Editor's Message - Industry thoughts, Statistics and New traffic record Industry News - TPAs Extruding, Drawing, and Tube Reducing Roundtable Product News - Thermatool: First Alpha TRC-3008 Dieset Technical Articles - Körner: New developments in tube pretreatment plants Tube and Pipe People - Maillefer and Conenor into a strategic partnership New TubeNet Members & Renewals - Anupam Metals

About TubeNet Newsletter

It has been a long time since the last TubeNet Newsletter was sent. I have been concentrating mainly to improve TubeNet register. This time the Newsletter is on this PDF-format which - I hope - will make it easier to read. Before the Newsletter was html-based email message, which didn't work properly with all email programs. PDF-format secures that the Newsletter is the same everywhere.

What is happening with EU? Why Referendum

It may be hard words to put on-line, but I will say what I think. I feel that with some countries EU politicians doesn't have enough "balls" to make decisions. Instead they go for a referendum to ask from from people like in France and in the Netherlands. In my mind this will not do any good for the EU. We have seen it already. To me this only sounds that in those cases politicians do not have enough guts to make decisions. Why I said so?

In all EU countries there is so called democracy and parlamentarism. People are voting for the best candidates to make decisions for their behalf. At that time everybody thinks that those selected politicians are representing people who should have better understanding about happenings within political environment than ordinary people. Right? Isin't this what they try to say during elections?

Then comes this kind of harder desicion to make: Constitution of EU. What happends? These selected politicians are throwing the ball back to people to make decision by voting. A Referendum. Question: Why do we elect people in the first place if they are afraid to make the most important decisions? Ordinary people - like me - who don't have interest to follow every aspect within political environment - have given a mandate during elections to the politicians to make decisions fro our behalf. Now they are afraid. In my mind - this sucks.

Statistics updated - New records at TubeNet

I have updated the TubeNet Statistics. Please take a look at: STATS. The trend is growing as it has been all the time. I expect that summer brings some lower figures and fall makes them to increase again.

A new traffic record was made during March 2005. Over 70000 visitors who made over one million hits. This is remarkable figure considering that Tube and Pipe sector is quite narrow. I can still remember well the in the beginning 10 years ago when it was nice to notice first 500 monthly visitors. Today this figure is 140 times more.

Industry thoughts

Some words about machinery sales within tube and pipe industries.

Tube production is doing pretty much okay. Steel prices have gone down, but they still remains in a good level. But machinery sales are not doing that good. Not at all. Especially thinking about countries that used to be on the top of machine manufacturing and sales. Today they are struggling more or less. Why is that?

My thinking is that China has made a huge change for all of this. Once production is being transferred to China, it seems to be difficult to find need for machinery investments. Machines are often found to be too expensive to justify investment. Of course the reason for this is low cost labor.

The second matter is that the East European countries and Russia can also produce cheaper than the West European countries have used to. The result has been like with China: Production has been transferred - and is still transferring - to east. Somehow this has also changed the world of machinery investments within European tube industry.

Of course everybody tries to figure out cheaper manufacturing ways, which - of course - is benchmarking machine manufacturers. The way I see this, is that for machine manufacturers it will be more difficult to survive if the machine is a kind of "universal". The cases that I have gone through during last years have shown that when product is made clearly to special purpose where it does the job extremely well, it has been successful. Therefore, if you - as a machine manufacturer - think that your business segment seems to be well defined at the moment, it is worth thinking to shrink it even more.

Despite all of this, have a nice summer.

Cheers!

