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Vallourec Plans to Expand Plant in China
Aug. 2, 2010 Vallourec has announced plans to expand its V & M Changzhou plant in China. Using new proprietary technology, the expansion will enable the production of 60,000 tonnes of seamless pipes per year to serve the local demand for power plants.
The capital expenditure of this project amounts to €160 million. Operations are expected to begin by mid-2012.
V & M Changzhou, located in Jiangsu province and commissioned in 2006, is a state-of-the-art finishing plant dedicated to large-diameter seamless pipes for power plants. Its current finishing capacity stands at 15,000 tonnes per year. Expansion of the plant will enable the local production of premium tubes specifically designed to meet the needs of the new generation of supercritical and ultra-supercritical power plants.
Vallourec claims that its patented production process consumes 30% less energy per tonne compared to other mills.
The company notes that one-third of new global power generation capacity is expected to be built in China over the next 20 years; therefore, development of more efficient, supercritical and ultra-supercritical coal-fired power plants is necessary to meet China’s plans to reduce CO2 emissions. These power plants operate at extreme temperatures and pressures to increase efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions by 33%, according to Vallourec.
Vallourec is a world leader in premium tubular solutions, primarily serving the energy markets, as well as other industrial applications. With 18,600 employees and a presence in more than 20 countries, the company features integrated manufacturing facilities and advanced R&D.