TPT July 2007

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Contents
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Editor • Rich Sears
Features editor (USA) • Dorothy Fabian
Editorial assistant • Christian Bradley
Production manager • Lisa Benjamin
Design • Julie Tomlin
Sales & marketing • Catherine Sayers
English speaking sales
• Giuliana Benedetto
Italian sales
• Hendrike Griffin
German speaking sales
• Linda Li
Chinese sales
• Jeroo Vandrevala
Indian sales
Advertising
co-ordinator • Liz Hughes
Accounts manager • Richard Babbedge
Subscriptions • Liz Hughes
Publisher • Caroline Sullens
Founder • John C Hogg
Published by: Intras Publications,
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2 Editorial Index
6 I ndustry News
28 Technology
U pdate
78 From The
A mericas
Incorporating Tube & Pipe Asia
Tube & Pipe Technology magazine is available on subscription, or via membership of the
International Tube Association – See for more membership benefits
112 Advertisers Index
Gaining some first-hand experience
Due to office work and the sterile nature of exhibitions – with their pristine halls and stage-
managed bustle – it is not always easy to get a true sense of the tube and pipe industry: the
dirt, the grind and the risk of danger. In fact, my view of the nuts and bolts of our industry is
often restricted to a comfy contemplation from behind a computer screen.
This is why it is always interesting, although downright inconvenient, to experience part of
our industry in action. The main road near my home has just been closed for summer so
that the 50-year old, 15" gas mains can be renewed, with old metal pipes being replaced by
advanced durable plastic polyethylene (PE) pipes. The sight of the road strewn with mud,
safety barriers, diggers and rolls of plastic pipe, gives a very real perspective on the ordered
chaos of end-use.
Peering into one of the trenches in the road (and hopefully not falling in!), it is possible to
view a segment of cut-away metal pipe, soon to make way for the new PE pipe (which they
claim will last for eighty years). This is clearly an activity taking place regularly across the
world as creaking infrastructures are overhauled and systems upgraded.
And the work near me has obviously been timed very well by the National Grid, as this issue
of Tube & Pipe Technology carries a feature on ‘Plastic & composite tube and pipe’ (see
page 86-106). This work has given me the opportunity to connect the images and editorial
on my computer screen with the first-hand evidence at the end of my road.
Also featured in this issue is the exciting new exhibition in Brazil: Tubotech
2007. Now in its fourth year, Tubotech has grown fast in exhibitor numbers
– mirroring the success of the Brazilian economy. This year will be the first
time that the exhibition has been co-organised by Grupo Cipa and Messe
Düsseldorf, which has led to an increase in international exhibitors. In
order to gain even more first-hand experience and meet some readers,
I’ll be attending Tubotech in October.
Rich Sears
Editor • Email:
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