TPT March 2007

12 / 116

10 March/April 2007
Industry News
VVT-Vitkovice Valcovna Trub, one of the
largest Czech producers of thick-wall
seamless steel tubes, has announced a
major investment programme at its facility in
Ostrava, Czech Republic. Costing millions of
US dollars over three years, the project will
involve the revamping and refurbishment of
the company’s main production line.
The company is currently running two
production lines – one producing tubes 60-
168mm, and an older ‘Big Mannesmann’
(BM) for the 168-406mm OD range. The
refurbishment work on the BM is due to
finish in July 2008.
“The main benefits, beside the overall
increase of capacity,
will be in the
improvement of the
tube surface quality,
accuracy, extending
the variety of
production portfolio
in steel grades as
well as in the lengths,
new possibilities of
the non-destructive
testing technologies
or marking and
binding of the
finished tubes,” says
the company CEO Mr
Jaroslav Sarovsky.
Current annual production capacity at VVT-
Vitkovice Valcovna Trub is 105kt, of which
almost 60 per cent is produced on the
BM. Following the overhaul, the output is
expected to increase by 18kt.
This increase will mainly be for oil, gas
and water tubes and pipelines. It will also
include alloy steel tubes in higher alloy
steel grades. The international market
accounts for 70 per cent of the company’s
total sales.
VVT seamless steel tubes, hot rolled on the
piercing mill using Mannesmann technology,
offer unique mechanical properties. The
products are used in machinery and
the automotive industry, building and
construction, power engineering, geology
and chemical industry, pipelines/OCTG,
and water well drilling.
The company currently employs 800 people,
and in Autumn 2005 became a member of
the group of companies Trinecke Zelezarny
– Moravia Steel.
VVT-Vitkovice Valcovna Trub –
Czech Republic
Fax: +420 595 956 140
Email:
Website:
Tubinox acquired by Viraj Group
SC Tubinox SA, Romania, a manufacturer of both hot finished and cold finished
austenitic stainless steel seamless pipes, has been acquired by the Viraj Group, India.
The Viraj Group is a major manufacturer of stainless steel long products, with its own
melting capabilities exceeding 200,000mt per year.
The acquisition will result in Tubinox receiving a regular supply of stainless steel billets
and rounds as raw material from the Viraj Group. This is likely to be a major advantage
in a turbulent period for the stainless steel industry.
A major modernisation programme
has enabled Tubinox to manufacture
products competitively and according to
international standards. The company
has installed state-of-the-art equipment
and controls to ensure efficiency and
manufacturing quality.
Hot mill extrusion operations are
expected to begin in April 2007. The
production range of Tubinox will include bright annealed tubes, heat resistant tubes,
tubes for machining, cold finished annealed and pickled tubes, and polished tubes.
Outside diameters will range from 8mm to 114mm, with wall thicknesses from 1mm to
12mm.
Tubinox plans to target sales to international markets, and intends to be a key player
in this segment, especially in the emerging markets of northern Africa and middle east
Asia, in addition to serving European and American markets.
SC Tubinox SA – Romania
Fax: +40 21 256 00 80
Email: • Website:
Substantial investment at VVT-Vitkovice
Valcovna Trub
The acquisition will result
in Tubinox receiving
supplies of stainless
steel billets and
rounds from the
Viraj Group
❱
❱
fi Thecompanyoperates two tubeproduction lines, including the ‘BigMannesmann’
for 168-406mm OD › The company’s investment will open the way for
an increased production output, especially tube
and pipe for OCTG and pipeline applications
forum
Connect with
the industry
online @: