Welcome to the latest issue of Tube Products International.
We have features on materials logistics and packaging as
well as oil and gas pipelines this issue. Tube China is also
just around the corner of course and the magazine team will
be there in force, so please come and say hello and I hope
the show is a great success for all concerned.
The other exciting news for the magazine is that from next
year (the January issue) we will be producing two extra
issues – moving to six a year – which is a really positive
step for the magazine and, we would like to think, the tube
products industry. We are very proud that the magazine has
now established itself at the heart of the industry and it, of
course, means we can keep you even more up to date with
all of the latest tube product-related news and features and
help to publicise your innovative tube products.
A recent major story that really caught my attention shows
that no one can doubt the constant innovative uses that are
found for the humble tube. Researchers from NASA and
Korea’s National Nanofab Center have come up with an
innovative twist on the tube that could transform computer
technology – nanoscale vacuum tubes.
As explained in a recent paper from Applied Physics
Letters, the tiny tubes were manufactured using the same
processes applied to silicon semiconductors. An important
twist on the idea sees a small cavity etched into silicon,
bordered by a source, a gate and a drain. The cavity does
not enclose a vacuum, but at 150 nanometres across is so
small that electrons flowing through it are unlikely to bump
into any other matter. That setup means electrons can pass
unimpeded, instead of having to struggle their way through
silicon (which is a relatively inefficient process).
Because the circuits in the devices rely on the gap, they can
also work well in nasty spots like space where radiation can
knock physical circuits into literal disarray. The researchers
are therefore rather keen on nano vacuum tubes as a way
to harden computers on spacecraft, which
today must pack all sorts of bulky and heavy
radiation shielding.
Next issue we have features on valves and
fittings, drainage and underground tubes
and plastic pipes, so feel free to get in
touch with your latest news.
2012
25-28
September
Tube China
International Exhibition
23-27
October
EuroBlech
(Germany)
International Exhibition
30 October –
1 November
Tube India
International Exhibition
12-14
November
Fabtech
(Las Vegas, USA)
International Exhibition
27-29
November
Valve World Expo
(Germany)
International Exhibition
2013
7-10
January
Tube Arabia
International Exhibition
20-23
February
Indometal
(Indonesia)
International Exhibition
28-30
March
Boru 2013
(Turkey)
International Exhibition
May
Tube Russia
International Exhibition
25-26
June
Valve World Expo Americas
International Exhibition
6
TUBE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL July 2012
events calendar
The July issue
Rory McBride
Editor
today must pack all sorts of bulky and heavy
June
