Zeitz, August 2006. Large international orders are the norm for the medium-sized company Fiberpipe GmbH from Zeitz, and German companies are slowly discovering the investment advantages of fiberglass. Founded only in October 2003, Fiberpipe GmbH developed into a successful company: In the last 12 months alone, sales grew by 40 percent, and within three years entrepreneur Alexander Bamberger was able to hire eight employees.

Flexible assembly, low weight and an almost unspectacular ease of use make fiberglass tubes interesting. As a particular strength, the robust material leaves nothing to be desired in terms of chemical resistance or high pressure loads. Large companies like Esso or Kali und Salz have long appreciated the price advantages associated with practicality. Now medium-sized energy and industrial companies are also paying attention, the fiberglass pipes are changing market habits.

Successful globalization

Fiberpipe customers appreciate the precise German engineering and the reliable project management Made in Germany. The products are manufactured cheaply by internationally experienced and renowned manufacturers at the best market price. Partner companies have their headquarters in the USA and Turkey, for example, they enable decisive price advantages of intelligent globalization: The Americans produce largely automated, Turkey scores with low wage costs. Fiberpipe is independent of its suppliers and uses them flexibly and as required, for example in Singapore or Saudi Arabia. Another advantage of the worldwide production is the low transport costs to the international project locations. A bundle of price advantages that entrepreneur Bamberger passes on to his customers.

Flexible and needs-based

German companies that are also active abroad are often supplied. At the company’s headquarters in Zeitz there is a large storage and production hall: Up to a nominal diameter of DN 300, Fiberpipe serves all inquiries from here directly from the warehouse and is therefore close to the market. Because pipeline construction is a short-term business; Framework conditions change quickly. For this reason, the pipes and fittings have ISO dimensions, which makes them compatible with all pipe systems. The manufacture of special parts is part of day-to-day business: “Ultimately, we manufacture everything that can be built as a mold and wrapped with fiberglass,” says Bamberger. Different production processes and connection types make it possible to tailor Fiberpipe pipes to almost all requirements. Fiberpipe not only supplies the material, but also takes on the assembly and offers all the relevant engineering services: whether spontaneously for a diesel plant in Australia or as a flexible and affordable service for a container shipping company at any port in the world.

Material advantages

The easy shortening and cutting of the light tubes leads to particularly low transport and assembly costs. “No other material is so easy to work with,” reports Bamberger. Processing training is carried out regularly in-house and, if necessary, directly at the customer’s facility. Compared to other materials, the fiberglass tubes almost always come off as the most economical and cheapest overall investment by far. Even in the long term, because glass fiber is not at risk of corrosion, which makes the material much more durable than other materials. The glass fibers are also resistant to tension, compression and temperature. Nevertheless, the chemical industry, energy suppliers and large shipping companies are only slowly becoming aware of this. “The high quality and performance of fiberglass pipes is often simply still unknown in Germany,” says entrepreneur Bamberger.

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