T-Time 3, 2013

NO. 3-2013A magazine from Trelleborg Group. Solutions that seal, damp and protect critical applications.

The sugarcane challengeSturdy tire beats the stubble

Adam Hassan

“ Digital services dramatically boost the service experience”

Easy drainage No-dig pipe renovations revolutionize drain maintenance

Sealing solutions beyond standardsAfter six decades of serving as a critical partner to aircraft manufacturers, Trelleborg now aims

TRELLEBORG AND the aerospace industry have been partners for more than 65 years.

Over that time the relationship has evolved from Trelleborg supplying polymer seals and fairings, to the company becoming a fully fledged co-designer of some of the world’s most advanced airliners. Aerospace is one of numerous industries where Trelleborg has become an application expert combined with close integration with customers.

Polytetrafluoroethylene, or PTFE, is an example of a polymer with many complex properties and its benefits extend far beyond the aerospace industry. Industries throughout the world enjoy the benefits of PTFE with applications varying from offshore oil & gas valves subsea to the hydraulics of backhoes and tractors. What’s more, the sky is not necessarily the limit for Trelleborg. Vehicles using Trelleborg seals can even be found on Mars. Read

more about Trelleborg’s role in the sky in this issue of T-Time and on www.trelleborg.com.

Enjoy your reading!

Peter NilssonPresident and ceo

SEALS FOR THE FINAL FRONTIERThey follow the strictest quality regimes of all. Meet the team aiming beyond 33.000 feet.

THE PLACE OF GOLDJohannesburg, South Africa’s largest city, offers a variety of food, shopping and natural sights.

SURMOUNTING THE STUBBLEThanks to sturdy design, Trelleborg’s TM800 tire copes efficiently with harsh sugarcane stubble.

A TIGHTLY SEALED RELATIONSHIP High-quality seals for use in the iron and steel industries have kept Trelleborg and Clayton Walker in partnership for 30 years.

06101214

Case page 18 People & Trends page 19 News/Update page 22

IN EACH ISSUE

Responsible under Swedish Press Law: Patrik Romberg

[email protected] Editor-in-chief: Karin Larsson [email protected] Co-editors: Rosman Jahja

[email protected] Guinivan

[email protected]: Appelberg Publishing

Project manager: Hannah KirsebomEditor: Petra Lodén

Language coordinator: Maggie Hård af Segerstad

Art directors: Johan Nohr, Kristin PäevaPrinting: Trydells Tryckeri Cover photo: Martin Olson

Subscription: trelleborg.com/subscribeAddress: Trelleborg ab (publ)

Box 153, se-231 22 Trelleborg, SwedenTel: +46 (0)410-670 00 Fax: +46 (0)410-427 63

www.facebook.com/trelleborggroupwww.twitter.com/trelleborggroup

www.youtube.com/trelleborg www.trelleborg.com

T-Time is published three times a year. The opinions expressed in this publication

are those of the author or people inter-viewed and do not necessarily reflect the

views of Trelleborg.

If you have any questions about Trelleborg or wish to send us your

comments about T-Time, please email: [email protected]

12

CONTENTS 3-2013

6

2 T·TIME 3·2013

C H

T·TIME 3·2013

EDGE [CCCC]

TEXT: JILL ZHANG & JAN HÖKERBERG PHOTOS: CCCC & TRELLEBORG

SEALING THE DEAL

Water tightness is key to the island and tunnel project of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge.

Trelleborg will ensure that 33 tunnel sections remain safe at deep-sea depths of up to 40 metres. Macau

Hong Kong

As a combination of bridge, tunnel and artificial island, the 49.9-kilometer HZMB is a mega-link between Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macau.

I NA

3

4 XXX

ince the official start of the island and tunnel pro-ject of the Hong K o n g - Z h u h a i -Macau b r idge (HZMB) joint venture of China Communications

Construction Co Ltd (CCCC) in 2009, work has not stopped for engineers and other staff, such as Lin Ming, General Project Manager and Chief Engineer.

Zhuhai, in Guangdong province, China, stands on the west bank of Pearl River Delta (PRD), which feeds into the South China Sea. It borders Macau and faces Hong Kong on the other side of the delta.

Lin has worked for more than 30 years on a variety of construction projects for CCCC. Nevertheless, the difficulties and risks involved in this project are unprecedented for Lin and his colleagues.

As a combination of bridge, tunnel and artificial island, the 49.9 kilometer HZMB is a mega-link between Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macau. The island and tunnel project, overseen by the CCCC joint venture, is a critical part of the overall construction work, and involves some of the most difficult to construct immersed tunnel in the world – and two artificial islands.

THE PROJECT HAS been divided into four phases. The two artificial islands were built during the first phase. The second phase involved the construction and installation of the first tunnel section, which was completed in May 2013. The third phase involves installing the remaining 32 tunnel sections. This will be the most difficult and time-consuming phase, and will take around three years. The fourth phase will involve engineering work inside the tunnel, as well as some construction work on the artificial islands.

“The duration of the contract for the island and tunnel project is six years. At present, we’ve finished installing the first two tunnel sections, using half of

the duration of the contract. The first two are 112.5 meters in length and

weigh 50,000 tonnes respectively while, from the third one on, the tunnels are 180-meter-long and weigh 80,000 tonnes,” says Lin.

“Relatively speaking, the installation of the first two tunnel sections has inaugurated the overall project. Given that we were working on the open sea and the high risk involved, we spent two years studying complex marine issues, preparing for the installation,” Lin says. “We’ve done a great job in terms of the installation of the first two, and until now, everything has gone as planned.”

