TPi January 2013

business & market news

Norma starts new assembly system in Gerbershausen Engineered joining technology

“The upgrade of our production facility in Gerbershausen highlights the growing demand for our innovativeweight andcost saving joining solutions,” commented Werner Deggim, CEO of Norma Group. “We register demand for our engineered technology from industries across the globe, which also secures the future of our production in Germany.” the Gerbershausen plant manager, added, “The major order combined with the new assembly system substantially strengthens our local business. We welcome this opportunity to create additional jobs in the region.” The Gerbershausen production facility was founded in 1992 and stretches over 23,700m 2 in total. Each day, about 150 employees at the facility manufacture approximately 1.5 million joining elements, which are shipped around the world and applied in the automotive industry, the aviation and shipbuilding sector, and in infrastructure projects. Norma Group manufactures a wide range of innovative engineered joining technology solutions in three product categories (clamp, connect and fluid), and offers around 35,000 products and solutions to approximately 10,000 customers in 90 countries. Klaus-Hartmut Scherf,

more lightweight passenger cars, avoid leakage and reduce CO 2 emissions. The assembly system, which will produce about 70,000 joining elements for exhaust pipes per week, was put into operation by Christine Lieberknecht, prime minister of the state of Thuringia, in September.

firm Norma Group has put a new assembly system into operation in its Gerbershausen, Germany, facility. The system manufactures joining elements for exhaust pipes for an internationally operating automotive group. The new ‘Euro Coupler’ joint caters to the needs of the automotive industry to build

(from right) Christine Lieberknecht, Klaus-Hartmut Scherf and Jens Wahl

Norma Group AG – Germany www.normagroup.com

Integrated solutions for offshore project Vallourec, a leader in premium tubular solutions, has announced the provision of seamless linepipe including coating and welding services for the Greater Stella Project in the North Sea. The 96km of coated linepipe is due to be delivered to Technip, who has been awarded the EPC contract, in the first quarter of 2013. and ‘waxing’ Vallourec will provide the pipes with a three-layer polypropylene (3LPP) coating. also been contracted to perform the welding works at Technip’s Spoolbase in Evanton, UK. The scope of work includes welding of 62.6km of 10" gas export lines and 33.5km of 10" oil export lines.

Dominique Richardot, managing director of Vallourec’s Pipe Project and SURF activities, said, “As our largest contract to date with Technip, this project represents the continuation and development of our successful business relationship. Our clients expect highly efficient, innovative and safe performances for complex applications and our answer to their requirements is the provision of integrated solutions – premium pipes with a meaningful comprehensive service package.”

Vallourec’s involvement in several parts of this North Sea project illustrates the group’s position as a partner of choice for offshore projects and its ability to provide clients with premium and secure solutions throughout the supply chain, as well as with the local services needed to ensure the successful development of complex projects.

The Greater Stella Area, which is operated by Ithaca Energy, is located in the central North Sea Block 30/06a, approximately 238km south east of Peterhead and 17km from the UK-Norway median line. Vallourec’s linepipe will be installed in a water depth of approximately 85m. The premium pipes will be used for oil and gas export lines. To protect them from corrosion

Vallourec – France contact@vallourec.fr www.vallourec.com

Vallourec subsidiary Serimax, an international welding company, has

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Tube Products International January 2013

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