TPi July 2009

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newsbusiness & market
12 Tube Products International July 2009
Prospects are good for EMO 2009
The organisers of this year’s EMO Milano are reporting 1,250 confirmed exhibi-
tors for the October show, with enquiries still arriving from those companies
who, due to the economic situation, have delayed making a decision on
exhibiting. If the figures are slightly below expectations, the calibre of exhibitors
is not and the range of exhibitors will be as wide and comprehensive as
usual, with all sectors
represented.
Commissioner general
of EMO Milano, Pier
Luigi Streparava, said
to expect “a decidedly
international EMO, with
over 70% of participating
companies representing
31 countries.”
EMO Milano 2009,
running 5-10 October,
will take place within
the new fieramilano
exhibition area. Located
just outside the city, the
exhibition complex has
its own underground
station and is easily and
directly accessed from
main motorways.
EFIM SpA – Italy
•
AS S roof of the fieramilano exhibition area, designed by
Massimiliano Fuksas
Five star hotel to use multilayer
piping systems
The Radisson Port Elizabeth, the first
five-star hotel in Port Elizabeth, South
Africa, will utilise the Rifeng Multilayer
Piping System for all plumbing
applications. The Radisson, with 173
luxury suites, will be operated by the
Rezidor Hotel Group.
The hotel will feature services such
as a swimming pool, wellness centre
and gym, restaurant and bar, eight
conference and meeting rooms and
a business centre. The Radisson is a
R320 million (US$32 million) project
initiated by the Eastern Cape-based
Auspex Property Group.
Auspex developers insisted that the
hotel should fall under the green zone,
using solar energy. Because of its
advantages over other polymer and
metal piping systems, Rifeng Multilayer
Piping System was selected for the
project.
Water networks in buildings have a
significant impact on the comfort of
people. As non-corrosive materials,
polymers enjoy advantages over metal
pipes in corrosion prevention.
This is of specific concern when
water quality is not always appro-
priate for metal pipes, eg low pH
value. The physical and mechanical
characteristics of PEX (cross-linked
polyethylene)/AL/PEX make Rifeng
Multilayer Piping System suitable for
both hot and cold applications in high-
end hotels like the Radisson.
Rifeng Enterprise Co Ltd – China
Mechanical
tubing production
commences at
US facility
Prolamsa USA has begun production
of mechanical tubing at its first US
manufacturing facility, located in Laredo,
Texas. The facility, which will produce
mechanical tubing from ½" to 2½", also
includes a cut-to-length line.
In addition to manufacturing mechanical
tubing, the Laredo facility will stock both
mechanical and structural steel (HSS)
tubing.
A second facility in Laredo will stock
metal building shapes and components,
such as C- and Z-purlins, angles
and channels, and slit red primered
coils.
“These facilities will enable us to provide
our US customers faster deliveries,
quicker turnaround times and JIT
stocking programmes,” commented
Jean-Marie Diederichs, general manager
of Prolamsa USA.
Mr Diederichs also explained that
delivery from Prolamsa’s Escobedo
plant in Mexico was sometimes delayed
at the border: “The US manufacturing
location will eliminate that problem.”
“Even though the economy is struggling
right now, there isn’t a better time to
invest in the US,” Mr Diederichs added.
“If we invest in new facilities and train
our new US workers now, we’ll be ready
to participate in the rebound and future
growth of our economy.”
Prolamsa USA was started in 1996 to
handle the marketing and sales activities
in the United States and Canada for its
parent company Prolamsa, a privately
owned concern that has manufacturing
facilities in Mexico.
Prolamsa produces a wide range of
high-quality mechanical and structural
tubing; UV coated, galvanised and
primered tubular products; metal
building components and shapes; and
parts and components.
Prolamsa – USA