TPi July 2009

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July 2009 Tube Products International 15
news business & market
Pipe Center, part of Wolseley UK,
has supplied speciality pipework and
components worth around £100,000
for upgrading work on ScottishPower’s
Cockenzie power station.
The 1,200MW coal-fired plant, located
eight miles from Edinburgh on the Forth
Estuary, has been generating electricity
since 1968. ScottishPower is investing
in work to extend the plant’s operational
life, and improve efficiency and envi-
ronmental performance.
The work involved upgrading the
pipework used for conveying the
pulverised fuel used to power the
station.
Pipe Center supplied couplings for use
with 26" diameter pipework used to
carry the material within the plant.
Pipe Center is a preferred supplier
for ScottishPower, supplying pipes,
valves and related components for the
company’s two major Scottish plants.
The order was managed by Eddie
Houston, account executive at Pipe
Center’s Glasgow branch.
Mr Houston commented, “We have
a strong working relationship with
ScottishPower, and provide back-up,
components and materials for ongoing
maintenance and upgrades. Power
companies understandably attach
great importance to ensuring that plant
operates efficiently – as it is an essential
pre-requisite of the industry. ”
The Cockenzie project involved supply
of 16" and 26" pipework, Viking Johnson
16" flange adapters drilled to 15" table
D, and 16" plate flanges, machined
by Flanges Ltd. Velan piping King
assemblies for use in the plant’s turbine
steam trap were also supplied.
Cockenzie is one of Scotland’s largest
power stations and plays a vital role in
guaranteeing the security of electricity
supplies across the country.
The station, which celebrated its 40th
anniversary in 2008, has a coal store
capacity of around 900,000 tonnes, and
the full site covers some 93 hectares.
Wolseley – UK
Pipe Center – UK
Pipework and components for
power plant upgrade
stainless steel pipe products showed a
strongly declining pattern.
In 2008, the Van Leeuwen Pipe and Tube
Group made continued investments in
its network of offices and warehouses.
In the Middle East, teams were
reinforced and the company’s logistical
infrastructure expanded with stock
locations in Dubai in the United Arab
Emirates and in Qatar.
In the UK, Thailand and Canada, offices
were renovated and expanded. In
Australia investments were made in
Brisbane, Adelaide and Sydney.
In a large number of warehouses
investments took place in cutting
capacity and new machines for material
treatments.
At central locations stocks for relatively
new products like duplex and super
duplex were built up. Its optimised
European inventory management and
storage systems ensured that the Van
Leeuwen Pipe and Tube Group was able
to offer tailor-made concepts.
The company expects that 2009 will be
a lean year on the demand side with
uncertainty about price developments.
Turnover and net result will conse-
quently decline in 2009 after five years
of growth and record results.
The company wants to retain its core
competencies and leading market
positions, and reinforce themby focusing
on the areas such as purchasing, sales,
distribution, and logistics.
Van Leeuwen Pipe and Tube
Group BV – The Netherlands
T▼ ▼ he Cockenzie power station,
located on the Forth Estuary,
has been generating electricity
for over 40 years