business & market news
18
Tube Products International March 2013
Straight seam welding pipe
line contract signed
On 30 November 2012, in Jakarta,
Indonesia, Dalian Sage Group and
Krakatau Steel Group signed a contract
for SG/508 HF straight seam welding
pipe line.
Chairman and board members of
Krakatau Steel Group and PT KHI
Pipe Industries, chairman and vice
chairman of Dalian Sage Group, and
the Counselor of Foreign Affairs of the
People’s Republic of China Embassy in
Indonesia attended the contract signing
ceremony.
Krakatau Steel Group is a state-owned
iron and steel enterprise in Indonesia,
and has a pivotal position in the national
economy.
The bidding process for SG/508 welding
pipe line lasted for one year, and
included eight competitor firms. Dalian
Sage Group stated that the winning of
the bid has particular significance, as
it indicates that Sage Forming (SGF),
with Chinese independent intellectual
property rights and innovative forming
method, has been recognised by the
international market.
The SG/508 HF welding pipe line will
be put into operation in August 2014,
and will become the largest diameter,
thickest wall, highest steel grade
ERW producing line in Indonesia after
completion.
Dalian Sage Group
–
China
Milestone for fittings provider
Nero Pipeline Connections, a provider of
stainless steel fittings and accessories,
is celebrating 25 years in business with
a number of customer-focused changes
throughout 2013.
Managing director Ross Mooney
commented, “Reaching our 25-year
milestone is a real cause for celebration
and we want our customers to
benefit from our achievements. We
will be celebrating our birthday with
the launch of a brand new website, a
vastly improved, user-friendly product
catalogue and a new level of marketing
investment. We want to ensure our
customers can get what they want,
where they want, so we’ll also be
exhibiting at a number of top industry
exhibitions throughout the year.”
Nero was founded in 1988 by Mr Mooney
and Neil McDermott, who combined
decades of industry experience. With
strong links throughout many industries,
including the process, water and
pharmaceutical sectors as well as the
commercial and domestic heating and
plumbing industries, the duo began
recruiting staff after just nine months
of trading to accommodate high levels
of customer demand. Years of rapid
growth followed and the team moved to
larger premises in 1989, 1998 and again
in 2006 to house increased stock levels
from which they could offer a fast and
reliable overnight delivery service.
Although the company initially offered a
variety of pipeline materials, Mr Mooney
and Mr McDermott took particular
interest in the stainless steel industry
as it continued to advance in line with
customer requirements. Eventually they
decided that stainless steel would be
the area of expertise that would drive
the company forward.
Despite the continued success, growth
inevitably slowed during the economic
decline of the 1990s and again during the
recession of 2008 and 2009, particularly
due to the fluctuation of exchange rates
and customers struggling to secure
work.
However, Mr Mooney explained that
both downturns were followed by
quick recovery: “Customer service
has always been at the core of our
business and we were determined
that economic downturn would not
change this. We strived to support our
struggling customers by offering as
much flexibility as possible during their
times of difficulty. We delivered goods
at short notice when work was made
available to them, sourced cost effective
products that would meet their financial
requirements and have always been at
the end of the phone to offer technical
advice and expertise to their teams.”
Mr Mooney added that expansion plans
are in place to increase the size of the
company’s current premises, and the
launch of a new e-commerce website
will offer customers the latest in online
product browsing and purchasing
opportunities.
Nero Pipeline Connections
– UK
A selection of valves from Nero
