FTPS Prepares for AMP 8 Capacity Requirements
Posted on May 16, 2024With the reported industry spend targets in excess of £90M in AMP 8, and significant plans for AMP 9, FT Pipeline Systems has been busy increasing their AMP 8 capacity as the UK’s leading supplier of coated and lined DWI 31.4.a steel water pipes, fittings, Canusa heat shrink sleeves and spacer solutions.
Concerns across the industry with the upcoming spend – more than double the AMP 7 spend – revolve around the supply chain’s ability to deliver across multiple projects at the same time.
FTPS has a history of success in this field, supplying around 140km of large diameter water pipe, over 2000 fittings, thousands of Canusa shrink sleeves and pipe spacers in the last 2 years. This supply has been across 9 major schemes from Barnard Castle to the Heads of the Valleys through HS2 diversion works and across the Anglian Water region.
FTPS’ mill partner, Erciyas, has added a further 25% capacity to their pipe production following an acquisition of the Mersin plant in southern Turkey. This plant has been brought online to produce DWI 31.4.a Ejoint/socket pipework for the UK water market.
Fitting options for Ejoint/Socket solutions were historically available from just one supply chain partner, but recent work aimed at securing the future supply for the UK water companies has resulted in investment by two UK manufacturers.
Lortub – the original manufacturer of the Ejoint product – is also putting hundreds of thousands of Euros into new equipment, work force (welders), a second coating machine and, crucially, a drying oven, to double their potential output.
As part of the wider picture, Ian Harding, Managing Director of FT Pipeline Systems, commented:
“To help with this strategic stock, FTPS has invested in additional warehousing and storage facilities – this will be accompanied by development of new pipe tracker technology, where key information will be more readily available to the client on site via their mobile phone.”
One example is with regards spacer solutions for pipe in pipe – the new warehousing will allow for greater ability to supply from stock rather than waiting for shipments from overseas.
As a result of an open approach, FTPS has been engaged by clients, designers and contractors on a number of fronts, giving visibility on the impending programme – and we are reacting to this ahead of the PO placement, so that we can facilitate contracts on time and on budget in AMP 8.
