Graebener Inc., the US subsidiary of Gräbener Maschinentechnik GmbH & Co. KG in Germany has received a major order from Borusan Berg Pipe. As part of the comprehensive expansion and upgrade of the US plant in Panama City, the custom machine builder will deliver three high-specialized machines next year: a pre-bending press, a bending press, and a tack welding machine. The awarding of the contract is the highlight of discussions that began back in 2016.
Borusan Berg Pipe is part of the Borusan Pipe, an international manufacturer of steel pipes with headquarters in Türkiye. The company operates several production facilities worldwide, including a plant in Panama City, Florida, which specializes in the production of large-diameter pipes for the energy sector. In order to meet the growing demands of the sector, the Borusan Pipe has made significant investments in upgrading and expanding its production facilities in recent years, while also taking advantage of the upturn in the US line pipe market to strengthen its market leadership.
State-of-the-art pipe forming technologies are to be installed at the Panama City site as part of a total investment of US$68 million. The new plant is scheduled to go into operation in 2027.
Graebener®, a leading supplier of forming technology based in Germany, is providing three state-of-the-art machines, including service and support: a pre-bending press, a bending press, a tack welding machine, and the associated upstream and downstream roller tables and a connecting cross transfer. These machines will significantly expand the plant's production capacity and product range. With the new equipment, longitudinally welded pipes with diameters ranging from 16 to 60 inches and wall thicknesses of up to 2.27 inches can be produced. The large pipes, measuring up to 12.8 meters in length, are used in the oil and gas sector and in the renewable energy industry.
The decision in favor of Graebener® was made after a multi-year quotation phase, in which the medium-sized company ultimately prevailed over a renowned corporation. According to Borusan Berg Pipe, the decisive factors in awarding the contract were not only technical expertise but also the cooperative partnership, flexibility, quick response times, and straightforward communication with the Graebener® team.
Another benefit: Graebener® not only has decades of experience in developing tailor-made special machines for the LSAW market, but also draws on its own expertise in large-diameter pipe production – the company operated its own production plant for large-diameter pipes until 1996.
“After years of discussions we are pleased to select Graebener as our supplier for this very important project investment. Borusan Berg Pipe is dedicated to being the leading supplier of line pipe in the US market and through key relationships we are always planning for today’s market with an eye to the future.” explained Eric Arnold, Director of Procurement at Borusan Berg Pipe. The order marks the first step in the strategic and ongoing development of Borusan's manufacturing presence in the United States. "The awarding of this order is also very important for Graebener as we expand our services in support of our equipment in the US markets. Capitalizing on our previous success supporting US naval shipbuilding we are now entering new markets where we feel our advanced technology will be an important factor in US supply for the domestic market and the world.” stated Frank von der Heyden, Managing Director at Graebener®. The order is also one of the largest in Graebener®'s history.
Graebener Inc., Houston, TX, could not be more pleased to reach this supply agreement as they continue to offer their processing technical expertise and experience as a value-added resource to customers such as Borusan Berg Pipe. “Given my responsibilities of supporting our US manufacturing customers, Borusan Berg embodies the ideal forward-thinking customer, willing to embrace technology advancements with a goal of being the market leader in products supplied, while creating an ideal working environment for their employees. We look forward to this partnership for mutual success.” stated Steve Tesanovich, President and CEO, Graebener Inc.
Being awarded with this contract underlines Graebener®'s position as a reliable partner for major international projects and also strengthens its presence in the North American market.