business & market news
32
Tube ProducTs InTernaTIonal January 2014
EBK opens UK office
Large diameter welded steel pipe
manufacturer
Eisenbau
Krämer
GmbH (EBK) is further developing its
international network of sales offices by
opening an office located in the UK.
The management of EBK announced
the opening of EBK GB Ltd, with a
spokesman from the board saying,
“Having a permanent office in the UK
demonstrates both the importance of
the UK as a major market for EBK’s high
quality pipes, and of maintaining direct,
close contact with UK based clients.”
Being able to provide both technical and
commercial support to UK engineering
and trading companies, with particular
emphasis on the oil and gas, offshore
construction and renewables sectors, is
seen as being an important step, further
strengthening EBK’s market position.
Increasingly, the technically sophistica-
ted products produced by EBK, including
Impanded pipes, metalurgically bonded
clad pipes and pipes for cryogenic
applications down to -164°C service
temperature, require a level of technical
interface with client engineers more
easily managed by having an office
and qualified staff available local to the
market. Similarly, contract management
during the manufacture and supply
period can be effectively controlled by
the local office, which is fully integrated
into the systems and processes of the
mill in Germany, and provides UK clients
with local contact.
eisenbau Krämer GmbH
– Germany
Plastic Pipe Group’s website goes live
The BPF Plastic Pipes Group (PPG)
has launched a redeveloped website at
The PPG, formed in 1962, is a trade
association representing manufacturers
and material suppliers of plastic piping
systems in the UK.
Martin Gisbourne, president of the
PPG, commented, “The new Plastic
Pipes Group website is an excellent
information centre for the PPG and its
members. Through it, we can provide
up-to-date information on the important
British plastic pipe systems industry. It
will connect our members with interested
parties from all over the world.”
Plastic piping systems are widely used
throughout Europe within the building
services and civils and utilities industries.
Improvements in manufacturing and
installation technology, expertise and
costs, flexibility, longevity, noise and
heat insulation properties, good safety
record and adherence to published
standards have resulted in an increased
market share within these areas.
PPG is part of the British Plastics
Federation (BPF), a trade federation of
the UK plastics industry and a member
of the European Plastic Pipes and
Fittings Association (TEPPFA).
The BPF represents the whole supply
chain including polymer producers,
distributors, additives suppliers,
machinery manufacturers, processors
and recyclers.
british Plastics Federation
– UK
bPF Plastic Pipes Group
– UK
PPI welcomes new board of directors
The Plastics Pipe Institute (PPI), a trade
association representing all segments of
the plastic pipe industry, has announced
its new board of directors. George
Zagorski of Blue Diamond Industries,
LLC was named chairman of the board
– a two-year appointment.
The board also includes Patrick Collings
of Lane Enterprises, vice chairman; Kate
Olinger of Uponor, advisory council
chair; and Monty Fisher of Pipeline
Plastics, treasurer.
Moving to the board position of past
chair is Gary Runyan of Zurn PEX,
Inc. Working with division chairs, the
executive director and legal counsel,
this group governs the association and
oversees its business.
“PPI is fortunate to have these
industry professionals as the officers
of our board of directors,” stated Tony
Radoszewski, executive director of PPI.
“Each of them has participated in our
organisation for many years and we are
glad they will continue to contribute to
PPI and our industry. Our new chairman,
George Zagorski, has a vast and broad
experience in the plastic pipe industry
and is a professional engineer. His
knowledge has helped the PPI as he
has participated in and chaired various
committees and technical task force
groups during the past eight years he
has been a member. This includes the
conduit division’s management and
core technical committees and our
corrugated pipe division’s marketing
committee. He has also been actively
involved with other organisations
with their work on pipe and systems
including AASHTO, ASTM and NEMA.
We know that as chairman of the board,
this background will serve our members
well.”
The chairs of the five PPI divisions
participating on the board are: Building
& Construction: Lance MacNevin,
Rehau, Inc; Conduit: Kevin Wettstein,
Muehlstein & Associates; Corrugated
Plastic Pipe: Jeremy Duininck, Prinsco;
Energy Piping Systems: Dick Kraft,
Endot Industries; and Municipal and
Industrial: Lawrence Norris, Wolseley
Industrial Group.
The Plastics Pipe Institute Inc
– USA
