Bernadet Gijsbers, Dhatec, the
Netherlands,
discusses how
a new certification
programme has set
new standards in
the industry,
enabling a
proper
selection
procedure
for effective
pipe-end
protection.
T
oday, the supply chain of pipeline projects is
global. Pipes can be manufactured in Japan,
coated in the Middle East and installed onshore
or offshore in Europe. In this global supply chain,
quality loss to the pipe and coating can easily
occur. The pipes are lifted, stored and
transported multiple times before they
are welded together to form a pipeline.
Dutch company Dhatec Line
pipe Logistic Solutions is a
manufacturer and supplier
of high quality products
which enable the flawless
delivery of pipes from its
production mill to the
construction site (Figure 3).
Since 1992, Dhatec
has developed products
that prevent pipes and coating
from quality loss during logistics.
For pipe-end protection, Dhatec
develops and manufactures different
pipe closures and bevel protectors.
In the submarket of the supply chain,
no quality standard is set. With the broad
competition in this field of pipe protection, a
variety of qualities are available. Cost attractive solutions are
often poor quality and fail to protect the pipes effectively during
the whole supply chain. The lack of a founded standard makes it
impossible to establish the quality or poverty of a cap. This makes
the selection of the right pipe-end protection and closure difficult
PROTECTION
P
E
R
F
E
C
T
I
O
N
IN PIPE-END
Figure 1.
Dhatec plug with breathable
membrane. These types of plugs
withstand handling and transportation
vibrations perfectly.
65
