TPi October 2011

- Business & market news - Products & developments - Steel pipes for structural and mechanical applications - Fabtech 2011 - Plastic pipes - Fittings & valves - Press dies from Schmolz + Bickenbach Guss

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The World of Tube & Pipe Products, Materials & Ancillaries

October 2011

100 Years

Seamless welded flanges and rings

from steel, stainless steel and non-ferrous metals certified in accordance with DIN EN 9001.2008 and controlled manufacturing process from Flanschenfabrik Hüttental Germany www.ffh-flansche.com

We’ve been giving businesses like yours

VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL TUBE CUT-OFF BLADES ROLL FORM BLADES PINKING WHEELS SLITTER WHEELS SHEAR BLADES SCALLOP CUTTERS HORIZONTAL TUBE SUPPLYING THE WORLD

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years

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e-mail: info@RandolphTool.com website: www.RandolphTool.com

Image : C. Guyot

RILSAN ® HT THE ONLY WAY TO COMBINE HIGH TEMPERATURE AND FLEXIBILITY Rilsan ® HT is the first flexible, high-temperature thermoplastic to replace metal in tubing for high-temperature automotive and other demanding industrial applications. The revolutionary flexibility of Rilsan ® HT offers a step-change in polyphtalamide (PPA)-based materials and extends metal substitution to yet unimagined possibilities. Compared with metal assemblies, tubing made from Rilsan ® HT lower the overall system cost and ensure longer service life of engine components. Rilsan ® HT is a unique durable high-temperature thermoplastic largely derived from renewable non-food-crop vegetable feedstock, naturally responding to the increasing environmental commitment of the automotive industry.

www.rilsanht.com

For further information, please contact us: info.rilsan@arkema.com Tel: +33(0)1 49 00 71 30 Fax: +33(0)1 49 00 51 47

Editorial Office: Editor

Mr Rory McBride Email: rory@intras.co.uk

Editorial Assistant

Mr Christian Bradley Email: christian@intras.co.uk

Design & Production

Ms Lisa Benjamin Email: lisa@intras.co.uk

Publisher

Ms Caroline Sullens

Founder

Mr John C Hogg

Advertisement Material & Production:

Ms Liz Hughes

Email: liz@intras.co.uk Email: andrea@intras.co.uk

Ms Andrea McIntosh

International Advertising Sales:

Ms Tracey Callaghan Email: tracey@intras.co.uk • Tel: +44 1926 834688 Ms Hendrike Morriss – Verkauf & Marketing (Deutschland, Osterreich, Schweiz) Email: hendrike@intras.co.uk • Tel: +44 1926 834687 Ms Giuliana Benedetto – Vendite & Marketing (Italia) Email: giuliana@intras.co.uk • Tel: +44 1926 834686 Ms Linda Li – 中国大陆,台湾,香港以及远东地区销售代表 Email: linda@intras.co.uk • Tel: +44 1926 834685 Ms Jeroo Vandrevala – Indian Sales (English, Hindi & Gujarati speaking) Email: jeroo@intras.co.uk • Tel: +91 33 24070701

Subscriptions: Subscriptions Manager

Ms Liz Hughes Email: liz@intras.co.uk Tel: +44 1926 334137

Accounts Manager

Mr Richard Babbedge Email: richard.b@intras.co.uk

Tube Products INTERNATIONAL is published by Intras Ltd, UK Europe: 46 Holly Walk, Leamington Spa Warwickshire CV32 4HY, UK

Tel: +44 1926 334137 • Fax: +44 1926 314755 Email: tpi@intras.co.uk Website: www.intras.co.uk

USA:

E DITORIAL O NLY Ms Dorothy Fabian

272 First Avenue, Apt 12G, New York, NY 10009, USA Tel: +1 212 614 9266 • Fax: +1 212 614 9266 Email: dfabian@rcn.com Intras Ltd, Jeroo Vandrevala Subarna (Ground Floor) P21/N, Block A New Alipore, Kolkata 700 053, India Tel: +91 33 2407 07 01 • Fax: +91 33 2407 07 00 Email: jeroov@vsnl.com

India:

Copies are also available to members of the International Tube Association

INTRAS INTRAS LIMITED

US copies only: Tube Products INTERNATIONAL is published quarterly by INTRAS Ltd and distributed in the US by DSW, 75 Aberdeen Road, Emigsville, PA 17318-0437. Periodicals postage paid at Emigsville, PA.

© 2011 Intras Ltd, UK ISSN 1755-7216

Tube Products INTERNATIONAL Magazine 46 Holly Walk, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire CV32 4HY, UK Tel: +44 1926 334137 • Fax: +44 1926 314755 • Email: tpi@intras.co.uk

Postmaster: send address changes to Tube Products INTERNATIONAL, PO Box 0437 Emigsville PA 17318-0437

www.tubeproductsinternational.com

Contents October 2011

8 Business & Market News 30 Products & Developments 46 Feature: Steel pipes for structural and mechanical applications 50 Show Feature: Fabtech 2011 54 Plastic Pipes

