[ Special Focus ]
[ Special Focus ]
Northwest Pipe selects Chris Pharr as VP / GM of ParkUSA
Northwest Pipe Company has selected Chris Pharr as the new Vice President / General Manager of ParkUSA . Pharr will be responsible for managing the three ParkUSA facilities in Texas that design and build quality water utility and environmental solutions products . Pharr started at Northwest Pipe Company as Vice President Sales - Precast Infrastructure and Engineered Systems and will now provide management of ParkUSA , including manufacturing , safety , product development , engineering , sales and service , team growth , and overall operations .
“ The conversion of the existing natural gas infrastructure to the transportation of hydrogen is an important element of the energy transition . While the threats operators face with natural gas infrastructure are still relevant , there are certain characteristics of hydrogen that may increase the risk of some threats more than others ”, explains Neil Gallon , Principal Engineer at ROSEN . The goal of the research is to consolidate all knowledge into a guidance document to enable pipeline operators and other energy companies to safely introduce hydrogen into their existing natural gas infrastructure . The research report focuses on pipelines and certain associated installations from ( but not including ) the hydrogen production plant up to the customer ’ s inlet valves .
US OCTG producers joins forces voestalpine results dampened in Q3 2023 / 24
In the first three quarters of the 2023 / 24 financial year ( April 1 to December 31 ), weak economic development , particularly in Europe , weighed on voestalpine ’ s earnings . Overall , however , the international steel and technology group benefited from its global positioning and industry diversification . The energy sector developed positively in the first nine months of the current financial year . The Railway Systems division recorded good demand for the first three financial quarters . In the aviation sector , the positive trend continued in the first three quarters . However , the consumer goods and construction and mechanical engineering industries continued to show weak demand . The company ’ s new stainless steel plant in Kapfenberg has been in sole operation since the beginning of 2024 ; the old stainless steel plant was shut down as planned at the end of 2023 . In the new plant , voestalpine produces up to 205,000 t of highperformance materials annually for the automotive , aviation and energy industries , thereby securing around 3,500 jobs in Kapfenberg and Mürzzuschlag .
ROSEN researches gas infrastructure for H2
The ROSEN Group developed a research report commissioned by the Energy Institute to identify current knowledge gaps regarding repurposing natural gas infrastructure for hydrogen . The report is based on a literature review of all ongoing technical work , joint industry projects , and research in this field worldwide .
In a significant step towards securing America ’ s energy future , six prominent US OCTG producers have united under the banner of the US OCTG Producers Alliance ( USOPA ), based in Washington D . C . Founding members include industry giants such as Tenaris in the US , Vallourec Star LP , Borusan Pipe US , PTC Liberty Tubulars , Welded Tube US and Axis Pipe and Tube . The formation of USOPA aims to strengthen the nation ’ s energy security by promoting a robust domestic supply chain for oil country tubular goods ( OCTG ). Luca Zanotti , elected Chairman of USOPA and President of Tenaris in the USA , emphasised the importance of promoting a world-class US OCTG industry . Mr Zanotti emphasized the need to reduce dependence on foreign producers . With 19 facilities in nine states and a combined workforce of approximately 7,500 American employees , USOPA represents a significant portion of US OCTG production , estimated at approximately 75 %.
The connected Pipeshop Showroom
It is now possible to experience innovative turnkey solutions for smart pipe planning and fabrication , firsthand at the newly opened Pipeshop Showroom in Lennestadt , North Rhine- Westphalia , Germany . This permanent exhibition space is a collaborative effort of four partners : Smap3D Plant Design , Pipe Bending Systems , T-Drill and Polysoude . The four partners , known for their expertise in plant engineering , have joined forces in a close partnership to offer an unprecedented turnkey solution for the design and manufacture of pipes and pipelines . The showroom for “ The Connected Pipeshop ” is now open for bookings by appointment , conveniently situated at the headquarters of Pipe Bending Systems in Lennestadt .
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