TPi July 2015

12 / 64

business & market news
10 Tube ProducTs InTernaTIonal July 2015
VIP seals Middle East
infrastructure deal
UK-based rubber sealing gasket
manufacturer VIP-Polymers has started
supplying large diameter sealing gasket
contracts secured in Qatar.
The contracts won are in excess of
£1mn and will continue into 2016.
The predominantly DN1600 large ‘Tyton’
sealing gaskets enable ductile iron
pressure pipe to be joined, allowing the
transportation of dirty and clean potable
drinking water.
VIP-Polymers is one of the few gasket
manufacturers to hold potable water
certificates for temperatures up to 70°,
which was a factor in the contracts
being successfully secured.
The investment forms part of the major
infrastructure project within Qatar as
part of its 2022 World Cup programme,
which includes building 174 hotels and
12 stadiums, and the spending of $4bn
on the Qatar-Bahrain causeway and a
further $20bn on expanding the road
network.
As a result of winning the contracts, VIP
has invested a significant six-figure sum
in manufacturing equipment, including
a large bespoke vacuum compression
moulding press. VIP now has the
capability to produce single-
piece moulded gaskets up to
DN2200.
VIP-Polymers managing
director John Millar
commented, “The machine
comes with many benefits,
allowing us not only to
increase our manufacturing
capacity but to upgrade our
capability by investing in the
latest technology to ensure
that we are able to continue
to offer our customers the
high level of quality and
service they expect from
us.”
VIP-Polymers has also embarked on
a manufacturing joint venture in Ras
Al Khaimah in the UAE, in order to
service a number of large diameter pipe
gasket contracts secured in the Middle
East.
The newly formed company, VIP-
Polymers LLC, has signed a ten-year
lease with options for expansion in Ras
Al Khaimah.
The strategic location will enable VIP-
Polymers LLC to meet the demands
of three continents, providing shorter
delivery times for some of its key
customers.
In addition to the benefits to VIP’s
ductile iron pipe customers in the
surrounding region, the joint venture is
also expected to enable the company
to continue to enhance its presence
within the buoyant plastic and clay
pipe sealing sectors. VIP-Polymers
LLC will expand its manufacturing
capabilities, with the new facility being
equipped with mixers, extruders,
compression and injection moulding
machines, tooling and finishing
equipment.
VIP-Polymers – UK
VIP’s new vacuum compression moulding press
Ametek acquires Global Tubes
Ametek, Inc has acquired Global
Tubes, a manufacturer of high-
precision, small-diameter metal
tubing, for approximately $200mn.
The business has annual sales of
approximately $120mn, and is
composed of two businesses: Fine
Tubes, based in Plymouth, UK, and
Superior Tube, based in Collegeville,
Pennsylvania, USA.
Global Tubes manufactures custom-
ised metal tubing from a wide variety of
metals and alloys, including stainless
steel, nickel, zirconium and titanium.
Its products are used in highly
engineered applications serving the
aerospace, energy, power generation
and medical markets.
Frank S Hermance, Ametek’s
chairman and chief executive officer,
commented, “Global Tubes is an
excellent acquisition for Ametek
and a great strategic fit with our
Specialty Metal Products business.
It has strong positions in a number
of attractive niche markets for high-
precision, small-diameter metal tubing
used across a wide range of highly
engineered applications.”
“Global Tubes’ metallurgical
capabilities, processing capabilities
and alloy ranges are complementary
to our existing Specialty Metal
Products businesses and give us the
opportunity to expand our offerings
both internationally and in attractive
growth markets,” added Mr Hermance.
ametek, Inc – USA