14-17 November 2011

62 Tubotech 2011 64 Fittings & Valves 69 Article: Press dies from

Schmolz + Bickenbach Guss

71 Editorial Index 72 Advertisers Index

Whenyouhave finishedwith thismagazineplease recycle it

The World of Tube & Pipe Products, Materials & Ancillaries

The October issue

events calendar

Welcome to the latest issue of Tube Products International , which includes features on the FABTECH and Tubotech shows as well as special features on two important areas to us: mechanical and structural steel pipes and a slightly newer focus in the area of plastic tubes. Over the past few years plastic tubes have become increasingly important to the world of construction, sewer and water pipe modernising and infrastructure – and this is something we have been looking to reflect in the magazine – to the extent that we thought it deserved its own regular section. Steel tubing and stainless steel tubing – when compared to plastic tubing in terms of tensile strength – will often win out when you crunch the numbers, but not in the arena of material costs. For the same amount of money that it takes to process and create half a dozen pieces of steel or stainless steel tubing, you could probably create several hundred cut to length or flexible plastic tubes that would arguably have the same amount of durability for the intended process. Whether the finished product is blown, extruded or moulded, what matters is the overall strength of the tubing to be used, when compared to the stress of the operation. When placed within moving parts, used to pass water or other lubricants through the machinery, it may get pressed, crimped, bumped or slammed from time to time. Steel is extremely tough, but even that material can only take so much damage before it begins to give out. Plastic, on the other hand – especially if the wall thickness lends it tensile strength – can in the the correct circumstances take more damage before it even begins to show any signs of fatigue. Usually tubing and pipe, when used to transport corrosive fluids, water, oil, or grease, for example, may be treated to withstand the constant presence of those materials without the tubing or pipe degrading. However, if plastic tubing needs to be resistant to another substance, then that resistance can be made a part of it through the ‘recipe’ used to create it, sometimes making the extra cost less. Of course, all materials have their place and metal tubes

2011 4-6 October

Tubotech (Brazil) International Exhibition www.cipanet.com.br

14-17 November

FABTECH / AWS Welding Show International Exhibition www.fabtechexpo.com

15-18 November

TOLExpo (Paris) International Exhibition www.tolexpo.com

2012 26-30 March

Tube Düsseldorf International Exhibition www.tube.de

May

Tube Russia International Exhibition www.metallurgy-tube-russia.com

25-28 September

Tube China International Exhibition www.mdna.com EuroBlech (Germany) International Exhibition www.euroblech.com Tube India International Exhibition www.mdna.com

23-27 October

30 October – 1 November

2013 January

Tube Arabia International Exhibition www.mdna.com

For further information on any of the above events please contact INTRAS Limited UK office (address and contact details on page 4)

have been used for hundreds of years and in many cases simply nothing else will do, so that is extremely unlikey to change in the near future. Tubes and pipes made from copper and stainless steel – or plastic – will continue to be amajor focus in every corner of the world as well as in this magazine.

Rory McBride Editor

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TUBE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL October 2011

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Plastic Tube: The Right Choice !

Kennedyallee 1-5 D-53175 Bonn

Tel. +49 (0)228 / 91477-0 Fax +49 (0)228 / 91477-19 kunststoffrohrverband@krv.de www.krv.de

news business & market

The subsea pipes that Exova will be testing for corrosion fatigue

Investigating corrosion fatigue on subsea flexible pipes

The data generated from the tests will contribute towards the technological advancement of flexible pipelines and risers, which are deployed in hostile locations. Lee Best, general manager at Exova Daventry and Exova’s Corrosion Centre, said, “Corrosion has often been identified as the most common in-service cause of failure in pipelines, causing loss of containment failures of hazardous materials. We have worked closely with Technip to respond to the demanding test requirement and developed a state-of-the-art testing facility that further enhances our corrosion testing capabilities.”

developing bespoke facilities capable of corrosion fatigue testing at elevated temperature and pressure. In increasingly challenging environ- ments, one of the significant concerns regarding flexible pipe integrity is the condition of the annulus. If the annulus becomes flooded by ingress of seawater through the external sheath, this could lead to corrosion and a possible impact on service life. Exova has designed equipment that is able to conduct testing at up to 50 bar and 150°C in simulated sour environments. These new test facilities allow investigation of properties over a wide range of service environments, which includes continuous gas bubbling at pressure to stimulate the annulus environment.

Corrosion testing firm Exova has won a contract to work for Technip to investigate the effect of high-pressure corrosion fatigue on the life of the tensile armour wire component of flexible pipes. Flexible oil and gas pipelines and risers are used to connect subsea installations to floating production facilities. The flexible nature of dynamic riser systems has been a key driver in allowing the industry to move away from traditional fixed platform systems, to develop fields in deeper waters with floating technology. One of the main challenges of operating in deep and ultra-deep water is the challenging environmental conditions for flexible pipe systems. Exova has responded to this challenge by

exova – UK europe@exova.com www.exova.com

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Tube PrOducTs InTernaTIOnal October 2011

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business & market news

Renewing Kansas City water distribution system

means that up to 40% of a utility’s water main valves are likely to be inoperable and either cannot be located, accessed or opened/closed. “Aging water networks are becoming more challenging to manage with each passing year,” added Mr Wilson. “The good news is that with the support of Wachs Water Services, utilities are boosting their water main valve operability as high as 97% and achieving significant and measurable efficiency gains as well.” As water distribution infrastructure continues to age, the fastest route to sustainability is accomplished through addressing the operability of valve control points and renewing information assets. With this restored level of control, utilities can prioritise and address the remainder of the system such as water mains. Pipeline valves and information assets can be improved in the short-term and renewed at a fraction of the cost of long-term water main replacement projects.

