Serimax, Technip join forces in pipeline welding domain

Serimax, a Vallourec subsidiary, a company providing offshore & onshore welding solutions, and Technip, France’s engineering and construction company providing services for the energy industry, have signed an agreement in principle in order to achieve a strategic partnership in the domain of pipeline welding.

In this respect, Technip would acquire a minority stake in Serimax. In a statement on Monday, Technip and Serimax said they would combine their expertise and would deploy the Serimax welding technology at Technip’s spoolbases and S-lay vessels.

The companies hope the move will allow them to offer high end competitive capabilities to address operators’ capital investment constraints for future projects; invest in joint R&D programs and innovative reel-lay welding solutions to meet the growing technical challenges of projects; increase operational performance through enhanced productivity, improved scheduling and higher integration of the value chain.

Serimax will remain an independent service and technology provider, and will continue to serve its clients in the offshore, onshore pipeline and fabrication markets.

Frederic Castrec, Managing Director for Serimax commented: “We are delighted Technip has the confidence in and has selected Serimax, to further support their future project developments. It is a clear recognition of Serimax’s capability. Together, we can combine our respective areas of expertise to develop an integrated technical and commercial solution.”

Hallvard Hasselknippe, President Subsea, Technip said: “This partnership is part of Technip’s strategic focus on technology, a key differentiator to contribute to costs optimization on projects.”

Didier Hornet, Senior Vice President Eastern Hemisphere, who is responsible for Vallourec’s oil and gas strategy, said: “We are confident that combining both company’s technologies will make a real difference to the market and offers greater opportunities to think differently about how we package solutions for clients. Delivering solutions to the oil and gas market require companies that are agile and capable of growing together to meet market expectations.”