One of the largest Russian pipe producers, Chelyabinsk Tube Rolling Plant (ChTPZ), has announced that the installation of equipment at its new pipe electric-welding workshop, to be specialized in the production of large diameter pipes, is to commence in the month of November of the current year.
The large dimension items of equipment, manufactured by the German plantmaker SMS Meer, have already been delivered to ChTPZ.
The new pipe electric-welding workshop will have two production lines, one for manufacturing pipes of 18 m in length with wall thicknesses up to 38 mm, and the other for pipes of 12 m in length with wall thicknesses up to 48 mm.
ChTPZ's new workshop, which is part of the company's strategy to increase its competitiveness and to expand its market share, will produce single seam large diameter pipes with diameters of 508-1,420 mm, with internal and external coatings.
The new workshop with its capacity of 600,000 mt a year will start production at the end of 2009.
ChTPZ's investment in the project totals about $600 million.