“The Kansas City Water Department has taken another big step toward ensuring water distribution sustain- ability and we are proud to be supporting the utility in their efforts,” said Cliff Wilson, president, Wachs Water Services. “More and more utilities are discovering that gaining control of their water network and obtaining accurate system information is the critical first step in results- oriented asset management. Wachs Water Services has a proven track record, with successful programmes in over 200 utilities, including Baltimore, Washington DC, Atlanta and Houston.” According to the Environmental Protection Agency, there are about 240,000 water main breaks in the United States each year. The US Geological Survey estimates that these water main breaks waste more than 1.7 trillion gallons of water at a cost of about $2.6bn annually. An additional challenge facing utilities is the operability of aging water main valves to help control and minimise the consequences of these main breaks. Wachs Water Services has seen an average initial water main valve operability of only 60% in more than 500,000 inspections nationwide. This

Wachs Water Services, a provider of solutions for the management of aging water infrastructure in North America, has announced a service contract worth up to $6mn over a renewable multi-year period, awarded by the Water Services Department of Kansas City, Missouri (KCMO), to perform asset location, operational condition assessment and GPS location mapping services of more than 35,000 water main valves in the Kansas City water distribution system. Valves are installed in water mains to control the flow of water. However, with a high percentage of water mains reaching the end of their useful life in many urban areas, the operability of valves has become one of the most critical concerns for utilities dealing with sustainability, main breaks, repair and replacement activities. Working closely with KCMO, Wachs Water Services will be primarily focused on improving the reliability of the small and large valves in the water network and creating an accurate information knowledge base for each asset that is accessible to all water utility stakeholders, including engineering, operations and field personnel.

Wachs Water Services – USA info@wachsws.com www.wachsws.com

Dates announced for sewerage & drainage and plastic pressure pipes conferences

specifiers and installers, resin suppliers, additive producers, machinery makers, pipe manu- facturers and fittings suppliers. Plastic pressure pipes are well established, particularly in gas and water supply lines, where performance is critical.

delegates represented across the entire industry. Plastic sewerage and drainage pipes are established in many global regions replacing traditional materials such as clay and concrete. International and national standards ensure a good safety margin in materials, production processes and installation, and innovation is taking place at all levels. Plastic Pressure Pipes 2011 will provide similar opportunities for delegates representing pipe

Following the success of the previous events, AMI’s two focused plastics pipes conferences will again run consecutively in February 2012 at the Maritim Hotel in Cologne, Germany. The technical programme will run over three days from 21 to 23 February. Sewerage & Drainage Pipes 2012 will take place from 21 to 22 February, and Plastic Pressure Pipes 2012 takes place from 22 to 23 February.

Applied Market Information Ltd – UK

info@amiplastics.com www.amiplastics.com

Sewerage & Drainage Pipe 2012 will offer a networking opportunity for

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October 2011 Tube Products International

business & market news

OMS appoints sales agent for Brazil Optical Metrology Services (OMS) Ltd, a specialist pipe measurement technology company for the oil and gas industry, has appointed Nortech as its sales agent for Brazil. Established in 1999 and based in Rio de Janeiro, Nortech is a provider of innovative calibration and leak detection products and services to the natural gas, petroleum and power generation industries. should create some very interesting synergies.” OMS’s pipe measurement products and services provide benefits for major oil and gas companies around the world. The company is currently providing services for two projects in Brazil: for Petrobras on one of its onshore pipeline projects; and for Subsea 7 on its offshore P55 project. Nortech secured its first contract with Petrobras in 2010, for the provision of leak detection services on natural gas projects.

accurately measure the WTs for each pipe end in less than 20 seconds. The tool is accurate to 0.05mm and enables just two OMS staff to measure a minimum of 200 pipe ends in a single shift. This means less time on site, minimising project delays and costs for the customer. OMS’s internal weld inspection system inspects the internal size and shape of girth welds on pipes that are destined for use in deep-sea subsea oil and gas applications. The Internal Weld Scanning Tool internally scans welds inside pipes and valvemanifold systems, both visually and dimensionally, enabling inspectors to quickly and confidently assess the quality of the root weld. The tool can be used on corrosion-resistant alloy- lined pipe to identify sour (aggressive) ingress points, in both clad butt-weld and clad weld inlay applications. The tool can also be used to improve weld procedure development efficiency and to check the root weld and geometry before next passes are deposited. The technology can be used in fatigue- sensitive applications (SCRs) where pipes are subjected to higher dynamic stresses. All of OMS’s technology can be deployed onshore and offshore at different stages of the pipe welding process. Optical Metrology Services Ltd – UK info@omsmeasure.com www.omsmeasure.com

Adriano Camino, managing director at Nortech, commented on the new agreement: “Nortech has very quickly established a reputation for partnering only with those companies who are seen as market leaders in their industry sector. With OMS’s expertise in oil and gas pipe measurement, combined with Nortech’s experience in providing pipeline leak detection systems and pressure monitoring of natural gas pipelines, our agreement makes complete sense and

Hugh Davies, director of client solutions at OMS, commented, “Having a local agent in Brazil will help OMS to secure more business from what is fast becoming a key growth area in the international oil and gas market.” OMS’s Smart-Fit™ software uses pipe measurement data to predict and control fit-up, before the pipes are brought into the bead stall for welding. This prevents production problems due to poor fit-up, and manages the assembly of problem pipes to maximise welding productivity.

