 2008 Conference in Moscow. The presentation, titled ‘PVC: a reference and a bright future in piping systems’, looks at the five technical advantages

of PVC pipes: stiffness, durability, ease of installation, fire resistance, and environmental benefits. The presentation can be viewed online at: www.solvinpvc.com/solvinservices/ newshp/0,,63796-2-0,00.htm

SolVin SA – Belgium www.solvinpvc.com

PVC4Pipes – Belgium info@pvc4pipes.com www.pvc4pipes.com

43

www.read-tpi.com

July 2008 Tube Products International