Pipeline News
Market Analysis: March 2011
Stainless Steel Surcharges on domestic pipe have risen significantly over the past 3 months due to escalating nickel prices. From Sept to Dec 304/L jumped $.20 lb. and 316/L by $.30 lb. After a slight decrease in Jan, surcharges jumped right back up in February to $1.45/lb. on 304/L and $2.09/lb. on 316/L. March surcharges will be $1.53/lb. on 304/L and $2.22/lb. on 316/L and April as of this writing are estimated at $1.70/lb on 304/L and $2.43/lb. on 316/L. Also effective March 1st is a brand new base price sheet on stainless steel domestic pipe which represents an additional increase of aproximately 5%.
Nickel , as of Feb 25th 2011, closed on the LME at $12.578/lb., from a...
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Market Analysis: June 2010
↑ Stainless Steel Surcharges continue their upward trend with May moving to $1.38/lb on 304/L and $2.02 on 316/L. This is a 17% increase on 304/L and 15% increase on 316/L. ↑ June Surcharges have just been announced. Look for 304/L to be $1.60 and 316/L at $2.29/lb.
↑ ATI Allegheny earlier announced that prices on stainless strip and coil would increase 6%, effective May 30th. They have since rescinded. It remains to be seen if and when it will be reinstated. ↑ Deliveries on non-stock “A item” SS welded pipe are running 6-10 weeks. Large OD (14” and up) are averaging 14-16 weeks. Mill inventories on stainless welded pipe sizes ½” – 12” remain low due to...
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Valves & Actuators
A New Twist on Ball Valve Innovation – Robert M. Donnelly As seen in Processing Magazine Designs of plastic lined ball valves haven't changed much over the last twenty years. There are still many reduced port valves with high pressure drops, conventional stuffing boxes with packing glands that require perpetual maintenance and non conforming ISO mounting flanges, which makes direct mounting of actuators and accessories impossible. In addition, popular two-piece ball and stem designs lead to hysteresis and accounts for most failures, especially in high-temperature applications. Vibrations and pipe stresses also impact the performance of ball valves. However, all of these problems have been eliminated in a new design of lined ball valves. Swissfluid has created a totally new innovative...
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