OMS director of client solutions Hugh Davies (right) shakes hands with Adriano Camino, managing director of Nortech

For end dimensioning of pipes, OMS uses its own automatic Pipe Checker™ laser measurement tool, which is capable of measuring more than 2,000 IDs and 2,000 ODs, as well as being able to

Trelleborg acquires industrial hose operation Through its Trelleborg Engineered Systems business area, Trelleborg has signed an agreement to acquire the French company Bloch SA, a privately owned high-end industrial hose solution provider, which generates annual sales of about SEK 70mn. The agreement encompasses the acquisition of 60%of the business with an option to acquire the remainder. hose offering thus creating the conditions for future growth,” commented business area president Lennart Johansson. “We will be able to offer customers complete solutions in selected segments that add value to us and that means better service for our customers.” a wide range of industrial hoses that offer protection in particularly demanding environments, such as chemical processing and the food sector. The company has offices and produc- tion facilities in Lyon, France. The acquisition was expected to be com- pleted during the third quarter of 2011.

Trelleborg AB – Sweden www.trelleborg.com

Bloch primarily specialises in complete solutions and special couplings for

“The acquisition of Bloch enables Trelleborg to strengthen its industrial

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Tube Products International October 2011

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Tape Forming • Welding • Calibration • Corrugation

Tube Welding Technology

Optimized tube forming & welding technology for best quality in tube formability, corrosion resistance and mechanical tube properties at high performance level.

Booth no. 248

www.rosendahlaustria.com

business & market news

Guill appoints vice president of engineering

Jim Houston, Guill Tool & Engineering’s new vice president of engineering

80 officers, professors and enlisted personnel. In addition to monitoring and integrating the strategic growth of both technology and staff, he managed million-dollar facility upgrades, coordinating virtually all modifications. According to Glen Guillemette, Guill’s president, “We wanted an experienced Naval officer with a strong military and nuclear background for our efforts to

Guill Tool & Engineering, USA, has appointed retired Naval officer James R Houston as vice president of engineering. In addition, he will handle business development for the company. Mr Houston served as operations officer for the War Gaming Department at the Naval War College from January 2005 to April 2010, where he directed and mentored a department of more than

grow new business specially for our company’s components and assemblies group that sells to naval and nuclear facilities pipeline, oil and gas.” Mr Houston served as deputy/planner for Future Operations of the Multi National Force-Iraq (MNF-I) and orchestrated the $76mn dollar Operation McCall, an extremely complex extraction of 550 tons of yellowcake uranium and other radioactive sources from Baghdad, Iraq, during regional conflict in 2007 and 2008. Additionally he was selected as MNF-I lead for the development of nationwide coalition and Iraqi security plans for the January 2009 Iraqi national elections. A graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, with a BS in Aerospace (Astronautical) Engineering, Mr Houston subsequently attended Naval Nuclear Power School and qualified as a Naval Nuclear Engineer. He also earned an MA in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College Newport, Rhode Island, as well as an MS in Personal Finance from Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas. Guill Tool & Engineering, Inc produces precision-machined components and assemblies for US Navy vessels and submarines in accordance with technical drawings. Guill’s precision components are engineered for high-pressure and high-temperature systems, which handle high energy gases, fluids and chemicals. The company’s extrusion division designs and manufactures extrusion tooling for advanced applications that include medical tubing, multi-lumen tubing, multi-layer co-extruded products, profile products and fibre optics. Guill Tool & engineering co, Inc – USA sales@guill.com www.guill.com

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business & market news

Intelligent Trench wins prestigious health & safety award

compliance with health and safety guidelines such as HSG47.

apparatus using GPS enabled PDA software, this information is thereafter available free of charge at any time, making future works safer and more effective. Data can be obtained during any excavation or as part of a non- invasive survey. The Intelligent Trench solution provides instant access to the data through both a desktop portal and directly to the field via supported devices. RFID locators enable the position of previous works and the location and depth of buried plant to be accurately determined, even in built up areas where techniques such as GPS often fail. Future works may then benefit from access to photographs and other asset data, enabling better

The Intelligent Trench underground mapping solution won the Health & Safety at Work award at the Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation annual awards ceremony, which took place in June. Judges for the award, who represent a variety of stakeholders from across the industry, were looking for solutions that demonstrably led to improvements in health and safety, and which could in particular show originality, robust implementation, best value cost-benefit and wider implementation potential. By deploying RFID markers in excavations and collecting data and photographic evidence about buried Although the first day of the conference, 7 November 2011, is some weeks away, interest in the Pipe & Tube World Conference is already strong according to the International Tube Association, with 66 participants already registered and more than half of the available table top exhibits sold by mid July. The two–day conference in Düsseldorf features a high quality programme of technical papers from process equip- ment experts, tube and pipe producers and market analysts, and includes four keynote overview presentations:

Knowing precisely what lies beneath vastly improves the accuracy of digs and pre-warns operators of hazards that would otherwise present unexpected risks. The Intelligent Trench underground map- ping solution is enabled by technologies from 3M, Exor, Infotec and Trac-ID.

Visit www.intelligenttrench.com for further information.

