In the run up to ptc, IPLOCA has asked Paul Waanders, International Sales Manager at Maats Pipeline Equipment, about the motivation of being part of this year’s ptc and what pipeline construction companies should expect.

What was your reason for exhibiting at ptc 2017?

Maats has been looking for a possibility to showcase its capabilities to its customers in Europe for a few years. Since the company is mostly into pipeline construction and this is a niche market, it found there was not a lot to choose from.

Is there no event in Europe for your business?

Not really. While Maats participated in both the BAUMA exhibition (Munich) and visited Intermat (Paris), it found that these were general construction equipment exhibitions and the company felt kind of ‘lost’.

Other events Maats has attended have been focused on all aspects of pipeline operation, including corrosion and integrity management, leak detection and inline inspection. One example of this is ptc.

These are, however, all technologies used after commissioning of a pipeline, which is not where Maats’ business is. Maats is a more on the construction side, before a pipeline is commissioned.

But you are still at the ptc?

Some time ago, Maats was asked by ptc to join the event. The company shared its concern that the topics were not really in line with its business. After a discussion and meetings, ptc was willing to extend its focus, or in fact add a focus: ‘pipeline construction’.

Attracting not only exhibitors from this field, but also our clients and target group, the oil and gas operators, this might be the start of the European event for pipeline construction. This is also why Maats hopes that many companies from our field of work will join them at ptc.

What do you expect?

Maats’ philosophy is that if you want to change things, you have to show initiative and sometimes stick your neck out. The company expects the ‘pipeline construction’ side of the conference to evolve over time.

Moreover, with the event being in its 12th year and with about 600 attendees and some 65 exhibitors from the industry last year, ptc could give pipeline construction companies a jump start.

Maats was lucky to find Mannesmann Engineering & Construction GmbH who was willing to organise a regional meeting for IPLOCA at the same time, at the same venue. Bringing these two events together contributes to the goal of brining the industry together.

All good then?

As a manufacturer, seller and renter of pipeline construction equipment, you like to show your capabilities. In our case, that is our bending machines, welding tractors and pipelayers. Although the current venue at the Estrel Hotel (Berlin) is excellent, with the hotel, exhibition and meeting rooms all under one roof, it is not possible to bring one of our machines, they are simply too heavy. On the other hand, not bringing any heavy machinery is a big save on the exhibition budget.

Where will we find you at ptc?

Maats will be at stand no. 70 between 2 - 4 May.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/special-reports/17032017/interview-maats-discusses-the-pipeline-technology-conference/