Ten Cate Advanced Composites and Airborne Composite Tubulars sign
Memorandum of Understanding
On Wednesday, 2 April 2008, Ten Cate Advanced Composites bv in
Nijverdal (Netherlands) and Airborne Composite Tubulars bv in The
Hague (Netherlands) will sign a Memorandum of Understanding during
the JEC Composites Show in Paris (14.00 hours on Paris Expo, Hall 1,
Stand N30). By doing so, the two parties will ratify their intended
strategic collaboration relating to the development and production of
continuous tubular systems based on thermoplastic composite
materials. These innovative tubular systems will be used primarily in
oil and gas extraction.
Tubulars made of composite materials offer considerable advantages.
For one thing, they provide substantial weight-saving, so that
drilling at greater depths becomes possible; for another, such
systems have a longer lifespan. Other functionalities, such as
sensors, can also be relatively simply built into composite pipe
systems. Composites are to some extent more flexible, which allows
access to areas that are currently difficult to reach. This may be of
particular importance for environmentally vulnerable areas.
Thanks to the recent acquisition of the Phoenixx company (USA),
TenCate has acquired UD (uni-directional) technology, which
represents a major addition to its product portfolio in the field of
composite materials. This is an indication that TenCate is
specifically pursuing new developments for applications in the
aviation industry, and that it also sees new, high-level and
functional areas of application in the oil and gas industry.
TenCate Cetex® thermoplastic composite material will play an
important role in this development and production. Applications for
these tubular systems include coiled tubing for use in boreholes;
lightweight risers (vertical tubulars) for offshore, deep-sea use;
and maintenance-free transport pipelines.
Director Marcus Kremers of Airborne Composite Tubulars: "This
collaboration is extremely important to us, because by deploying our
joint expertise and technologies we will be better able to adapt
thermoplastic composite materials to application in tubular systems.
In addition, this collaboration will provide us with the opportunity
to harmonize the scaling up of the production capacities of both
companies."
Group director Frank Meurs of TenCate Advanced Composites (Europe)
too is enthusiastic: "This partnership will create the opportunity to
combine state-of-the-art material technology with advanced production
technology, thus accelerating the qualification of tubular systems
for the oil and gas market. Moreover, our companies will together be
capable of providing stable supplies to this market."
Royal Ten Cate
Almelo, 1 April 2008
For further information:
F. R. Spaan
Director Corporate Development & Investor Relations
Tel: + 31 546 544 338
Mob: + 31 6 12 96 17 24
e-mail: f.spaan@tencate.com
www.tencate.com
F. J. Meurs
Group director TenCate Advanced Composites Europe
Tel : + 31 548 633 295
Mob : + 31 6 56 17 14 26
e-mail : f.meurs@tencate.com
M. Kremers
Director Airborne Composite Tubulars
Tel : + 31 70 301 74 00
E-mail : m.kremers@airborne.nl
www.airborne.nl