Infotec – UK sales@infotec1.net www.infotec1.net Early interest in Pipe & Tube World Conference

The main conference sponsor, SMS Meer, will host a free combined workshop tour and social event at its factory on 8 November – just one of the networking opportunities open to delegates. More information can be found on the dedicated conference webpage: www.itatube.org/dussconference.php

• Michael Cottin, SMS Meer, Germany: Solutions for tube and pipe producers • Dr C Kalwa, Europipe, Germany: Overview of large diameter pipes market • Hilkka Witt, voestalpine Tubulars GmbH & Co, Austria: General OCTG market situation-demand, supply, capacities and trends for Europe, North America, Middle East, former Soviet Union and Africa

International Tube Association – UK

1/4-Seite (60 x 180 mm) Satzspiegel (Tube & Pipe Technology + TubeProducts Int.) • Marina Vertemberg, Steel Orbis, Ukraine: Overview of European welded pipe market info@itatube.org www.itatube.org

www.boilertubes.de Pipes . Tubes . Services

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October 2011 Tube Products International

CE Franklin appoints new director and CFO CE Franklin Ltd has appointed Dharmesh Prasad, global materials manager of Schlumberger Limited (CE Franklin’s majority shareholder), as the new Schlumberger representative to the board of directors of CE Franklin. Mr Prasad replaces Kjell-Erik Oestdahl, who stepped down from the board due to time commitments and expanded responsibilities in connection with his recent promotion as vice president, operations of Schlumberger. Mr Prasad has extensive experience in various senior operational and corporate management positions within Schlumberger, working in ten different countries. In his current role he is responsible for advising on the strategic and tactical direction for inventory management and the distribution, consolidation and optimisation of warehousing across Schlumberger. He holds an MBA in Finance from the University of California and a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology. “We thank Kjell-Erik Oestdahl for his commitment and contribution and welcome Dharmesh Prasad to the board,” said president and CEO Michael S West. “His extensive experience in the oilfield supply industry, including marketing and strategy development, complements the background and skills of the board. This will be of benefit to all of our shareholders, as we continue to grow our business and advance our efficiency and diversification strategies.” The company has also promoted Derren Newell to the position of chief financial officer. Mr Newell, previously financial controller, has extensive experience and expertise in finance, accounting, audit, tax and a wealth of experience with strategic and operational support in the energy and distribution industries. Mr Newell succeeds Mark Schweitzer, who is leaving CE Franklin to pursue an opportunity with an oil sands development company. “Our succession planning and bench strength allows a strong performer to step into the role to continue to advance CE Franklin’s strategies,” commented Mr West. “On behalf of our board of directors and management team, I would like to thank Mark for his commitment and contribution during his tenure at CE Franklin. Mark helped move forward our acquisition and diversification strategies and Derren will help us continue on this path.” CE Franklin supplies products and services to the energy industry, distributing pipe, valves, flanges, fittings, production equipment, tubular products and other general oilfield supplies to oil and gas producers in Canada as well as to the oil sands, refining, heavy oil, petrochemical, forestry and mining industries. The products are distributed through the company’s 45 branches, which are situated in towns and cities serving particular oil and gas fields of the western Canadian sedimentary basin.

São Paulo

Moscow

Shanghai

Bangkok

Dubai

®

New Delhi

Düsseldorf

j o i n t he be s t w o r l d w i d e

Tube Düsseldorf: Innovations go global Take advantage of the highest calibre expertise of the No. 1 international fair as the show goes global. Draw on international synergies from these leading trade fairs. A cycle of regional events, staged in succession around the globe, responding to local market and customer needs. Detailed information on the full programme can be found at:

www.tube.de

Industry Partner

CE Franklin Ltd – Canada info@cefranklin.com www.cefranklin.com

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ub1002_87x260.indd 1

23.09.2009 12:40:26 Uhr

business & market news

Change of management at Schoeller

Dr Gunther Voswinckel is now chairman of Schoeller

staff of almost 1,000 employees, working on more than 100 welding lines and a large number of drawbenches, produce up to 100 million metres of stainless steel tubing every year. Key buyers of stainless steel tubes are automotive manufacturers and their suppliers. In addition, Schoeller is a recognised supplier of tubing for power plants, logistics systems, offshore and shipbuilding as well as machines and plant engineering. Schoeller stainless steel tubing is available in TIG-welded and laser-welded condition, circular or profiled, or as coiled or straight lengths. The products meet all common international standards for welded stainless steel tubing. Eddy current, ultrasonic and pressure testing are used to ensure quality.

Gunther Voswinckel has taken over the management of Schoeller Werk GmbH und Co KG, succeeding Jörg Rumpf as chairman of the management board on Mr Rumpf’s retirement in May. It is the first time since the founding of the firm that a non-family member is at the head of the company. Dr Voswinckel is supported by Frank Poschen and Jürgen Mensinger, who had been executives and have now also been called on to the board of management. Schoeller Werk GmbH began in 1827 at its current site in Hellenthal, Germany. It was the first company in Europe to use automated machines for manufacturing nails and rivets, and proved its innovative capabilities right from the start. Today, the company specialises in the production of welded stainless steel tubes with an outside diameter of between 0.1 and 127mm. The company’s

produce improved surface structures, closer tolerances and defined material yield. Millions of fixed lengths are pro- duced on high-performance separation lines, brush-de-burred or chamfered. Material grades include all common austenitic materials up to titanium and nickel-based alloys, as well as special ferritic steels.