Juha Haapala

Tube & Pipe Association, Intl. (TPA) - TPAs Extruding, Drawing, and Tube Reducing Roundtable

Thermatool Corp. - Thermatool: Shanghai Zhong You Tian Bao CFD 1200 Start-Up

Gem Tool Corp. - Gem acquires Lindsay

InterAlloys Piping Supplies - InterAlloys announce name change

Tube & Pipe Association, Intl. (TPA) - 3rd North American Hydroforming Conference & Exhibition

Horn Machine Tools,inc - Horn - Unison Alliance

Otto Junker GmbH - Otto Junker: Latest Furnace Order for Aluminium Tubes

Bronx Taylor Wilson - Bronx Taylor Wilson - 10 Roll Tube Straightener for Taiwan

Horn Machine Tools,inc - Horn Machine Tools, Inc - New CNC Tube Bender

Adpico - Adpicos Ambitious Future Expansion Plans

Van Leeuwen Pipe and Tube Group - Van Leeuwen Buizen awarded contract for Salman Oil and Gas

Steel Business Briefing - Asian price rises help steady the global ship

Sandvik AB - Sandvik: Nomination Committee selected

Steel Business Briefing - Ispat, LNM and ISG merge into Mittal Steel

Van Leeuwen Pipe and Tube Group - Van Leeuwen takes over English precision specialist

Advanced Tubular Technologies - Successful Installation of Wireless Bend Corrections Cell

Rautaruukki Oyj - Rautaruukki adopts the marketing name Ruukki

Thermatool Corp. - Thermatool: First Alpha TRC-3008 Dieset

RSA - Automatic stacking of tubes and sections

Turner Machine Company - Turner develops new range of 10 roll precision straighteners

Tube Tech Machinery Srl - High Performance Solution to Tube Cutting

T-Drill Oy - T-DRILL: New features for S-54 Collaring Machine

ARLA Maschinentechnik GmbH - New Powerful Concentric Workholding Systems for Pipes&Tubes

T-Drill Oy - T-DRILL: New features for cut-off and in-line processing

Kocks (Friedrich Kocks GmbH & Co KG) - Kocks Tube Technology for Seamless Tube Mill in Kazakhstan

Kent/Tesgo - Kent Receives Order for Large Accumulator

Huntingdon Fusion Techniques Limited - Air Products strikes gold with quality tungsten electrodes

Plasma Team Snc - A Plasma Arc Welding equipment for butt-joint welding

Motoman Robotics (UK) Ltd - New Robots and controller from Motoman

Kent/Tesgo - Kent Receives Order for TWO 1,000 FPM Entry Lines

Kent/Tesgo - Kent Corporation Offers In-Line Gauge Control on Tube Mills

Advanced Tubular Technologies - Software to Store MiiC Data on Windows Networks

Orbitec Ltd - Orbitec: Integrated Oxygen meter for Tube & Pipe welding

Airmo Inc., Pressure Technologies - Tube Expansion - Setting the Standard in the Industry

Advanced Tubular Technologies - New SE2Bender Conversion Software

Cutting Systems Inc. - New EDM Fluid

Scan Systems Corporation - PITCO Develops Wall Measuring System Using Total Magnetic Fl

Scan Systems Corporation - Versatile Pipe Inspection Software Developed By PITCO

Kent/Tesgo - Patented Lube Applicator Increases Cut Off Blade Life

Airmo Inc., Pressure Technologies - Airmo Inc. Attracts Users of Larger Tube Size for Endforming

Optical Metrology Centre - Optical Metrology Centre: Laser tool to pipe measurement

Kent/Tesgo - Kent Corp Develops Combination Overlap/Joint Welder

Airmo Inc., Pressure Technologies - Modular Tube Endformer

Roll-Kraft - Roll-Kraft Installs Virtual Mill

data M Software + Engineering GmbH - Simulation of Tube Making Process ; Roll Tool Inspection

UV Process Supply - 3D UV Curing for Pipes and Tubes

Kent/Tesgo - New Accumulator for Non-Marking Applications

	D.I. Fritz Nerat and D.I. Jörg Papak, Körner Chemieanlagenbau GmbH - New developments in tube pretreatment plants
	Brad Jeffery, Contributing Writer, IRMCO - Advanced lubricant technology for high-strength steel
	Torsten Holm, Sören Wiberg, Thomas Mahlo, Rolf Andersson, Linde Gas - Furnace Atmospheres for Tube Annealing
	John Inge Asperheim, Bjørnar Grande, EFD Induction - Factors Influencing Heavy Wall Tube Welding
	Mike Wilson, Managing Director, Meta Vision Systems Ltd - Advamces in Automated Welding
	E. Ceretti, C. Giardini, A. Attanasio, F. Brisotto - FEM Analysis of Rotary Tube Piercing Process
	T-DRILL - Linear Motor technology for chipless tube cut-off

