TUBE 2014
in order to allow for flexible and individual customer deliveries in the future.” Production at the tube mill is scheduled to start in the second half of 2015. Plans for a second phase exist, the construction of a steel mill. The investment for both plants adds up to approximately 900 million dollars.
European debt crisis shapes economic environment The economic environment, itself shaped by the sovereign debt crisis in several euro-zone states, determined the fate of German steel tube makers in 2012. While the year started in a promising way, the economic climate became increasingly challenging as the year went on. The economy cooled down – not just in Europe, but also in most regions outside of Europe. Besides the United States and Japan, this development also hit the larger emerging countries. During the first nine months of 2012, Salzgitter AG was able to maintain total tube shipments at the prior-year level. In the tubes division, increased sales of medium-diameter line pipes compensated for the lower volume of large-diameter pipes. Sales expectations, particularly in the precision tubes business serving the automotive industry, deteriorated significantly during this period. By contrast, other product segments operated mostly at capacity until the end of the year.
As the company further reports, order intake and orders on hand in the large-diameter tubes section fell short of prior-year figures. However, order activity in the HFI- welded tubes segment was above average, especially in the first quarter of 2012, thanks to good international project and core business results. In the precision tubing sector, high demand from the German automotive sector was overshadowed by a much worse situation in western and southern Europe. Similarly, demand from industry and energy- sector customers remained rather subdued. Salzgitter AG anticipates for its tubes division the possibility of temporary periods of capacity underutilisation over the course of 2013 due to the economic environment and the late-cyclical nature of the tubes business. This development might affect the large-diameter pipes segment, in particular. According to the association, European manufacturers approach 2013 cautiously due to continued economic uncertainty. There is hope that government intervention will mitigate the burdens imposed by the financial and sovereign debt crisis in Europe and the U.S. in the medium term. Beyond that, inventory-cycle effects along with an increase in market confidence could favour an increase in steel tube demand in Europa as the year progresses.
Tubing in focus: the Tube 2014 trade fair Every other year Düsseldorf becomes the focus of attention as it hosts the world’s leading trade fair covering all aspects of tubing. Following an extremely successful Tube 2012, the next International Trade Fair for Tubes will once again take place in conjunction with the industry
leading trade fair wire at the Düsseldorf Exhibition Centre from 7 to 11 April 2014. Besides tubes and related accessories, innovative manufacturing and processing technologies and many other aspects will be exhibited at Tube 2014.
More information on Tube 2014
HartmannP@messe-duesseldorf.de
For tubes in top form.
The solution for tubes.
t-industry.de
www.internationalmetaltube.com IMT February/March 2014 17
Visit us: Hall 05 / G34
photo by Messe Duesseldorf
photo by Messe Duesseldorf
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