schoeller Werk GmbH & co KG – Germany

info@schoellerwerk.de www.schoellerwerk.de

Depending on usage, the tubing is cold- formed by using a drawing method to

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October 2011 Tube PrOducTs InTernaTIOnal

business & market news

Wuppermann begins construction on extension

In the last ten years Wuppermann has invested more than €10mn in the Czech site, among other things in a powder coating system, a production area for sheet metal processing with two flat lasers, folding machines, a milling centre and a tube laser. By the end of 2013 Wuppermann plans to invest a further €4mn, including the construction of another production hall, which will be 2,700m 2 in size and will allow further growth. While WKt previously undertook production mainly for its sister plants in Germany and Austria, obtaining new customers in Eastern Europe has gained in importance in recent years. “We are particularly happy about this, as the development of Eastern European markets is an important objective for us in order to generate further growth,” said Dr Arnd Schaff, a member of the board of Wuppermann AG and responsible for the technical products business unit.

intensive parts in Eastern Europe more cost-effectively and therefore more competitively, as well as at the same time tapping into the Eastern European markets. “Holýšov was the perfect location for our new plant thanks to its logistic advantages,” said Gerhard Hörletseder, one of the managers of the Czech site. “Firstly, we wanted a site which was not too close to the city of Pilsen due to the upward trend in wages, and secondly, it was very important to us to have a preferably equal distance to our plants in Burgbernheim in Germany and Altmünster in Austria. In addition,

With the laying of the foundation stone for Wuppermann Kovotechnika sro (WKt) in Holýšov in the Czech Republic in the year 2000, the Wuppermann Group took its first step into Eastern Europe. Now the plant is celebrating its tenth birthday as well as the start of construction of a new production hall. Since starting production in 2001 the plant has steadily grown. The plant produces sheet metal blanks, bent and edge shaped components, tube and sheet metal components, and welded constructions, and also undertakes powder coating. Ten years ago the primary target was to produce labour-

Members of the board of management of Wuppermann AG and the management of Wuppermann Kovotechnika sro celebrate the start of construction of the new production hall we received a great deal of support from the then Mayor of Holýšov, Mr Kralik.”

Wuppermann AG – Germany info@wuppermann.com www.wuppermann.com

Alfa Laval wins major order in Brazil Heat transfer, centrifugal separation and fluid handling company Alfa Laval has received an order for a brewery solution from one of the largest global brewery groups. “It is a pleasure to take a big order within brewery,” said Lars Renström, president and CEO of the Alfa Laval Group. “This order confirms that increased living standard in Brazil is driving demand for beverages. We have a solid history in delivering hygienic products and solutions to breweries all over the world.”

are dedicated to assisting customers in optimising the performance of their processes. The solutions help them to heat, cool, separate and transport products in industries that produce food and beverages, chemicals and petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, starch, sugar and ethanol. Alfa Laval’s products are also used in power plants, aboard ships, in the mechanical engineering industry, in the mining industry and for wastewater treatment, as well as for comfort climate and refrigeration applications.

The order value is around SEK 135mn, and was booked late June 2011. Delivery is scheduled for 2011. In the brewery in Brazil, the Alfa Laval equipment will be used in different stages of the beer-making process, including fermentation, cooling, filtration, blending and storage. The order includes a wide variety of hygienic products, such as valves, pumps, pipes, fittings and plate heat exchangers.

Alfa Laval has been present in Brazil since 1959, and last year the company’s order intake in the country grew by 18%. The company provides specialised products and engineering solutions based on its key technologies of heat transfer, separation and fluid handling. Its equipment, systems and services

Alfa Laval – Sweden www.alfalaval.com

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Tube Products International October 2011

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$97mn in orders from Venezuela and Ecuador Wuxi Seamless Oil Pipes Company Limited (WSP China), a subsidiary of WSP Holdings Limited, a Chinese manufacturer of API and non-API seamless casing, tubing and drill pipes used in oil and natural gas exploration, drilling and extraction, has received $97mn in new orders from oil companies in Venezuela and Ecuador. these, non-API casing pipe accounts for $48mn, or 60% of the total. The company expected to complete delivery of these orders by the end of September 2011.

Mr Longhua Piao, chairman and CEO of WSP Holdings. “This speaks to the high performance characteristics of our API and non-API products and ability to compete in the global OCTG market. Once the hot-rolling lines in our Thailand plant and the heat treatment line in Houston begin commercial production in the third quarter of 2011, we expect to see an increase in sales to North America. On the whole, we expect our international market share to increase as brand awareness of our products in North and South America and other parts of the world continues to expand.”

In addition, WSP China received a new purchase order from Petroamazonas EP, a state-owned oil corporation in Ecuador. The purchase order is for a total of 9,063 tonnes of API casing pipe and 1,110 tonnes of non-API tubing pipe, worth approximately $16.4mn. The company expected to complete delivery of this order by the end of July 2011. “We continue to make inroads into South America by securing these sizable orders in Venezuela and Ecuador,” said

WSP China received 22 new purchase orders for API and non-API casing pipe, API tubing pipe, line pipe and connectors from PDVSA Services BV, a state-owned hydrocarbons company in Venezuela. The new purchase orders are for a total of 37,705 tonnes of API and non-API casing pipe and API tubing pipe and 4,600 tonnes of line pipe, worth approximately $81mn. Among

WSP Holdings Limited – China info@wsphl.com www.wsphl.com Titanium piping distributor extends range

Titan works together with renowned manufacturers worldwide who specialise in these materials. The company supplies through its extensive stocks, or for larger quantities and longer deliveries through major titanium and nickel manufacturers.

and engineering companies as well as direct supply to the major oil and gas industries. Titan has an extensive stock range of titanium metal plates, rods, sheets, strips and welding rods in CP grades as well as in Ti6Al4V grades. Its supply range includes nickel, Inconel, Monel, Incoloy, extruded aluminium fin-tubes, heat exchanger tubes and MMO coated titanium anodes.

