TPI May 2013

business & market news

Mosque shaped by expert benders Barnshaw Section Benders has been contracted by App Steel Structures to carry out work on the Al Emaan Mosque. The bending work involved forming of the main frame ribs and curving the support steelwork in two planes (canted).

Established in 1969, Barnshaw Section Benders is based at six manufacturing sites around the UK, located in the West Midlands, Manchester and Hamilton, Scotland. Across these sites over 120 specialist machines are housed, and have provided steel bending services for some of the country’s largest projects, including shopping centres, football stadiums, airports and the Olympics. Barnshaw Section Benders Ltd – UK sections@barnshaws.com www.barnshaws.com

The company received the structural project due to its technical expertise

of ‘canting’ the 100 x 60 RHS and mandrel forming of 200 x 100 RHS to minimise distortion. Barnshaws supplied the mosque with 200 x 100 x 6.3 RHS and 100 x 60 x 3 RHS, which were approximately 4 tons.

Barnshaws carried out forming of the main frame ribs and curving of the support steelwork

Westlake acquires PVC pipe, fittings and foundations business

profiles and foundations business and associated operating facilities in Lodi, California, and McPherson, Kansas, with production capacity of approximately 150mn pounds per year. Westlake will also acquire technologies and intellectual properties for the production of a number of specialised products, including Certa- Lok ® restrained joint pipe and Yelomine™ branded products for a variety of end market applications. “The acquisition of CertainTeed’s PFG business is an excellent strategic fit for Westlake,” commented Albert Chao, Westlake’s president and CEO. “When completed, it will enhance our North

American pipe and building products portfolio by adding speciality product lines and supporting technology that we do not currently have. These new products, technologies and a broader market reach will increase our ability to service our customers’ needs and further differentiate the value of our vinyls integration strategy. CertainTeed is known as a well-run solutions- orientated company with talented people and we look forward to adding this workforce to our team.” Westlake Chemical Corporation – USA www.westlake.com

Westlake Chemical Corporation has entered into a definitive agreement with CertainTeed Corporation, a subsidiary of the Compagnie de Saint-Gobain, to purchase its Pipe and Foundation Group (PFG), a producer of PVC pipe and fittings for municipal, water well, mining, agriculture and irrigation applications. The sale is for a purchase price of $175mn in cash, including $22mn of working capital, with closing adjustments. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2013, subject to standard closing conditions, including regulatory review. The PFG acquisition includes the PVC pipe, fittings,

PIPE at Schweissen & Schneiden 2013 PIPE Ltd has been a regular exhibitor at the Schweissen & Schneiden Exhibition for over a decade. Due to the growth of the event, together with the growth of the company, PIPE Ltd will be showcasing its entire product range on a 98m 2 stand at this year’s show. the UK with pipe cutting, bevelling and clamping solutions, PIPE soon realised that welders and fabricators wanted a one-stop shop for all their needs.

With the increase of use of exotic materials such as stainless steel and Duplex for pipe installations in certain industries, the need for high quality, oxide-free welds has become increasingly necessary. This has led PIPE into the manufacturing of a range of pipe purging systems and accessories, to enable the rapid removal of oxygen from the weld root.

This led the company into the field of manufacturing, releasing the E-Z Fit range of pipe welding alignment clamps, together with a comprehensive range of pipe stands and supports, including the Tri-Stand, Duo Stand and Quattro Stand, offering safe solutions for the support and handling of all types of pipe and plate, whether on-site or in the workshop.

Since 1990, PIPE Ltd has grown into a major supplier of pre-fabrication tools and equipment for the pipe and plate welding and fabrication industries, including oil and gas, petrochemical, nuclear, pharmaceutical, food, water and dairy. Originally established to supply

Prestige Industrial Pipework Equipment Ltd – UK sales@pipe-ltd.com www.pipe-ltd.com

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Tube Products International May 2013

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