Maillefer SA - Maillefer and Conenor into a strategic partnership

Van Leeuwen Wheeler Ltd - MD appointed to take newly merged business forward

Cole & Swallow Materials Limited - Merger

Roll-Kraft - Roll-Kraft adds personnel

Roll-Kraft - Roll-Kraft appoints representative in Mexico

Aristo Machines Inc - Aristo Announces New Personnel

FMA Foundation - FMA Foundation Announces 2004-2005 Board of Directors

Anupam Metals (India) Exporters Of Stainless Steel Pipes,Sheets,Rods,Flanges Etc., India

Good Aim Industries Sdn. Bhd. Manufacturers of stainless steel product, Malaysia

wWv Waermeverwertung Filter, Strainer, Spectacle Blinds/Spacers, Austria

Shanghai Want Industry Co., Ltd Biggest Manufacturer for S.S. Pipe and Fittings in China, China

Mittal Steel Ostrava a.s. Seamless OCTG, Line Pipe and spiral weld pipes, Czech Republic

Magnetic Analysis Corporation eddy current, ultrasonic, flux leakage NDT systems, NY, USA

Bhandari Foils & Tubes Ltd. CRSS Tubes & Pipes, Fabricated Pipes & CRSS Coils & Foils, India

Gao Xin Zhangtong LLC Copper & Alloy Tube Specialist, China

Interalloys (Midlands) Seamless and welded tube and pipe, fittings,flanges, UK

Unison Ltd./ Unison North America All Electric Tube and Pipe Benders and Turnkey Work Cells, CT, USA

Shanxi King metals forgings & castings Co Ltd Valves,Flanges & Fittings, China

Cagil Makina A.S. SWP Manufacturing & Finishing machinery., Turkey

T-Drill Oy Automatic Chipless Rotary cut-off machines, Finland

BLM GROUP USA Corporation CNC Benders, Endformers, Cold Saws, Laser Tube Cutting, MI, USA

Keonwoo Metals Co., Ltd. A691 P11/P22, A671/A672 B(C)5070, API 5L X5280 and API 2B, South Korea

Plymouth Tube Company Special shape tubing, IL, USA

Outsource International Stockist of Stainless & Alloy Steel Fittings, Netherlands

RiddhiSiddhi Enterprises Carbon/Alloy & Stainless Steel Seamless & Welded Pipes, India

TK-Fittings GmbH Stainless steel pipes, fittings, flanges, nickel alloys ..., Germany

Borger Gmbh Tools/systems for longitudinally welded tubes, Germany

Van Leeuwen Precisie Bv Carbon precision tubes,welded,seamless,hydraulic, Netherlands

Turner Machine Company Tube, Bar and Section straightening machines., OH, USA

Emmedi S.p.A. Equipment for tube welding and full body annealing, Italy

Emmedi S.p.A. Equipment for tube welding, Italy

Galaxie Corporation Dealer in used tube equipment, MI, USA

Schwarze-Robitec GmbH Tube and pipe benders, Germany

Bronx Taylor Wilson Tube Straighteners & Complete Finishing Solutions, UK

Daeyang P&T Welded carbon steel pipe and tubes, South Korea

Serconsult Engineering New and used tube and pipe mill, complete lines, Italy

Reiner - Rohre International Seamless steel casing and tubing acc. API 5CT, Germany

NEW PNH ( COPPER ) LTD. Specialized in copper/Brass tube and pipe(non-ferrous metal), China

Sicom Italia Srl Package supplies of steel pipes, fittings, flanges & valves, Italy

