news
Delfingen expands in India
Delfingen, which supplies the global automotive industry, has opened a new manufacturing facility in India.
The 2,000 sq m plant, in Chennai, will specialise in the manufacture of wiring harness protection, and profiles for seat trim fastening.
Delfingen is also a
manufacturer of fluid transfer tubing. Damien Personeni,
executive vice president of Delfingen, said: “The Indian government’s ‘Make in India’ policy – and its vision to be the third largest automotive market by the end of 2020 – comforts us in pursuing our investments in this strategic region. This plant strengthens our industrial footprint and helps us better serve our Tier 1 customers – both Indian and international.” ❙
www.delfingen.com
Anti-microbial piping cuts water consumption
Riga, a pan-European research project, has developed a micro-irrigation system that has anti-microbial and anti-root properties. The new irrigation system, which uses standard polyole- fins, can deliver cleaner water to crops thanks to its anti- microbial effect. This also helps to cut water use – as there is less need to clean the pipe. The anti-root properties ensure that plant roots do not grow towards the pipe and block it.
Aimplas of Spain, which
co-ordinated the 36-month project, says that the system is cost-competitive with conven- tional systems. “It is cost-competitive, safer
for animals and plants and more environmentally friendly – since toxic substances and herbicides have not been used,” said Aimplas. Pipes and drippers
containing anti-microbial and anti-root additives had
Aimplas says that tubing developed in the Riga project will deliver cleaner water to crops
promising results compared to traditional products, since they ensured a constant flow rate. The presence of the antimicro- bial additive inhibited the growth of fungi inside pipes, with a clear correlation with the increase of the additive concentration.
In this way, the new pipes
ensured a performance and a crop quality comparable to conventional systems, said Aimplas.
A cost analysis showed that
the new product would cost now more than 10% more than a conventional system, said Aimplas.
The six project partners
– from Belgium, Italy and Spain – include: Galloplast, a Spanish masterbatch produc- er; Irritec, an Italian irrigation specialst; and PCG – a Belgian centre for agricultural research. ❙
www.rigaproject.eu
ADS boosts first-half profits despite sales dip
Advanced Drainage Systems (ADS), the US infrastructure pipe manufacturer, saw sales dip in the first half of its financial year. Sales were down 2% to $718m, though the company managed to raise profits by 52%, to $24m. The decrease in sales was
mainly due to a weak domestic construction market and continued poor performance in
6
the domestic – and Mexican – agriculture markets. The profits boost was due to lower raw material costs and good price management, said ADS. Joe Chlapaty, chairman and CEO, said: “We successfully managed our costs and operations amidst soft market conditions. "Despite market conditions,
we were able to improve our gross margins.”
PIPE & PROFILE EXTRUSION | January/February 2017 The company has also
revised downwards its net sales and profits targets for the full year. Net sales are expected to peak at $1.25bn. “The revised guidance is
predicated on the belief that end market performance will be slightly lower than previ- ously expected for fiscal year 2017,” said the company. ❙
www.ads-pipe.com
www.pipeandprofile.com
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