Pipes, cables, and wires 2010, Dusseldorf, Germany

From April 12 to 16, 2010, companies from the wire, cable, and tube industries showcased their latest technological developments at the trade fairs wire 2010 and Tube 2010. With more than 2,400 exhibitors from over 60 countries, wire and Tube underscored their status as the global number one trade fairs in their respective industries.

Every two years, for five days, the wire and Tube trade fairs transform the exhibition center in Düsseldorf, Germany, into a massive factory setting. A unique feature of these fairs is that exhibitors bring their machinery and operate it on-site. Conducted together for the twelfth time in a row, both trade fairs managed to increase the number of exhibitors once again, surpassing the record set in 2008.

While cable, wire, and tube manufacturers, like other industries, have felt the effects of the global economic and financial crisis, Friedrich-Georg Kehrer, director of wire and Tube, notes, "In difficult times, companies focus their activities on the number one trade fair in their industry".

After their successful premiere in 2008, the pipelines and Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG) sectors participated for the second time. For example, Bergrohr from Germany presented a large-diameter steel pipe with a copper-nickel liner inside. This innovation allows for the transportation of highly corrosive media, such as sour oil, gas, and seawater, while preventing damage to the pressure-resistant carbon steel casing.

For the first time ever, the profiles and profile technology sectors showcased machinery and systems for manufacturing profiles in a variety of materials and shapes.

Efficiency and quality management were dominant themes this year. German company Sikora AG, a specialist in measuring, control, and test equipment for the wire, cable, tube, and hose industries, presented a new generation of laser diameter gauges. These gauges offer precision diameter measurements with 2,500 measurements per second, with an accuracy of up to 0.2 micrometers. Zumbach Electronic AG from Switzerland exhibited an advanced surface inspection system for cables, pipes, and hoses. According to Keith F. Donahue, Vice President of Sales at Zumbach, state-of-the-art image processing technology ensures perfect surface inspection.