THE EXPECTED SERVICE life of the HZMB is 120 years, and it’s designed to withstand a magnitude-8 earthquake. As a result, the tunnel sections need to remain watertight for 120 years. Water tightness is integral to the immersed tunnel, and requires high-quality sealing products. Therefore, the Project Management Department organized an international bidding for the tender.

“ We spent two years studying complex marine issues, preparing for the installation”Lin Ming, China Communications Construction Co Ltd

SS

4 T·TIME 3·2013

5XXX

According to Lin, the competition was stiff, with several well-known suppliers of sealing solutions dropping out due to the highly specific technical standards required and a lack of appropriate experience. Trelleborg won the bid, becoming the sole supplier of sealing solutions for the immersed tunnel, with the Project Management Department taking a variety of factors into consideration, such as product performance, product design and corporate performance. The products ordered included Gina gaskets, Omega seals, waterstops and a variety of sealing accessories.

“Many suppliers don’t really understand the project, and they can only deliver products,” says Lin. “The island and tunnel project is sophisticated and risky. We can’t allow imperfect sealing products to ruin the entire project. Trelleborg are very cooperative. They identify our needs, conduct experiments based on their own experience and expertise and then explain the principles involved for us. Their professionalism and creativeness are demonstrated by reliable communication as well as full support.”

The order placed by the Project Management Department is Trelleborg’s biggest ever in terms of tunnel infrastructure business. According to Lin, the project will expand Trelleborg’s brand influence and strengthen its lead in the industry.

“As a business partner, we are very happy with our relationship with Trelleborg,” Lin says. “We believe the sealing products will continue to satisfy our demands in the following installations as long as we’re working with Trelleborg. It’s an unparalleled feat for us to undertake an offshore engineering project of this scope relying on our own capabilities. Thankfully, we are working with Trelleborg, a reliable partner, to achieve mutual trust and benefits.”

Local production The four types of sealing products used in the HZMB immersed tunnel were designed and manufactured by Trelleborg Offshore & Construction’s infrastructure operation. Two of them were produced at the Trelleborg’s facility in Qingdao, China. “We take pride in cooperating with CCCC on the HZMB island and tunnel project. Trelleborg can offer a total sealing system, with its design and production capabilities. At the Qingdao facility, we have been able to manufacture some sealing products that satisfy customers’ requirements of product quality, transportation and cost,” says Jackie Huang, Managing Director of the infrastructure operation of Trelleborg Offshore & Construction in Qingdao. The other seals were produced at Trelleborg’s manufacturing facility in the Netherlands.

Trelleborg’s seal makes sure the tunnel remains watertight. Once a tunnel section is connected to the next, the partition wall is removed.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

[email protected]

5T·TIME 3·2013

6 XXX

IN 1903, ORVILLE WRIGHT took to the sky in the world’s first powered airplane, and aviation was born. Now there is a passenger and freight aircraft fleet of over 16,000 and this is predicted to double by 2032, equating to a new plane build of 4.4 trillion USD over the next twenty years.*

As the aerospace industry rapidly developed, it needed quality suppliers to support it, and Trelleborg was there. For more than 65 years, Trelleborg has partnered with aircraft manufacturers in design of systems containing its seals, bearings and air frame components, as well as evacuation slides. Boasting the number one position globally in seals, Trelleborg Sealing Solutions features in all major platforms worldwide.

“Every time you board an aircraft it will probably contain numerous Trelleborg solutions,” says Torben Andersen, Director Aerospace Segment Marketing. “Quality, reliable solutions are mandatory as safety is critical in aircraft production. Our solutions feature in various areas of the plane, such as the landing gear which takes extreme stress especially when taking off and landing. In such applications, failure is not an option.”

System and functional quality requirements within Trelleborg’s facilities that focus on the aerospace industry, such as the production site in Tewkesbury, England, follow

EXPERTISE

SEALS

THE SKYThere is hardly an aircraft in the world that takes off without some advanced Trelleborg solutions on board. For more than six decades, Trelleborg has been a critical partner to aircraft manufacturers and is today a fully-fl edged co-designer of some of the world’s most advanced airliner systems.TEXT: DONNA GUINIVAN AND JAN TAZELAAR PHOTO: MARTIN OLSON

some of the most demanding quality regimes of all.

“ISO9001:2008 is an important quality standard but in the aerospace industry, as consequences of failure are high, suppliers need to go beyond that,” says, Chris Busby, Aerospace Product Manager at Tewkesbury.

All Trelleborg facilities supplying to the aerospace industry possess the coveted AS EN9100 accreditation.

Continues Busby, “More stringent than the ISO standard, AS EN9100 focuses on business and product risk, documentation and full product traceability requirements.

“When we receive an aerospace order, we specifically look at how we handle documentation and batch traceability. That may include special part marking or bag & tag, where every individual seal supplied is bagged separately with its own numbering and documentation. In the unlikely event of a sealing issue, manufacturing can be traced back to the exact second of production, the machine the part was produced on, the operator and the rest of the batch identified.”

TRELLEBORG WAS THE first to work with polytetra-fluoroethylene (PTFE) as a material for sealing and its Turcon compounds and proprietary seal designs have become a standard for others to follow. In the aerospace industry, the low friction characteristics of Turcon, wide operating temperature range and resistance to lubricants, make it ideal for hydraulic systems.

