TPi April 2010

news business & market

Automated welding – forging ahead

The company has developed generators and welding heads since 1960, together with the software enabling it to be at the cutting edge of technology. Its innovative equipment combines performance and ergonomics. Another success factor is its international outlook, with 50% in Europe and 85% exported globally. In recent years, emerging countries/regions such as China, India and the countries of Eastern Europe

Polysoude has posted financial results showing a rise from €12mn in 2000 to over €33mn in 2009, and states that its success is the result of continuous forward planning, which can be broken down into a number of key factors.

Welding of a distribution line for ultra pure water in the pharmaceutical industry

Welding head type TS for tube to tubesheet joints

industries, such as the construction of nuclear and conventional power stations. Particular attention is also given to another specific feature: cladding by mechanised welding technology, used in many industrial sectors which are faced with abrasion or oxidation which age tubular structures and their components exponentially when manufactured without the use of this technology.

(including Russia, the Czech Republic and Poland) have played an increasingly decisive part. In these regions Polysoude has become established locally with its own teams. A major change is Polysoude’s focus on mechanised welding with turnkey equipment. Based on the development of a range of generic and modular ‘tools’ (weld torches, motorised slides, wire feeders, etc) combined with numerical control for all applications, Polysoude has become a key partner in many making in response to local market conditions, there will no longer be a role of chief executive officer (CEO) of Europe. Therefore, Rob Marchbank, the holder of this role, is leaving the group and will cease to be an executive director. As a result of this action, the regional managing directors in the principal geographic regions in Europe, namely the UK, France and Nordic regions, will now report to Ian Meakins, group CEO. Steen Weirsoe, managing director of the Nordic Region, and Philippe Gardies, managing director of France, will also join the group executive committee. Arecruitmentprocessforanewmanaging director of the UK is underway. During the transition period Ian Meakins will assume overall operational responsibility for the UK.

Polysoude SAS – France a.husson@polysoude.com www.polysoude.com

Wolseley announces board changes

Interpipe supplies pipes for oil terminal Interpipe, Ukraine, has announced that it has supplied pipes for the building of an oil terminal in the port of Antwerp, Belgium. The volume of pipes supplied amounts to 2,000 tons. The pipes have been produced according to the client’s specific requirements, which included a bead-blasting treatment of pipes for surface condition SA 2.5 and a corrosion-resistant epoxy coating. The new oil terminal will be used for the transfer and storage of mineral oil and oil-loading fleet replenishment tankers.

Wolseley Plc has announced a number of board changes:

Steve Webster is stepping down as chief financial officer (CFO) and as an executive director. He leaves Wolseley following the completion of the £1 billion capital raising in April 2009 and the disposal of Stock Building Supply, which have significantly strengthened the group’s financial position. John Martin will join the company and will succeed Steve Webster as CFO and an executive director of Wolseley Plc, following an effective handover period. He joins Wolseley from Alchemy Partners, where he has been a partner since 2008. He was CFO at Travelex Group between 2006 and 2008, and prior to that spent six years at Hays Plc, a specialist recruitment company, in senior finance positions including three years as CFO.

Interpipe – Ukraine press-office@interpipe.biz www.interpipe.biz

Wolseley UK www.wolseley.co.uk

In order to focus on business unit performance and accelerate decision

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Tube Products International April 2010

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