Titan Engineering Pte Ltd is a Singapore-based stockist and distributor of titanium metal and alloy materials to various industries, including aerospace, marine, oil and gas, chemical processing factories and precision engineering companies. Complete packages of titanium pipes, flanges/forgings, plates, bars and fittings are supplied to the fabrication companies, contractors

Titan Engineering Pte Ltd – Singapore

sales@titanium.com.sg www.titanium.com.sg

Crane Co acquires WT Armatur Crane ChemPharma Flow Solutions™, a provider of highly engineered products for fluid handling applications, has announced its acquisition of German valve manufacturer WT Armatur Gmbh & Co KG (WTA). Founded in 1978 and located in Maxdorf, Germany, WTA specialises in the production of bellows sealed globe valves and speciality change-over valves. commented Tom Pozda, the company’s president. “The addition of WTA’s bellows sealed globe valve complements our existing product offering of low fugitive emission valve technology and aligns directly with our objectives of providing solutions for demanding chemical and petrochemical applications. We are excited to offer WTA products worldwide leveraging our combined global sales networks.”

sleeved plug valves, lined valves, high performance butterfly valves, aseptic and industrial diaphragm valves, actuation, lined pipe, fittings and hoses, and air operated diaphragm and peristaltic pumps. The company’s fluid handling solutions are designed for demanding corrosive, erosive, and high purity applications within the chemical, biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.

“This acquisition expands the Crane ChemPharma Flow Solutions product portfolio of highly engineered valves for the global chemical industry,”

Crane ChemPharma Flow Solutions designs and manufactures a variety of high performance products, including

ChemPharma Flow Solutions – USA www.craneflowsolutions.com

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Pipe coating services for the Zawtika Development Project ShawCor Ltd’s pipe coating division, Bredero Shaw, has received a contract with a value in excess of US$60mn from Welspun Corp Limited, to provide pipeline coatings and related products and services for the Zawtika Development Project operated by PTTEP International Limited. The contract will be executed at Bredero Shaw’s facility in Kabil, Indonesia. This facility is a technology-based, full service coating plant that was built specifically to process large, complex projects in the Asia Pacific region. Pipe shipments will utilise the two new berths at the Kabil Offshore Deepwater Port, which became fully operational during the second quarter of 2010. The contract involves coating approximately 335km of 10" to 28" pipe that will be protected with three layer anti-corrosion coating and concrete weight coating. ShawCor Ltd is an energy services company specialising in products and services for the pipeline and pipe services and the petrochemical and industrial segments of the oil and gas industry. The company operates through seven divisions with over seventy manufacturing and service facilities located around the world. Bredero Shaw, ShawCor’s largest division, provides specialised coating systems and related services for corrosion protection, insulation and weight coating applications on land and marine pipelines, including highly engineered corrosion and insulation systems for deepwater applications.

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1.6.5 Schneiden

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shawcor ltd – Canada www.shawcor.com

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bredero shaw – USA solutions@brederoshaw.com www.brederoshaw.com

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Largest ever single order for Butting Stainless steel processing company Butting has won the largest single order in its 230-year history. The order, from Subsea 7, a global leader in seabed-to- surface engineering, construction and services to the offshore industry, is for 84km of clad pipes for the Guará-Lula NE field project in Brazil. challenging conditions: more than 6,000ft below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean. The US$1bn SURF (subsea umbilical, riser and flowlines) project awarded to Subsea 7 for four decoupled riser systems to be installed in the Guará-Lula NE is the largest engineering, procurement, installation and commissioning (EPIC) contract awarded to date in Brazil.

demanding conditions of the seabed and around 750ft below the surface of the water, the clad pipes must be fabricated to very strict tolerance standards. For Butting, the order means delivering a total of more than 75km of BuBi pipes and 9km of metallurgically clad pipes. Because of these conditions, the material combination of Grade 450 and Alloy 625 was selected. Before the order was awarded, it was vital to ensure the reel capability of the mechanically clad pipes. Subsea 7 and Butting set up a joint comprehensive programme to develop the technology and demonstrate its suitability. This was accredited last year by independent institutions. These projects will for the first time see the laying of the BuBi pipes by Subsea 7 using the reel-lay process. The mechanically clad pipe was technologically certified by the DNV under DNV RP A-203 for this special use. Production began in Knesebeck in July, and the first pipes are to be delivered in November. H butting GmbH & co KG – Germany info@butting.de www.butting.de

The Guará-Lula NE fields are part of the largest pre-salt oil fields discovered by Petrobras in the Santos basin off the coast of Brazil.

