TPi January 2016

How well-placed are Fine Tubes and Superior Tube to take advantage of these nuclear opportunities? For a start, Fine Tubes and Superior Tube have integrated their respective teams into a unified group with a common focus on nuclear projects worldwide, including new-build and maintenance programmes. Looking at both emerging and mature markets, the Superior Tube and Fine Tubes nuclear team plans to concentrate on the best approaches to take in individual regions, working to build good relationships with governments and key players in those countries where nuclear power continues to grow. Superior Tube and Fine Tubes both have strong track records with in-core consumable items, such as instrumentation, fuel cans, control rods and grid sleeves. The companies also supply into the nuclear island, turbine island and balance of plant for heat exchangers, steam condensers and structural tubes. There are different approaches for specific regional markets. In India, for example, there are applications not manufactured locally because there is insufficient expertise working with such high-end materials as the Hastelloy ® family of alloys or 6 Moly in stainless steel or, in nickel, Inconel ® 600 and 625. Engineering companies and plant operators therefore have sought out companies like Fine Tubes and Superior Tube to support them.

Nuclear fuel element with fuel cans

And, because of the safety-critical nature of tubular nuclear components, top-level contractors and plant operators have insisted upon using suppliers with extensive nuclear experience and proven track records in the nuclear industry. The Russian market requires a different approach, according to Mr Ferreira. Because the main nuclear plant operator, Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation, has invested heavily in developing its own model reactors and power plants, the focus is on building relationships with distributors and other organisations already well-established as part of the supply base. Whatever approach is taken, the opportunities are there, and Fine Tubes and Superior Tube are in excellent positions to take advantage of them. The two companies each have more than 70 years of experience in meeting the most demanding tubing requirements with innovative products and leading- edge metallurgy. The synergy created by the partnership between the two companies places them not only at the forefront of technological expertise in the marketplace but also provides them with the agility, flexibility and enthusiasm to deliver the very best solutions to end users, operators and original equipment operators around the globe. The recent acquisition of UK-based Fine Tubes and US-based Superior Tube by Ametek, Inc, a leading global manufacturer of electronic instruments and electromechanical devices, further enhances their ability to support customers worldwide. Ametek already has a strong nuclear instruments presence and is excited to collaborate on bringing additional comprehensive solutions to the market. In summary, the philosophy underlying the approach of Superior Tube and Fine Tubes to the nuclear market is not based on the pursuit of short-term transactional relationships but on shared expertise and long-term partnerships.

Graph 3

Fine Tubes Ltd – UK www.finetubes.com

Superior Tube Company – USA www.superiortube.com

Fuel can tubes

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Tube Products International January 2016

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