DBD Automazioni s.r.l. Rotomax: Rotary tube cutting machine, Italy

TPS-Technitube Heat exchanger & Condencer tubes. U-tubes, Germany

RL Custom Machine Ltd. Dedicated power and hand benders, Canada

Unified Alloys Supplier of Stainless Steel PVF, Canada

Airmo Inc., Pressure Technologies Endforming, Test Equip., Hydroform Mach. & Tooling, Swagers., MN, USA

Cole Tubes Limited Manufacture of special release & non-standard tube & pipe, United Kingdom

Cole Tubes Limited pure aluminium & alloy drawn seamless or porthole tube, UK

Gem Tool Corporation ID OD scarfing inserts, WI, USA

Santrade Ltd. Stainless steel fittings & flanges up to 24" from stock., Netherlands

Addison-McKee CNC Tube bending, Endforming machines and Tube Inspection machines, UK

Thermoclad Supplier of O.D. Coatings to Tube Mills around the world, PA, USA

Southern Engineering & Automation Tube End Forming - high speed servo-controlled machinery, FL, USA

Euromaquina Second hand machinery for Tube Industry needs, Spain

Serconsult S.r.l. Automatic chipless rotary cut-off machines, Italy

Milltech Co., Ltd. Pipe Mill Manufacturer ERW / API 8" - 25", South Korea

Qingdao Eathu Casting and Forging Co., Ltd. Supply pipeline products, casting and forging products, China

Cartacci S.r.l. Computer controlled mechanised straightening machines, Italy

Cartacci S.r.l. Single, double and triple tubes cold drawing benches, Italy

True Temper Sports, Inc. Steel golf shaft and bike tubing manufacturer, TN, USA

MATFOR S.A. Stockist of tubulars and drilling equipment, France

E. Buker Rohrteknik GmbH Pipe endforming machines, Germany

Eksen Group - Metals And Steel Division Large dia. steel pipe supplier; welded and Seamless for Line, Turkey

Van Der Molen Machines Largest stock of used Tube Bending Machines in Europe, Netherlands

Thermatool Corp. Welding, heating, cutting and bundling equipment., CT, USA

Thermatool Corp. Welding, heating, cutting and bundling equipment., CT, USA

Horn Machine Tools,inc Tube benders, new and rebuilt, control retrofits, CA, USA

Sosta B.V. manufacturer of welded stainless steel pipes, Netherlands

Sosta B.V. manufacturer of welded stainless steel pipes, Netherlands

Sycamore Guild Asia Pte. Ltd Specializes in Steel Tubes/Pipes Production Machinery, Singapore

Engineering Technologies & Manufacturing Ltd Manufacturers of tube manipulantion and end form tooling, United Kingdom

Jiangsu Yatal Aluminium Co.,Ltd. Aluminium tubing for automotive industries, China

Sun Suministros Industriales y Servicios S.l. Stainless and carbon steel, Spain

Sun Suministros Industriales y Servicios S.l. Stainless and carbon steel, Spain

Siekmann Energy & Technics Manufacturer off fittings frm. 1/2'' up to 36", Netherlands

T-Drill Oy Automatic Chipless Rotary cut-off machines, Finland

Camtek SolidCut Multi-axis Laser programming CADCAM System, United Kingdom

Quasar Industries Services can be performed in as little as 24 hours., MI, USA

Eaton Leonard Manufacturers CNC tube and wire benders, and tube measuring, CA, USA

Bossi s.r.l. Grinding,polishing and lapping machines for tubes, Italy

Shekasa Engineering Company Pvt.ltd. We manufacture stainless steel pipes and tubes., India

Universal Tube & Rollform Equipment Corporation Used Tube & Pipe Mills, bought & sold worldwide, OH, USA

Tubular Solutions Inc. A complete source for tube fabricating equipment, OH, USA

Scomark pipefittings international ltd Seamless pipe fitting manufacturer, United Kingdom

Weatherford Oil Tool GmbH Coupling Application Machines / Bucking Machines, Germany

