A shared vision of the future
At a customer symposium, Salzgitter Mannesmann Stahlhandel Poland wanted to give its customers and partners an overview of current developments in the field of future energies. Teaming up with Mannesmann Line Pipe, the exchange of knowledge and ideas between partners, suppliers and customers was the focus of several presentations.
The idea for the symposium came about during a conversation between Radosław Duda and Robert Karolczak from Salzgitter Mannesmann Stahlhandel Poland and Konrad Thannbichler, Head of Sales at Mannesmann Line Pipe, at Tube 2024. The motto 'Pipes for New Energy' emerged from considerations regarding changes in the energy markets and the transformation process at Salzgitter AG. After in-depth preparation, around 60 interested customers and partners took up the invitation to Pabianice, south of Łódź.
Three presentations by Mannesmann Line Pipe
Kevin Kroh, Product Manager at Mannesmann Line Pipe, kicked off the series of presentations with an introduction to the product range for HFI-welded steel tubes in the offshore wind energy sector. He also touched on the successful joint projects involving the Beatrice and Dogger Bank offshore wind farms. Since 2016, Salzgitter Mannesmann Stahlhandel Poland has supplied around 4,500 tonnes of HFI-welded steel tubes in DN 400, DN 500 and DN 600 dimensions for boat landings and J-tubes. In addition to their technical merits, he focused his remarks primarily on the cost-effectiveness of longitudinally welded tubes over seamless tubes.
Annika Graf, Regional Sales Manager at Mannesmann Line Pipe, devoted her presentation to the applications of HFI-welded steel pipes in the pipeline networks of the future. The focus was on hydrogen, ammonia and CO2 as media and the associated specifications and requirements for the pipes employed. Starting with the already established Mannesmann H2ready® pipes, she first outlined the possible applications in the ammonia (NH3) sector. She then reported on the areas of application for Mannesmann CO2ready® pipes and the particular challenges involved in transporting carbon dioxide.
Finally, Head of Sales Konrad Thannbichler presented the subject of carbon-reduced SALCOS® steel and Mannesmann Line Pipe's CO2 Roadmap to the audience. He demonstrated how carbon-reduced products have a positive impact on supply chains' carbon footprints and how customers can benefit directly from this. He also drew attention to the relevant documentation and certificates that Mannesmann Line Pipe can, of course, provide.
The lively Q & A session showed the extent to which those attending are already engaged with the pipeline networks of the future.Annika Graf, Mannesmann Line Pipe Regional Sales Manager New energies
HFI-welded steel tubes from Mannesmann Line Pipe are suitable for use in offshore wind farms as boat landings and for J-tubes, for example.
Around 60 customers and partners attended the symposium. There was a lively exchange of information among those attending over dinner.
The inevitability of change
Another highlight was the talk by Tomasz Pelc of NEXUS Consultants. He has been analysing economic change in Poland and Europe for over 30 years and has been involved in offshore and hydrogen projects for more than a decade. His presentation was entitled 'The inevitability of change and its impact on new business models. Or how to find your place in ›zero emission‹'. He reported on the development of product markets, adapted logistics and applications in relation to the energy transition. His data on economic impacts was very powerful and illustrative: as soon as hydrogen becomes affordable, it will bring massive growth and a strong boost to innovation in Polish industry.
Final Q & A session
The subsequent round of discussions demonstrated that topics relating to pipes for new energies are also meeting with great interest in Poland. Here, participants were able to ask their own questions and deepen their knowledge. A joint dinner accompanied by jazz music provided further opportunity for dialogue.
Successful event with 'follow-up potential'
At the end of the event, the hosts and speakers were more than satisfied: "The number of attendees speaks for itself and reflects our customers' and partners' huge interest in this important topic for the future," said Radosław Duda, summing up. Annika Graf added: "The lively Q & A session showed the extent to which those attending are already engaged with the pipe-line networks of the future. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Salzgitter Mannesmann Stahlhandel Poland."
Konrad Thannbichler invited the organisers to visit the production facilities for HFI-welded steel pipes in Hamm and Siegen to see for themselves how pipes are produced there with lower carbon emissions. "Following the successful joint event in 2014 and today's symposium, there will certainly be another event of a similar nature," he concluded in a satisfied tone.