“Hydraulic systems are used throughout the plane, in controls, brakes, suspension and landing gears; all the control surfaces on the wings and tail of larger planes are hydraulically actuated,” continues Andersen. “These

in

6 T·TIME 3·2013

*AIRBUS GLOBAL MARKET FORECAST 2013-2032

7XXX

Trelleborg has been a supplier of polymer solu-tions onboard aircraft for decades. Elastomers are mainly used for airframe seals, O-Rings and cus-tom-designed engineered molded parts, while pol-ytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) based products are indispensable in slide bearings and seals for hydraulic systems.

Advanced polymer solutions

7T·TIME 3·2013

8 T·TIME 3·2013

EXPERTISE

on Aviation Day earlier this year, said that the country’s airports would be handling 336 million domestic and 85 million international passengers with projected investment to the tune of 120 billion USD by 2020.

“This is where our globality is vital to our customers,” continues Busby. “Trelleborg has 10 facilities capable of producing seals, bearings and airframe solutions around the world that can offer products to the same standards, drawings and quality regimes. More importantly, where ever the components are manufactured, engineering support is local. One of our U.S. customers, for example, may transfer production of a system to India. We will support design and development in the U.S. and be on hand to support on the production line or in assembly in India.”

“ The industry is requiring ever-extended life-spans and longer maintenance intervals of the actuators” Torben Andersen, Trelleborg

At the center for excellence in Helsingør, Denmark, the design and development of Turcon seals for most airliners in the world takes place. Lars Holm and Lars Bredahl Hansen are two of the employees.

systems require a large number of seals as in most of them there is a configuration of seals, combining different types to exclude media, keep lubricants in and create a back-pumping effect for greater efficiency.”

The center for excellence for PTFE-based sealing technology is in Helsingør, Denmark where the design and development of Turcon seals for most airliners in the world takes place. Here, and in other Trelleborg PTFE manufacturing sites globally, Turcon is molded into annular or tubular shapes, carefully heated and cooled in a controlled process and subsequently machined to extremely tight tolerances.

“A new airliner takes some five years to develop. Nowadays we are part of the design teams of most major aircraft builders right from the first drawings,” Andersen says. “Who we are working with and where we are working with them is changing. The big manufacturers, such as Airbus and Boeing – to name just two – are becoming increasingly global as manufacturing adapts to new passenger trends. The U.S. and Europe used to be where most flights were made to and from but that will not necessarily be the case in the future.”

ASIA IS PREDICTED to see the biggest growth over the next 20 years. Airbus estimates that Indian air traffic growth, at 9.8 percent, will be the highest in the world, even higher than China at 7.2 percent. The Minister for Civil Aviation, Shri Ajit Singh, speaking at a function

9T·TIME 3·2013

The long-term close relationship between Trelleborg and its aerospace customers means that it keeps abreast of the latest technology developments and meets the sealing and bearing challenges they may present.

ANDERSEN GIVES AN example of Fly-by-wire. “This is a fairly recent development in aircraft design. With this technology, aircraft are controlled not directly by the pilot but rather by onboard computers, dramatically increasing the number of movements of the actuators in flight, meaning that the hydraulics of the control surfaces work much harder than before.

“At the same time, the industry requires ever-extended lifespans and longer maintenance intervals of the actuators.

Traditionally, the seals in actuator hydraulics had a service life of 1,500 hours, but thanks to ongoing developments in the manufacture of our bearings and seals, Trelleborg can now guarantee a service life of 85,000 hours for the actuator seals on a Boeing 787 and even 100,000 for those on the new Airbus A350.”

Busby points to where advanced elastomers are making a contribution. “Fuel is the second-largest cost of airlines, so ever-leaner engines are a top priority for all aircraft builders and their clients. Generally speaking, the higher an engine’s operating temperature, the more efficiently it runs. And, as temperatures and pressures go up, so do the demands made on all the materials involved.

“Trelleborg’s Isolast is a perfluoroelastomer material combining the chemical inertness of a PTFE with the flexibility of an elastomer. It is used for seals on the plane’s gearbox and bearing chamber in an increasing number of jet engines around the world because of its unrivaled stability at high temperatures, coupled with a greater resistance to high thermo-oxidative stability gas turbine lubricating oils.”

How about the space in aerospace? Does Trelleborg also contribute to the conquest of the Final Frontier? “Compared with our role in civil aviation,” says Andersen, “our deliveries to space programs at this point are quite small – but there are some vehicles with our seals roving around on Mars right now!”

LEFT: A digital micrometer is used to measure the size of a PTFE part.

ABOVE, RIGHT: Torben Andersen and his co-workers are part of the design teams of most major aircraft builders right from the first drawings.


[email protected]

JOHANNESBURG WAS founded in 1886 after gold was discovered on the site, and the city grew rapidly, attracting foreigners who made fortunes in this “place of gold.”

In addition to mining, today, financial and business services dominate. Generating 16 percent of the country’s GDP and employing 12 percent of the national workforce, Johannesburg is the economic powerhouse of South Africa. With a population of 4.5 million (extending to more than 10 million in the greater metropolitan area), Johannesburg is the largest city in South Africa and one of the 50 largest metropolitan areas in the world.

Economic activities continue to attract people to the city, but it’s the natural setting and the pleasant climate that make them want to

GLOBAL LOCAL [JOHANNESBURG]

TRELLEBORG IN SOUTH AFRICATrelleborg has offices in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town, providing local sales and engineering support. Trelleborg mainly supplies industrial and agricultural tires to OEMs, local tire dealers and end users for use in construction, forklifts and farming as well as marine systems and seals for industrial applications .

BUSTLING JOBURGTh e locals aff ectionately call Johannesburg by many names, such as Joburg, Jozi, Mzansi and Egoli – meaning “place of gold” – a name that perfectly character-izes this South African gem.

stay. Built at nearly 2,000 meters above sea level, the city enjoys mild temperatures and numerous sunny days, even during the winter months.

