Pipe and Tubes

Overview

Main Products

• UO pipe and spiral, electric resistance-welded, butt-welded, seamless pipe and tubes

Uses

• Steel pipe and tubes are used in diverse applications by energy-related industries (natural gas and oil pipelines, drilling and pumping equipment at gas and oil well site and electric plant boilers); by the automobile, construction and industrial equipment industries (propeller shafts and equipment cylinders); and by the building construction and civil engineering industries (distribution and general construction pipes for homes, other buildings and civil engineering installations).

Market Trends

Nippon Steel supplies pipe and tubes to customers in many industries, including energy-related, automobile, construction machinery and construction, both building and civil engineering. To meet rising global demand for energy, there are many development and transportation projects currently under way in harsh and remote areas of the world. Further growth is foreseen in demand for high-grade pipes needed to meet the complex requirements of these projects. Rising overseas production by Japanese makers of automobiles and construction machinery is also raising demand for pipe and tubes. Nippon Steel anticipates more growth in orders for highgrade pipe and tubes with the precise combination of strength, formability and other properties for specific components vital to the safe operation of a vehicle or a machine.

Pipe and Tubes of Nippon Steel

Nippon Steel has a fully integrated supply infrastructure that includes development, manufacture and marketing, from materials to finished pipe and tubes. Using these strengths allows us to develop highly sophisticated products that target actual user needs. For example, in a move that put us ahead of competitors, we developed a pipe (X-120) for pipelines that is much stronger than conventional pipes for this application. We plan to begin volume production in March 2008. For the automobile industry, we are stepping up development activities that extend to techniques to make our pipe and tubes easier to use in production processes at customers. This helps our customers to fabricate products that are lighter and more energy efficient. In China and Southeast Asia, we are expanding production activities as automakers and parts suppliers increase local production and procurement activities.