Nusco Co., Ltd. Cut to length control system integrator., Japan

AN Motorsport Design Fluid System Design and manufacture for Motorsport Industry, UK

Tubetech Pte Ltd Supplier and stockist of OCTG (Casing & Tubing), Singapore

Swagemaster Engineering Services LTD manufactures & stockist of pipe fittings,forgings &flanges, UK

EFD Induction a.s Supplier of Solid State HF Welders & Annealing Systems, Norway

Petroleum Pipe Company Limited Steel casing, tubing & line pipe to API 5CT & API 5L specs, UK

Petroleum Pipe Middle East Steel casing, tubing and line pipe, both ERW and seamless, United Arab Emirates

data M Software + Engineering GmbH Software + services for tube mill roll design and quality, Germany

Gemini Steel Tubes Ltd Precision ERW & Cold Drawn Welded (CDW) Steel Tubes, India

P.A.Inc. Pipe, fittings and flanges in 200/201, 400, 600,601,625, 800, TX, USA

B.A. Components Ltd Stainless Steel Tube fitting manufacturers, UK

Hansol Metal co.,ltd Large Dia/Heavy Wall Tube API 5L and 2B, South Korea

Marcegaglia Spa - Engineering Division Plant for the production of SW small diameter tubes, Italy

Shandong Flying Casting and forging co., Ltd supplier of plumbing products,fittings, valves, flanges,, China

Thermatool Corp. Welding, heating, cutting and bundling equipment., CT, USA

Weifang East Steel Pipe Co.,Ltd. One of the Leading manufacturer of ERW steel pipe, China

Kent/ Tesgo, Inc. Burrmaster - Tube End finishing - Brush deburring, OH, USA

Kent/Tesgo Uncoiling, Endwelding & Accumulating, OH, USA

Kent/Tesgo Uncoiling, End welding and Accumulating systems, OH, USA

Yoder - Formtek Metal Forming, Inc. Tube Mill Systems, Equipment and Tooling, OH, USA

Multimetals India's largest producers of cupro nickel tube, India

Multimetals India's largest producers of brass tube, India

Multimetals Limited Seamless copper brass and cupro nickel tubing, India

IMD bv supplier of stainles steel and copper tubing, Netherlands

T-Drill Oy Spinners and flanging machines, Finland

Machinery Plant Services Agent for Nissin Tube Benders, UK

Sanwa Kokan Co., Ltd. Manufacturer of cold drawn seamless & ERW steel pipes, Japan

Airmo Inc., Pressure Technologies Endforming, Test Equip., Hydroform Mach. & Tooling, Swagers, MN, USA

Gem Tool Corp. Scarfing Tools. OD Rotary,SPUB,ID inserts & tools, WI, USA

Kent/Tesgo Uncoiling, End welding & Accumulating systems, OH, USA

Coil Joining Technologies Automatic coil end joiners, OH, USA

Handy & Harman Tube Company Small diameter seamless stainless steel tubing, PA, USA

Standard Metallwerke GmbH Manufacturer of wide range of aluminium tubing, Germany

Standard Metallwerke GmbH Manufacturer of wide range of aluminium tubing, Germany

Intamet Limited Widest range of stainless steel tubes and pipes from stock, UK

Doltec Limited CyberDrive Tube Mill drive system, UK

Sanwa Kokan Co., Ltd. Manufacturer of cold drawn steel tubes & pipes, Japan

Sanwa Kokan Co., Ltd. Manufacturer of cold drawn steel tubes & pipes, Japan

VAI Seuthe GmbH Tube Mills, Germany

T-Drill Oy Tube branching (joints), Finland

Loeser Gmbh Grinding polishing deburring finishing machines, Germany

T-Drill Oy Automatic Chipless Rotary cut-off machines, Finland

Parliament Steel (Tubes) Limited Mild steel ERW, UK

Somass Design Office for Rollform Tools, Germany

Petroleum Pipe Company Limited Casing, tubing & line pipe to API 5CT & API 5L, UK

Serconsult Eng. Salvagnini Line S4+P4 available for sale, Italy