City residents speak some 11 different official languages, including Zulu, Sotho, Xhosa and Afrikaans. English is the official business language and is commonly spoken, yet not quite one-tenth of Johannesburg residents speak it at home.

Visitors who want to find out more about the city and South African history can begin at the Apartheid Museum. Opened in 2001, the museum delves into South Africa’s history of apartheid. The Nelson Mandela National Museum, housed in Mandela’s former home in Soweto, takes visitors through the long walk to freedom for the former political prisoner who became president of South Africa.

TEXT: CARI SIMMONS PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

HOME SWEET HOME

Although it is around 400 kilometers from Johannesburg, most agree that a visit to the Kruger National Park is a must for any visitor to the area. Getting to the park takes some planning, but there are a variety of day trips and safari options to choose from. It’s worth it just to see Africa’s “big five” – rhino, elephant, leopard, lion and Cape buffalo – in their native environment. If time is limited, the 81-hectare Johannesburg Zoo is another great choice, with its more than 320 species of animals, among them several endangered species and some of Africa’s fiercest animals, such as the Nile crocodile and the African hippo.

Joburgers do like to shop, and there are plenty of modern shopping malls as well as colorful markets, among them the Rosebank Rooftop Market, the Bryanston Organic & Natural Market, the Zasekhaya Market and the Market Theatre Flea Market.

These, selling locally made handicrafts and fresh produce, are great places for browsing, picking up souvenirs and tasting local food.

In terms of local food, boerewors (meat sausages), corn porridges, curries and beans are some traditional favorites. On the sweet side of things, koeksisters (plaited dough cakes that are sweet, syrupy and sticky) are an Afrikaner specialty. They can be washed down with the South African herbal tea, rooibos, which means “red bush” in Afrikaans. For something stronger, there are many world-renowned South African wines or sorghum-based beer, a local favorite.

Tourists have plenty to discover in Johannesburg, but are warned to be cautious after dark and to avoid walking in unfamiliar areas or using public transport. If you decide to do your own driving, be prepared for traffic jams and remember to keep to the left-hand side of the road!

Johannesburg

Hawa Adams, national credit manager and internal auditor at Trelleborg in South Africa, grew up in Johannesburg and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.

What do you like about Johannesburg?It is a joyful, beautiful and friendly city where we have everything we need and the best climate in the world. We have different cultures, all kinds of cuisines, warm-hearted people and fantastic natural sights. We’re blessed with sunny skies in the summer and winters that are not too cold. I love waking up early in the morning to the sound of birds. It makes me feel happy right away!

What are your favorite activities in the city? I like braais (barbecues) in picnic areas on week-ends, having coffee with friends and going to the shopping malls. If Johannesburg had a beach, we would all flock there every evening after work, but instead, we mostly engage in sport. Soccer, rugby and cricket are big here.

Visitors should go to the Kruger National Park to hear lions roaring, spot the shy cheetahs and see colorful birds nestling in trees. Words cannot explain what it’s like to be there. Another place to visit is the Valley of the Waves in Sun City, a water park where visitors can experience awe-some manmade waves, a few hours away from the city.

How does the Johannesburg you grew up in compare with the city today? During my childhood the country was safe, but there was racial discrimination. Getting an edu-cation and a job was not easy for non-whites. Now everything is different and we have freedom of religion and expression. The country has developed incredibly. Apartheid made the under-privileged blacks much stronger, so there is a different, almost electric vibe in the townships. However, crime is still a problem, and we have to be careful.


[email protected]

T·TIME 3·2013 11

12 XXX

Sustainably Sweet

BLUE DIMENSION*

*Blue Dimension

refers to products and

solutions that not only

satisfy the needs of

the customer but also

benefit people and

society.

13T·TIME 3·2013

Sugarcane is a challenge to harvest. Increasingly environmentally-friendly processes are being used to cut the cane. However, innovative tire solutions are needed to keep the machines rolling along over the harsh terrain created by the cane’s stubble. TEXT: ELAINE MCCLARENCE PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES

WITH EVER-INCREASING demand for secure energy supplies, many countries have turned to sugarcane, not only to sweeten food but also to produce ethanol and bioplastics as alternatives to fossil-fuel-derived products. With an annual production of 1.7 billion tons, this major industry is looking for greener and more sustainable solutions for producing and harvesting this versatile plant.

Traditionally sugarcane fields were burned prior to harvesting to remove weeds and leaves, but this practice has been changed to a more environmentally-friendly process, called green harvesting, in order to improve air quality. Alongside such changes have come greater mechanization and investment in harvesters and machinery. Brazil

SPECIALIZED SOLUTIONSTrelleborg Wheel Systems is a leading supplier of com-plete wheel systems and tires for agriculture and forestry and materials handling including forklift trucks. Tires from Trelleborg for agricultural and forestry purposes are designed to protect soil from compacting to give higher yields from crops. In forests and on rough terrain, round tire shoulders minimize the impact on root systems.

produces more than half of the world’s sugarcane. By 2014 more than 90 percent of harvesting in its largest sugarcane-producing state of São Paulo will be carried out mechanically, following an investment of more than USD 4.5 billion over the past seven years.

During harvesting, large machines move along the rows of cane, remov-ing their leafy tops and cutting the stalks into short pieces, called billets. The billets are then loaded into trucks that move alongside the harvester. Sugarcane is an extremely tough grass, and the stubble left in the ground fol-lowing the harvest can reduce the life of standard tires on both the harvest-ing machines and the trucks. To solve the problem Trelleborg has developed a new tire specifically for sugarcane

harvesting. The tire will be tar-geted primarily at sugarcane harvest-ing operations in Central and South America, where the terrain is par-ticularly harsh.

