It produces all its tubes with quality brands and exports 30 percent

Tubesil is a company specialized in the extrusion of pipes. With a staff of 15 people and five extrusion lines, manufactured tubes of PP and PE for Blansol, a company belonging to the same group and that it sells its products with the well-known mark Barbi. A few appropriate equipment and a deep knowledge of this technology make the production of tubes for quality something simple.

Extrusion head

Tubesil is basically a manufacturing plant: they buy, extruyen, and produce. So simple, so easy as explains it his Manager, Avelino García. All their products are used for the company Blansol, belonging to the same group, located in Palau Plegamans, Barcelona, which in turn is dedicated to the manufacture of accessories of brass for the tubes. The complete product is marketed under the brand name Barbi.

"We are exclusively a manufacturing plant, which is why we do not have, for example, Sales Department." "We we stocked the raw materials, packaging, etc. and we are dedicated to extrude the tubes and to carry out the appropriate controls of quality". A laboratory equipped conveniently allows this company produce in accordance with standards of AENOR, as well as those of other countries to which exported these products, mainly France, Portugal and South American countries. Having certified individuals in each of these countries.

After its foundation in 1992 and the transfer to existing facilities in 1995, Tubesil has now five extrusion lines, almost all of Cincinnati Extrusion. Upon receipt of the raw material, either in bags or in tankers to feed silos, polyethylene or polypropylene, as the case may be, comes to the extruder by a system of food and after going through a dryer and a Gravimetric dosing to ensure the amount needed materialsfinally reach the extruder, the alma mater of the whole process.

Surprisingly, the extrusion machines has Tubesil are designed for the extrusion of pellets of polyolefins. Extrusion machines of a spindle which allow this Basque factory are "change" a plastic material. Indeed, the material in the form of pellets that come here regularly becomes pipes of different diameters, after the most basic of extrusion processes. The molten material through an upraised, prior step by a spindle that overlooks the material temperature and pressure. In Tubesil tubes are therefore measures and tolerances that require the rules under which works. After the processing of the gauge that, by means of vacuum, 'paste' the tube to its walls to acquire the correct form, tube finally reaches the area of cooling: a series of baths for smaller diameter tubesthat in the case of larger diameter tubes turns into a shower of water.

Of course, in addition to producing, there need to check the quality. In this sense, extrusion lines are equipped with controllers thicknesses and diameters, as well as surface failures.

Tubesil manufactures pipes of different diameters and thicknesses, mainly targeted at the sector of construction and public works, based on the catalogue of products offered to the market. Depending on the product, the extrusion lines require a change of tools, that can last more or less depending on the material and the size of the tube which is making and we want to make.

This company does not only benefit from the advantages of plastics with regard to other materials. The lightness, its lower hydraulic resistance to the passage of the water, the flexibility that eliminates problems, for example, of a ditch which does not maintain a perfect righteousness or the fact that greatly facilitates the transport because you can fast-forwardthey are just a few examples. But also they are becoming with large market shares due to the lack of corrosion, the absence of galvanic corrosion and problems with the blows of battering or calcareous incrustations.

In the case of water and gas pipes the growth of the use of plastics is clear. Added to this is the fact that the producers of polymers introduced improvements in materials, for example, allowing manufacture tubes of minor thickness while maintaining its strength. This is most clear possibly in the field of the polyethylene, where, for example, lattice polyethylene is winning the battle in certain applications, a trend that is reflected in Tubesil, where the PEX is a material usually usednot only for their quality but also by its advantageous price/quality ratio. Other materials, such as the PBT, are used more often in countries such as United Kingdom and Germany, but not so much in Spain. It is a type of plastic with a low share of use in hot water pipes, explains Avelino García.

With regard to polypropylene, Tubesil consumption is low, compared with market share growing in other countries, although it continues to maintain a certain growth.

The co-extrusion is also a technique which is used in this factory, usually three layers, taking advantage of the absolute dominance of the process of extrusion of a specialist like this. As you know, use several layers gives the possibility, in the case of tubes of co-extrusion of waterproofing with gas pipes. Avelino Garcia says co-extrusion tubes produced in this factory most directed to export markets, since that Spain uses very little. France, Portugal and South America are the main export markets of Tubesil, whose production goes approximately by 30 per cent to other countries.

To all this the Basque company uses technology of front line. The extrusion of Cincinnati Extrusion machines allow you to ensure a production of tubes in accordance with the specific rules of each sector, with a reliability required in a competitive market. The Manager of Tubesil is convinced that a good relationship with its suppliers is important in the conduct of a business successfully. "Machines are good, no doubt, but we have also much appreciated the service we provide." In the type of product we produce, a true value-added and where quality is important, you must be sure of you going to produce a consistent quality. In the market of hot water, us us where work a lot, the price is not the most important thing. Quality, safety and service are the factors that our customers value and that's why when we invest in equipment we chose those of first-line. "It must be borne in mind that a simple leak in a tube of hot water in a home can have a high cost".

The same applies on the purchase of raw material. While it may cost more, Tubesil is the best material.

One of the secrets of the Group of Blansol and Tubesil is the stock. Of course its pipes are produced with relevant quality brands, but also other competitors offer this type of qualities. However, so says her manager, "give a good service is what puts us in leadership positions." "And a good service in our case is to be able to respond at all times to which the customer us demand, with the maximum speed." It is possible to adjust production to demand, especially in the theory, but in this group have opted for having the largest stock market. "Having a stock like ours obviously has a financial cost." But exceeds the cost of not able to respond in a given time to the demand of a client. You can lose a client if this notice to others if solve you their problems. We do not run that risk. "It's our way of loyalty to the client and we are confident that we are on the right track"