SMS Meer to deliver world’s largest PQF seamless tube plant to China

On June 30, German plantmaker SMS Meer announced that it has started the delivery of the world's largest PQF® plant (premium quality finishing) for seamless tubes with diameters up to 20" to a Chinese consortium consisting of Tianjin Pipe Corporation (TPCO) and Jiangsu Shagang Group Huaigang Special Steel Company.
 
While the installation of the plant is scheduled to start in August this year at the Huaigan works in Jiangsu Province, production is due to start at the beginning of 2012. The capacity of the new PQF® plant is 500,000 mt of seamless tubes per year. The main customers are the oil and gas industry.
 
SMS Meer project manager Roland Preuten commented, "The project has a signal effect for the whole tube industry. This plant will represent the largest production facility for seamless tubes in China. The maximum diameter of 20" is a record. PQF® seamless tubes are thus breaking into a new performance dimension."