Ukrainian steel pipe producer Interpipe has announced that it has signed a license agreement with Japanese steelmaker JFE Steel Corporation. According to the agreement, JFE has granted Interpipe license to use its premium connection technology, which has been designed and tested to meet needs for critical well loads.
The license allows Interpipe to produce and sell the full range of OCTG products, including full length casing and tubing pipes plus relevant accessories. JFE has licensed two Interpipe mills, Interpipe NTRP, based in Dnepropetrovsk, and Interpipe Niko Tube, based in Nikopol, as qualified production units. The main focus of the agreement covers Ukraine and CIS countries.
Interpipe’s COO Mauro Longobardo stated that, with this license agreement, Interpipe has expanded its product portfolio and is able to address customer requirements in the most challenging environments. For Interpipe this is a strategic step forward in developing a leading position in the OCTG premium segment, he added.