TPT July 2007

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20 July /August 2007
Industry News
Vallourec, France, and Sumitomo, Japan,
have announced a planned collaboration
involving China-based VAM Changzhou.
Created by Vallourec in September 2006,
VAM Changzhou is specialised in the
threading of seamless steel tubing and
casing for oil and gas OCTG products.
Sumitomo Metals Industries Ltd and
Sumitomo Corp intend to purchase a joint
49 per cent stake in the overseas holding
company controlling VAM Changzhou.
Expected to deliver its first connections
by mid-2007, VAM Changzhou will have a
predicted threading capacity of 50,000t per
year. These connections will be sold to the
Chinese market.
This move follows on from Vallourec and
Sumitomo’s recent announcement of a joint
venture in Brazil. The two companies will
establish a new state-of-the-art integrated
steel works and premium seamless pipe
mill in the State of Minas Gerais. With
production expected to begin in 2010, this
new plant will have an annual seamless pipe
production capacity of 600,000t, with equal
division of production capacity between the
two companies.
The new Brazilian tube mill will be primarily
dedicated to the production of seamless
OCTG products. It will produce tubes
with diameters ranging from 168.3mm to
406.4mm and will include heat treatment
capacity as well as threading lines.
Equating to a total joint investment of
approximately US$1.6bn, Vallourec will
hold a majority interest in the joint venture.
Vallourec currently operates two rolling
mills in Brazil, which are fully integrated
with two blast furnaces. The joint venture
is expected to increase Vallourec’s global
seamless pipe capacity by approximately
10 per cent.
V & M – France
Fax: +33 1 49 09 39 90
Website:
Sumitomo Metals – Japan
Fax: +81 6 6223 0305
Website:
Global expansion and product
development for RathGibson
RathGibson, USA, a leader in stainless
steel, nickel and titanium precision
engineered tube and pipe, has announced
considerable global expansion and product
success. “We are constantly seeking
ways to maintain the highest quality in our
products as well as our services,” said
Mr Harley Kaplan, president and CEO of
RathGibson.
Over the past two years the company has
supplied markets including the Middle
East, Africa, China and southeast Asia
with precision welded tubing, delivered
according to the most comprehensive
testing and quality control procedures
available. These products have been
provided for applications including high
purity, nickel alloy heat exchangers, subsea
umbilical, titanium desalination, and down-
hole pressure tubing.
The inspection and testing performed by
RathGibson leads to products that are
claimed to exceed established industry
standards and specifications. The test
Vallourec and Sumitomo strengthen partnership
with projects in China and Brazil