Russian steelmaker TMK, a leading producer of tubular products for the oil and gas industry, has opened a new external coating facility at TMK IPSCO’s Wilder facility in North America today.
The 360kt/yr plant produces pipes of up to 24 inches (609.6 mm) in diameter in fusion bond epoxy (FBE), abrasion resistant overcoat (ARO) and speciality coating.
Coating protects line pipe against corrosion, mechanical damage, and weathering.
The Wilder facility is certified to industry standards, including CSA Z245.20 (Canadian national standards, the most rigorous in North America), NACE SP0394, and AWWA C213, as well as end users’ specific standards, and is claimed to use cutting-edge quality and material inspection equipment.
The launch will expand IPSCO’s line-up of high value-added products and boost line pipe sales in the North American market.
Vyacheslav Popkov, TMK’s senior vice president for manufacturing, commented: “With the new facility, TMK IPSCO’s products will become more reliable and more cost-efficient for consumers. Its strategic location and premium tubular products, now available with special coating, provide our American division with a strong competitive edge which enables further growth.”
The Wilder pipe facility is located in Kentucky near the rich natural gas deposits of the Marcellus Shale formation. The facility is part of TMK IPSCO (TMK’s American division).