The risers for the production, gas and water supply pipes will be equipped by Subsea 7 from the buoys with BuBi ® pipes and clad pipes from Knesebeck. As the Butting pipes will be used in the

Exploration will take place in the coming years, under extremely technically

Butting will produce more than 84km of clad pipes for the project

Westlake Chemical – operating developments Westlake Chemical Corporation has announced that its North American Pipe Corporation subsidiary has shut down its Springfield, Kentucky PVC pipe production facility in an effort to reduce costs and optimise production operations as a result of excess capacity in the PVC pipe market. The Springfield site is one of the company’s smallest pipe facilities. to negatively impact second quarter 2011 pre-tax earnings by approximately $4mn. insurance recoveries to offset a majority of this impact in future periods. The unit has returned to normal operations. Westlake Chemical Corporation is an international manufacturer and supplier of petrochemicals, polymers and building products, with headquarters in Houston, Texas. The company’s range of products includes ethylene, polyethylene, styrene, propylene, caustic, VCM, PVC resin and PVC building products, including pipe. During the second quarter of 2011 the company’s Lake Charles, Louisiana facility was also negatively impacted by an unscheduled outage caused by a weather-related power supply failure from a third party power provider, resulting in reduced production and repairs at an ethylene unit. The company estimates that the lost production, repair costs and other expenses resulting from this event will lower second quarter 2011 pre-tax earnings by approximately $10mn, but expected proceeds from Westlake chemical corporation – USA www.westlake.com Customers currently being serviced from Springfield will not experience any supply disruption and will now be served through North American Pipe’s other PVC pipe plants. Impairment and shutdown-related costs are expected

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Tube PrOducTs InTernaTIOnal October 2011

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Wolverine Tube exits Chapter 11 Wolverine Tube, Inc, a leader in advanced metal surface technology enhancements for heat transfer solutions, has emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, with effect from 28 June 2011, pursuant to a Plan of Reorganization approved by the US Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. to meet its foreseeable working capital and capital investment needs.”

their support through this reorganisation process,” said Harold M Karp, president and chief operating officer. “Our business plan will focus on improving positive operating income, free cash flow, and strengthening our competitiveness through continuous improvements and new product development. We are well positioned to compete successfully.” Wolverine offers proprietary custom- engineered components that provide a thermal management solution for customers in multiple markets including HVAC, refrigeration and appliance, electronics cooling, power generation, petrochemical and chemical processing.

Under the plan, $139mn of senior secured notes and accrued interest at the petition date has been converted to equity plus a $30mn note. The company’s defined pension plan was terminated and assumed by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) in exchange for 5% equity in the company and a stream of payments over 11 years with a present value of approximately $13mn. The company exits Chapter 11 as a privately held company with its former senior secured noteholders holding a substantial majority of the stock. All old Wolverine common and preferred shares are cancelled.

“As planned, Wolverine maintained its business as usual through the reorganisation process, paid all unsecured creditors in full, and successfully completed the restructuring with significantly reduced debt,” said Steven S Elbaum, chairman of Wolverine. “As a result, Wolverine has a manageable amount of debt, tangible net equity of an estimated $60-$70mn (subject to confirmation of the ‘fresh start’ accounting) and adequate liquidity

“We are very grateful to our employees, customers, suppliers and partners for Wolverine Tube, Inc – USA www.wlv.com Accelerating deployment of metallic water pipeline inspection technologies

said Dave Russell, president of PICA. “Our direct condition assessment services are an integral part of asset management programmes for clients worldwide. Wachs Water Services is currently delivering several of the largest water network renewal projects in North America and their clients will be able to immediately benefit from PICA’s proven metallic pipeline inspection capabilities as well.” “The alliance timing is excellent as PICA recently opened a newoffice inCharlotte, North Carolina,” added Chris Garrett, general manager of PICA USA. “There is a growing demand for our proven pipeline inspection technologies, and this alliance with Wachs Water Services will allow us to further expand our footprint to better service the market.”

segments are still in good shape,” said Cliff Wilson, president of Wachs Water Services. “We are very excited to have established this alliance with PICA, and we continue to build a portfolio of industry leading pipeline inspection technologies to ensure that our clients have the right tool for the job.” PICA technologies can be applied to either distribution or transmission mains, and provide accurate measurements of the remaining wall thickness of the pipeline. The patented technologies travel through the inside of a water main and use an electromagnetic field that can both detect and size graphitisation, pitting, erosion and cracks – even through liners, scale and tuberculation. PICA’s metallic pipeline assessment Hydrasnake™ portfolio offers strong synergies with Wachs Water Services in-line leak detection and pressurised main CCTV offerings, the LDS1000™ and Investigator™. “We are investing in this alliance because we believe that there is a tremendous opportunity for utilities to get ahead of the aging water infrastructure crisis,”

Wachs Water Services and Pipeline Inspection & Condition Analysis Corporation (PICA) have formed a strategic alliance based on a shared vision of helping utilities better manage aging water distribution infrastructure. The alliance will develop and deploy specialised metallic pipeline inspection technology solutions through collaborative R&D, manufacturing and marketing. With an estimated 240,000 water main breaks each year in the US alone, it is becoming critical for utilities to determine the actual condition of metallic water mains to proactively reduce breaks and improve cost effectiveness of water main repair, lining or replacement programmes. The aligned offering of Wachs Water Services and PICA will provide water system operators and owners the ability to extend the reliable life expectancy of water pipelines. “There are many factors that influence the condition of a water pipeline. The trick is to have actual information to determine which segments need to be replaced, which can be lined and which

Wachs Water Services – USA info@wachsws.com www.wachsws.com

Pipeline Inspection & Condition Analysis Corp – Canada

info@picacorp.com www.picacorp.com

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Tube Products International October 2011

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