GLOBAL Pipe Company (GPC), the first manufacturer in the Middle East of line pipes up to 50.8 mm (two inches) wall thickness, plans to ramp up production to 200,000 tonnes at its new state-of-the-art factory at Jubail Industrial City in the first quarter of 2014.

The recently established factory is a joint venture between Erndtebrucker Eisenwerk (EEW) of Germany and its Saudi partners Saudi Steel Pipe Company (SSP), Ahmed Hamed Al Khonaini, and Pan Gulf Holding Company (PGH) with a total investment of more than SR660 million ($176 million).

The sophisticated plant was set up with a view to manufacturing thick-walled steel pipes, targeting mainly the Saudi and other GCC markets, which, until now, have had to import these products, says Al Khonaini, managing director of GPC.

“Our strategic partner EEW is one of the most experienced manufacturers of thick-walled pipe in the world using the very latest equipment and machinery, and the company benefits from having a wide range of agents and distributors all over the world,” he points out.