Leading steel pipe and wheel producer Interpipe has today announced its plans to increase production of tubing with upset ends in accordance with API 5CT / GOST 633 at its Interpipe Niko Tube facility. The project will see the installation of new equipment for wet magnetic inspection of pipe ends provided by Czech companies PTS Josef Solnar and Prestar. The enhancement, which is already underway, is being overseen by Starokramatorsk engineering. As part of this project, Interpipe is also replacing its straightening press on its heat treatment line with new equipment that will be provided by British firm Bronx Tailor Willson.
In announcing the enhancements to production facilities, Interpipe Director for Production and Investments Andrey Korotkov confirmed:
"This step in our investment programme gives Interpipe new capability to produce 88.9mm pipes as well as pipes of higher durability with a broader range of applications".
Completion of the upgrade to production lines toward the end of 2007 will see line capacity increase to 36,000 tons per year. The total production capacity of tubing with upset ends at Interpipe Niko Tube facility will be 62,000 tons per year after completion of this investment project.
Background information on INTERPIPE
INTERPIPE is a global producer of steel pipes and wheels, one of the fastest growing producers in Eastern and Central Europe. With annual turnover in excess of $1.4bn, INTERPIPE produces 2 per cent of the world's seamless pipes and 12.8 per cent of railway wheels. INTERPIPE has a rapidly growing global business in 76 countries around the world and a network of sales offices in Russia, Kazakhstan, Europe and the USA. In 2007 Interpipe opened a representative office in the Middle East.
Interpipe's key market is the oil and gas industry. In 2006, approximately 65% of Interpipe's revenues from the pipe segment were derived from sales to customers operating in the oil and gas industry. In 2006, around 78% of Interpipe's revenues in the pipe segment were derived from sales of seamless pipe products. According to 2006 results Interpipe is the ninth largest producer of seamless pipes worldwide, the third largest producer of seamless pipes in the CIS region and the largest producer in Ukraine.
1 210,3 ths. tons of steel pipes and 216,8 ths. tons of railway wheels were produced at Interpipe's mills in 2006. In sales structure by pipe products, pipes for oil and gas industry make up nearly 59%; pipes for industrial application around 38% and approximately 3% - mechanical. Products are in compliance with API 5CT, API 5L, EN (DIN), ASTM, GOST and customer specifications. Quality management system is in compliance with ISO 9001, API Spec Q1. Company mills have ISO 14001 certification.
The company's industrial assets are based at four Ukrainian mills in the Dnepropetrovsk region.
In March 2007 Interpipe signed a contract to build a 1.3 mil ton turn key electric steel melting plant.
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© Press Release 2007
