One of the largest South American pipe producers, Tubrica (Barquisimeto / Venezuela; www.tubrica.com), has invested in the expansion of its polyolefin and PVC pipe production as part of a large scale order from KraussMaffei Berstorff (Hanover / Germany; www.kraussmaffeiberstorff.com). By the middle of 2017, a total of ten lines and two single extruders will be put into operation in the Venezuelan plants of Barquisimeto, Valencia and Maracaibo.

The order includes machines for producing HDPE and PP-R, composite and PVC pipes. Tubrica has a production capacity of 90,000 t/y and mainly supplies customers in the South American construction, infrastructure and agricultural market. "In South America, too, the trend is moving toward using premium-quality products in the construction industry and in the infrastructure area," said Raul Alvarez, owner and president of Tubrica.

The systems for composite pipe production, which are used in the high-pressure range in the oil and gas industry, are going into operation in Maracaibo while the extrusion lines for polyolefin and PVC pipes will be installed at Tubrica's two other sites.