The Trelleborg TM800 SugarCane tire is the result of years of experience and research in sugarcane fields and is designed to cope effectively with sugarcane stubble. This is thanks to a very sturdy design that is able to handle high torque and load transmission. Modern trucks are required to carry heavy loads easily while giving the driver a ride that is as comfortable and smooth as possible.

“The profile of the tire lug’s base is significantly smoother and more rounded when compared to a stand-ard tire,” explains Paolo Pompei, President of the agricultural and forestry tires operation of Trelleborg Wheel Systems. “The smooth lug base increases the tire’s resistance to sugarcane stubble. The profile of the lugs of the tire’s tread has been strengthened to enhance tread resist-ance. In addition, the 710/70R38 TM800 SugarCane features a bead width increased by 12 percent to with-stand the stress of severe farming con-ditions. This means the tire can cope with high torque and provide a better load transmission to the ground.”

In this way, Trelleborg is making its own contribution to an industry that is undergoing considerable change and growth. The aim is to transform the sugarcane industry into a more sustainable and environmentally- friendly sector that not only satisfies our sweet tooth but also helps to meet the world’s energy needs.

TM800 SUGARCANE First tire developed specifically for sugarcane production. Features a smoother and more rounded lug than standard tires. Can stand up to harsh stubble. Designed to handle high torque and loads. Bead width is increased by 12 per-cent to withstand high stresses.


[email protected]

14 XXX

asometers, otherwise known as gasholders, have been an iconic feature of the urban landscape since the latter part of the 19th

century. Originally storing coal gas for street lighting and household use, these huge telescoping containers, guided by intricate iron frameworks, were inescapable features of many city skylines. Some are listed as historic structures, and London’s distinctive Kings Cross gasholder no 8 framework is being restored as an event space and play area. The four main current types of gasholder are: Wiggins dry-seal, waterless M.A.N., Klonne grease seal, column spiral guided water-sealed. One company in particular stands out in this market sector – Clayton Walker Gasholders, a division of the Motherwell Bridge Ltd., a world leader in the design and maintenance of storage tanks, heat exchangers and gasholders. Clayton Walker Gasholders has been involved in gasholder construction since 1837.

“We deal with most well-known steel companies,” says Ian Ford, Motherwell Bridge’s Chief Operating Officer. “India is our biggest market, but we operate in many countries throughout the world, including Brazil, Taiwan, Ukraine, the U.K., South Africa and Australia. Most of our work involves the collection and safe

Keeping in touch

“ Some of these seals are so large that the rigid structures they go into are built around them” Steve Ridgway, Trelleborg

storage of recovered gases from coke ovens, blast furnaces and steel-making processes. There’s a double benefit: The gases can be reused for power and heat within the steel plant, and you avoid the need to flare off these highly toxic gases into the atmosphere, giving a significant reduction in carbon emissions. The seal is a critical component of our storage solutions. We use the Wiggins type dry-seal, supplied by Trelleborg Coated Systems engineered fabrics operation, in both brand new installations and in the conversion of older gasholders to fully functioning Wiggins type dry-seal gasholders.”

TRELLEBORG AND Clayton Walker have been working in partnership for more than 30 years, designing and manufacturing high-quality seals mainly for use in high-volume gas storage for the iron and steel industries. “It’s a remarkable relationship, and one that depends on communication, flexibility and innovation,” says Ford.

Steve Ridgway, Managing Director at the part of Trelleborg based in Manchester, England, that manufactures the gasholder seals, takes up the story. “The Wiggins type dry-seal is a highly specialized product, ideally suited for collection and storage of waste gases. Sizes vary, but the largest gasholder seal we have supplied is for a gasholder with a capacity of 150,000 cubic

meters. Some of these seals are so large that the rigid structures they go into are built around them.The seals have other applications, too, for storage of methane, nitrogen, hydrogen and butane, but the new generation of materials that we have developed for the seal is ideally suited for containing waste gases produced by iron and steel making.”

He continues: “The success of our partnership with Motherwell Bridge is based on the fact that we provide a whole service, following our seals through their lifetime – 10 to 15 years and more, with some in excess of 20 years – closely monitoring installation processes as well as performance. An

G

BETTER BUSINESS [CLAYTON WALKER]

14 T·TIME 3·2013

TEXT: RICHARD SURMAN PHOTOS: MOTHERWELL BRIDGE

15XXX

A NEW GENERATION OF MATERIALS Clayton Walker Gasholders, a part of the Motherwell Bridge Engineering Group, is renowned worldwide for its expertise in the field of Wiggins type dry-seal gashold-ers. Markets include India, Brazil, Taiwan, the UK, Ukraine and South Africa.

Trelleborg has worked for more than 30 years in partnership with Clayton Walker Gasholders, designing and producing high-quality seals for Wiggins type dry- seal gasholders. Latest developments include a new generation of materials for high-temperature steel-making gases and aggressive coke oven gases.

honest and open relationship with our customers brings benefits to them and to us as well. Some of Clayton Walker Gasholders’ customers request specific technicians from us during installation of our seals.”

COMMENTS FORD: “Trelleborg supplies a tried and tested product, supported by a good warranty. They’re flexible and open to suggestions and ideas that will help meet our customers’ demands. We both understand the importance of improving our respective products and services; it’s vital in maintaining a position as the supplier of choice to steel companies.”

