TPT January 2010

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Editor • Rory McBride
Features editor (USA) • Dorothy Fabian
Editorial assistant • Christian Bradley
Production • Lisa Benjamin
Sales & marketing • Catherine Sayers
English speaking sales
• Giuliana Benedetto
Italian sales
• Hendrike Morriss
German speaking sales
• Linda Li
Chinese sales
• Jeroo Vandrevala
Indian sales
Advertising • Liz Hughes
co-ordinators • Andrea McIntosh
Subscriptions • Liz Hughes
Accounts manager • Richard Babbedge
Publisher • Caroline Sullens
Founder • John C Hogg
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Editorial I ndex............. 0 2
Industry N ews............. 0 6
Technology Update. .... 0 40
Global Marketplace.... 0 84
Special Report:
The future of the global tube
and pipe industry put under
the microscope. .................... 0 118
Advertisers Index........ 0 128
Tube & Pipe Technology magazine is available on subscription, or via membership of the
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Entering 2010 with optimism
While I was at FabTech, Chicago I had my first opportunity to converse with individuals
in the industry face to face. This proved to be an invaluable way to not only learn about
the products and machines in greater detail – and importantly to see them in action – but
also proved a good litmus test to help me judge how the industry is faring, and what the
level of optimism of engineers and managing directors at tube and pipe firms really is.
After all, where else would you meet people not only from every corner of the US, but
from Europe and Asia too?
What I found, at an encouragingly busy show, was a refreshing, if cautious, sense of
optimism, even from companies in the worst hit regions of the world – the US among
them. The cruel fact is that many companies have become much more lean – sadly mainly
through redundancies – but that should leave them in good shape for the recovery.
It seems that the world simply cannot do without quality pipes and tubes and that the
industry has largely survived unscathed, because there really are no cheap substitutes
for machines that have been developed over decades. Although we are by no means out
of the woods yet, the signs are undeniably promising. As I saw at FabTech, a continued
emphasis on quality craftsmanship, innovation and attention to detail should remain the
hallmarks of the industry as the world enters a more economically buoyant period. Read
our exclusive special report on the future of the industry on page 118 for an in-depth
analysis of the state of the industry.
Next issue is our Düsseldorf special so don’t forget to let us know if you will be
exhibiting any new machines at the show. Also in the issue will be
features on ‘straightening technology’ and ‘finishing, end-finishing
and superfinishing’ so make sure you get in touch.
All that remains is for me to wish all of our readers a happy and
prosperous 2010.
Rory McBride, editor, Tube & Pipe Technology
When you have finished with this
magazine please recycle it
F ront C over Story
LINSINGER Tube cut-off
machine, Type Multi-Cut MC 4
developed and manufactured
by LINSINGER Austria.
LINSINGER’s four saw blade
technology is the most
productive low-cost solution
available for tube cut-off.
Ideal for round, square
and rectangular tube
cut-off at high speed.
LINSINGER Multi-cut is for inline-
operation in ERW lines as a flying tube-cut
off aggregate requiring highest possible
availability. It utilises four cutters working
simultaneously around the pipe for a
surprisingly fast cut. If one of the four has an
early lifetime end, it goes into a park position.
The remaining three tool heads cut tubes
continuing until the scheduled tool change.
Thereafter there is a decrease of the tube line
speed or an increase of the cutting speed.
LINSINGER machines are engineered and
manufactured in Austria. LINSINGER offers
an extended product range for the tube and
pipe industry. It covers mainly circular sawing
machines for cutting of steel billets and tube
layers, milling machines for edge preparation
for wind tower construction and shipbuilding
and pipe bevelling machines for bevelling of
tube ends.
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