Ridgway adds: “We’ve learned a great deal about the gas-holding process. This has only been possible through our relationship with Motherwell Bridge, and in turn we have developed new materials that have increased the quality of the components that Motherwell Bridge offers its customers.”

Gasometers, a British invention, first appeared 180 years ago and quickly caught on as an effective means of storing large amounts of gas at low pressure.


[email protected]

T·TIME 3·2013 15

16 T·TIME 3·2013

n issue for many subsea oil and gas fields is that decreasing natural pressure is reducing recovery and shortening the lifetime of fields. Owners of the Åsgard oilfield, situated some 200 kilometres off the coast of Norway, have developed a process that could bring benefits to the oil and gas industry for years to come.

Set for completion in 2015, the groundbreaking project will use subsea gas compression technology to maintain

production and boost recovery from the Midgard and Mikkel reservoirs by the equivalent of about 278 million barrels of oil.

Åsgard field operator Statoil states on its website: “With Åsgard subsea gas compression, we are one step closer to realizing our vision of a subsea factory. Subsea processing, and gas compression in particular, is an important technology advance to develop fields in deep waters and harsh environments.”

While this project represents a quantum leap in seabed technology, the challenging applications will increase the demands on the equipment used. Apart from being water-resistant, the equipment must withstand the temperatures and hydrostatic pressures found in deep-sea beds.

At these depths, fluids become warmer, resulting in

a significant temperature difference compared with the surrounding seawater. This can cause piping wax build-up and eventually clogging, potentially leading to costly production downtime and repairs. Sophisticated thermal insulation is crucial to ensure a steady fluid flow.

With this in mind, Aker Solutions, contractor of the Åsgard subsea compression system, will apply Trelleborg’s high-performance Vikotherm R2 subsea insulation to 600 meters of piping. A well-proven solution, the material can easily be adapted to the varying geometries, surfaces and applications of the installation.

The rubber-based composite Vikotherm R2 system insulates and protects jumpers, manifolds, risers, pipelines, flow lines, equipment and other subsea structures. Maintenance-free, the product is designed to last the installation’s lifetime, a minimum of 30 years, so it will never normally require replacement.

“Vikotherm R2 is practically incompressible and both seawater- and impact-resistant,” says Oddvar Kopstad, Sales Manager Subsea at the Trelleborg Offshore & Construction facility in Norway. “It effectively withstands both low and high temperatures and provides corrosion and mechanical protection. Competing systems may have the same individual properties but are unable to offer all of them as one package.”

TECHNOLOGY [SUBSEA INSULATION]

Keeping the flow

The recently launched Åsgard subsea compression project in the Norwegian Sea is the world’s first-ever subsea gas compression facility and a pioneering development for the industry.

TEXT: ULF WIMAN ILLUSTRATION: ÅSGARD

A

17T·TIME 3·2013

Vikotherm R2 is made up of three layers, all bonded to one another. The inner layer is chemically bonded to the structure surface, ensuring protection against corrosion, HISC (hydrogen-induced stress cracking) and disbondment. The middle layer provides thermal insulation, and the outer layer protects against mechanical and water ingress.

“The layer thicknesses and properties are extremely flexible,” Kopstad explains, “making it easy to adjust to environmental challenges and customer requirements.”

Launched in 2012, the Vikotherm R insulation builds on the success of its former generation, first manufactured in the late 1980s. The updated material has been subjected to years of rigorous testing, including lifetime evaluations, long-term simulated service tests and full-scale qualification tests. A notable upgrade to Vikotherm R2

is that it can be applied either on-site or at Trelleborg’s production facility in Norway. “The growing global subsea market increasingly focuses on flexibility, delivery time and quality,” says Kopstad. “So it is a huge advantage to be able to apply it on-site, anywhere in the world.”

Application at the plant involves high-pressure and high-temperature vulcanization (typically +140˚C/ +284˚F) in an autoclave. Field vulcanization is done at ambient pressure without an autoclave, but it retains the same properties.

With a market share of 20 to 25 percent and advanced growth plans, the future looks bright for Vikotherm R2. “In 2013, Trelleborg saw a very big increase in the specification of this solution,” Kopstad says, “and the company expects to see more growth, much of it as a direct result of Vikotherm R2’s on-site possibilities.”

VIKOTHERM R2Vikotherm R2 is produced at Trelleborg’s facility in Mjondalen,

Norway. The main customers include large global oil and gas companies.


oddvar.kopstad @trelleborg.com

COMPRESSOR STATIONThe installation of compressors on the seabed will ensure a high gas flow and

recovery rate. The compressor station is almost the size of a soccer field.

18 XXX18 T·TIME 3·2013

CASE (National Water Main Cleaning)

ENJOY THE PEACE AND QUIET

“THERE IS A CLEAR TREND,” says Joseph Perone, Assistant Vice President of National Water Main Cleaning in New Jersey, U.S. “An increasing number of property owners demand that we repair and renovate pipes in houses and commercial build-ings without overly inconveniencing those who live or work there.”

Trelleborg’s Drain MtH Liner is a trenchless rehabilitation system for the sealing and stabilizing of lateral connections and the lateral pipes from the main sewer to the house.

Trelleborg has collaborated with companies that use the product to help in its development. National Water Main Cleaning is one of these companies and its input has aided Trelleborg in producing a product that radically simplifies work for the user. For example, far fewer resources are needed to perform the work. In addition, the time saving is so great that the work crew is able to perform a number of separate jobs in one day, compared with just one job previously.

The Drain MtH Liner has a work-ing range of up to 30 meters, which means that the work crew does not need to be right outside the door. People working or living in the building hardly notice that repairs are being carried out, as noise and other factors causing inconvenience are eliminated.

Another advantage of Drain MtH Liner is that it reduces the environmen-tal impact of each repair. No major trench work is required; only small machines that use less fuel are used.

Trelleborg’s epros Drain MtH Liner has been used in the U.S. since spring 2012 and has given National Water Main Cleaning the opportu-nity to participate in the procurement process for jobs in several states out-side of their traditional home market.

“We have won new customers in entirely new areas, such as Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Missouri and Kansas,” says Perone. “More states are on the way.”

Soon, plumbing engineers will no longer need to trouble property owners or residents when rectifying sewage problems. The Drain MtH Liner allows plumb-ing contractors to work via the main without requiring access to the property or needing to dig a trench.

TEXT: THORALF LINDSTRÖM PHOTO: GUSTAVSBERG


stephan.raab @trelleborg.com

19XXX

PEOPLE & TRENDS [ADAM HASSAN]

THE REVOLUTION

WILL BE

DIGITIZED

The digital revolution is upon us, and, as in any revolution, chaos will precede order – and completely new

opportunities.

TEXT: HANNAH KIRSEBOM PHOTO: KRISTOFER SAMUELSON

19T·TIME 3·2013

20 XXX

PEOPLE & TRENDS [ADAM HASSAN]

20 T·TIME 3·2013

TRELLEBORG’S DIGITAL PRESENCETrelleborg boasts a whole array of websites related to particular industries and pro-viding useful information for its customers. Making engi-neers’ lives easier is a particu-lar focus with numerous digi-tal tools and apps available to shortcut product specification at the desk or on the move.Find out more at www.trelleborg.com.

ADAM HASSANTitle: Business Director at Designit, a strategic design bureau with offices in 11 countriesAge: 32Lives: Stockholm, Sweden.

A dam Hassan, the business director for international design-bureau Designit, frequently uses the word ‘digital’ in his daily work. However, he admits the term is actually quite imprecise. It can refer to everything from a connected digital-world to smart phones and tablets, right through to “The Internet of Things” – the idea that any object, animal or person can connect to the internet and communicate.

Hassan’s business helps companies to grow and create business value through strategic design. He says many companies, primarily those in the industrial sector, are having a hard time defining their digital identity. “For some reason, these particular companies are finding it difficult to get started,” he says. “Those that try often project a rather clumsy impression.”

Part of Hassan’s job is to get business leaders to understand the value of Internet-based services and possibilities. But does everyone have to jump aboard the Internet bandwagon?

“Yes, at least those that want to survive,” Hassan says. “Not utilizing the opportunities that digital channels provide is like driving a horse-drawn wagon when everyone else is driving a car. The ongoing digital-revolution is the new industrialization. Roles and tasks are disappearing while new ones are being created and society is undergoing radical change.”

THE ADVANTAGES OF “driving the digital sports car” can be boiled down to three elements: knowledge, presence and service. Let’s take knowledge first. Big data* and the possibilities for measurement and analysis provided by the Internet enable the gathering of information and data about markets, customers and prospective customers, as well as about their needs and behaviour. A company with this knowledge also understands how to create increased interest in its products and services.

With regard to presence, Hassan thinks it means being where the target group is. “At the moment, you may have customers who are not active on the Internet but it won’t always be that way,” he says. “Most people born after 1970 have a natural relationship to the Internet and digital services.”

And then there’s service. Over the last century, competitive tools in many industries have developed from focusing on range (supplying most extensive range of goods wins) to quality (the supplier of the best goods wins) and service.

“The digital space is already playing a decisive role in this area,” Hassan says. “When the goods or services you

sell are not clearly differentiated from those of your competitors, you have to develop and refine your service and the customer experience. Digital and net-based services often dramatically boost the service experience.”

But how does one go about it? How does a company change from being traditional and analog to a credible digital player?

“MANY COMPANIES start at the wrong end of the stick asking, ‘What will we get out of this?’” Hassan says. “Instead, I recommend investigating how digitalization can enhance efficiency in the organization of these companies. How can you save money and time as well as make things easier for yourselves? Start from the inside by making life easier for employees and thereby acclimating people to working digitally and creating positive conditions. From there you can progress and investigate what you can do for your customers.”

Hassan says in many cases this means changing a corporate structure from the ground up. “The classic corporate structure with one leader at the top and a pyramid of employees below does not function that well anymore,” he says. “Many business leaders do not understand how changeable the new digital climate is. They try to squeeze new opportunities and methods into old paradigms.”

Instead, organizations need to become flatter. Ideas and knowledge at the furthest reaches of the company must be cultivated, where they must be taken seriously and allowed to develop. A suggestion box in the lunch room will just not cut it. Faster decision paths and greater freedom for employees at the base of the pyramid are often necessary.

“Making such a change is not easy,” Hassan says. “First there will be chaos and then things will fall into place. This may sound off-putting – but then again, it’s called a revolution for a reason.”

* The term Big Data alludes to Big Oil, with the implication that data has become a valuable raw material.

21T·TIME 3·2013

22 T·TIME 3·2013

OVER THE LAST 50 years, the technology used within the production of airplanes has become much more sophisticated as a result of stricter legislation, to ensure the safest and most robust airplanes.

Johan Frithiof, Commercial Director within Trelleborg Coated Systems, comments: “In the 1960’s, airliner evacuation slides had to be deployed in 25 seconds in non-extreme weather. Now, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) states that slides must deploy in just six seconds, in heat ranging from -65 °F to +160 °F and winds of up to 25 knots (28.7mph).”

Over the years, Trelleborg’s expert teams have refined the characteristics of coated fabrics to give consistent high performance and compliancy, ensuring they withstand much higher temperatures and harsher weather, while meeting weight reduction needs and acheiving downstream process improvements.

Says Frithiof, “The nature of emergency products means that you hope they never have to be used. But, when they are needed it is imperative that they are in full working order.”

NEWS [UPDATE]

On November 10, opening day of the agricultural exhibition Agritechnica 2013, Trelleborg attended the “Tractor of the Year 2014” award. Since 2012, Trelleborg has served as official sponsor of the competition. Paolo Pompei, President of the agricultural and forestry tires operation of Trelleborg Wheel Systems, says: “We have been working closely with leading tractor manufacturers for many decades, and we believe that this important event demonstrates the power of investment into joint efforts that promote innovation for sustainable farming.”

Over 65 percent of port owners, operators and contractors said they request and check PIANC certification to ensure that marine fenders are sold as described, according to the third Barometer Report from Trelleborg.

Trelleborg undertook extensive testing on two commercial sized fenders, one high quality fender and one low cost, taking samples from the fender body of each. In the low cost fender the tensile strength was only 9.3 MPa, well below the requirement of the cus-tomer’s original specification (16mpa). The elongation at break was also below the specification the customer required. It was

found to be only 278% compared to the minimum requirement of 350%.

Richard Hepworth, President of the marine systems operation of Trelleborg Offshore & Construction, says: “It’s reassuring that so many request and check PIANC certification. However, PIANC doesn’t have the legal mandate to enforce standards across the industry. Some more unscrupulous traders are using this to their advantage by applying PIANC certification to entire product lines or factories, rather than to specific product batches and compound formulations.”

PIANC Certifi cation key to Compliance and Regulation

Tractor of the Year

JUST SLIDE!

22 T·TIME 3·2013

Nexteer Automotive, the global leader in advanced steering and driveline systems has given Trelleborg’s boots operation an “Outstanding Supplier 2013” award for excellence achieved in all areas of supplier performance including engineering, cost, quality, launch and delivery.

The boots produced by Trelleborg are used in complete transmission and steering systems, which are delivered by Nexteer to global car manufacturers.

Nexteer’sfavorite boots

Claas Axion 850 - winner of the “Tractor of

the Year 2014” award.

23T·TIME 3·2013

LAST WORD

ENTER THE DIGITAL SALES PERSON

Patrik RombergHead of Corporate Communications,

Trelleborg

Trelleborg is a world leader in engineered

polymer solutions that seal, damp

and protect crit ica l applicat ions

in demanding environments. Its

innovat ive engineered solut ions

accelerate performance for customers

in a sustainable way. The Trelleborg

Group has annual sales of about SEK

21 billion (EUR 2.33 billion, USD

3.25 billion) in over 40 countries. The

Group comprises five business areas:

Trelleborg Coated Systems, Trelleborg

Industrial Solutions, Trelleborg Offshore &

Const ruction , Trel l eborg Sealing

Solutions and Trelleborg Wheel Systems.

In addition, Trelleborg owns 50 percent

of TrelleborgVibracoustic, a global

leader within antivibration solutions for

light and heavy vehicles, with annual

sales of approximately SEK 14 billion

(EUR 1.57 billion, USD 2.19 billion) in

about 20 countries. The Trelleborg share

has been listed on the Stock Exchange

since 1964 and is listed on NASDAQ

OM X Stock holm, L a rge C ap.

www.trelleborg.com

Illustration: Lin

a Ekstran

d/Agen

t Molly

Photo: Istockph

oto

Trelleborg Offshore & Construction will supply drill riser buoyancy modules to one of the leading drilling companies in the world. The order is Trelleborg’s largest to date for offshore drilling, totaling around 50 to 60 million USD, depending on the final scope of the project.

DRILLING SUBSEA

YOU’D PROBABLY EXPECT the technical developments in how sales people interact with customers and prospects to make life easier. But faced with entering the digital age and the optimal way of gaining new business no longer just filling a schedule with face-to-face meetings, this new technology can be a daunting.

Today, before the sales person even makes initial contact with a prospect they need to analyze their potential customers’ needs in-depth to come up with a value proposition that addresses their requirements. And for this, an excellent product or solution may not be enough. You need to tailor your offering and add value in sometimes unexpected ways to be able to succeed. The challenge is not only to deliver better functionality than your competitors, but also explain how your solution actually yields productivity and profitability for your customer – in short, how it creates better business.

And rather than meeting just a few customers face-to-face, your time may be better spent meeting millions using the power of the Internet, mobile apps and social media. Blog posts written for engineers or contributions to whitepapers for a conference that appear on the web can demonstrate thought leadership. Through that, customers and prospects will see you as the natural contact when they have a technical problem to solve. Then, through one click on a link in a blog or discussion forum, you can have an e-mail in your inbox asking you for a solution.

To me, this complements the traditional way of interacting with customers. For the technical salesperson who grasps this new technology and way of working, perhaps it can in fact make life much easier for them as well as customers!

TRELLEBORG GROUP

Trelleborg is a world leader in engineered polymer solutions that seal,

damp and protect critical applications in demanding environments. Our

innovative engineered solutions accelerate performance everywhere.

Explore our solutions from space to seabed. Visit our showroom

The World of Trelleborg at www.trelleborg.com/worldoftrelleborg.

OUR INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS ACCELERATE PERFORMANCE IN A SUSTAINABLE WAY

Documents

T-Time 3, 2013