[미국] 세계 플라스틱 파이프 시장 두 자릿수 성장 전망

지난 9월 22일~24일 시카고에서 열린 제 17최 플라스틱파이프 컨퍼런스·전시회에서 행사 창립 위원회 대표인 Stephen Boros가 네 가지 주요 요소를 언급했다. 주요 요소는 셰일 오일·가스 산업의 발전, 지역 시장의 확장, 혁신, 그리고 전과정 평가 분야에 대한 중요성 인식이다. 이들은 잠재적으로 향후 10년 동안 전 세계 플라스틱 파이프 시스템 수요를 두 자릿수 성장까지 끌어올릴 것으로 기대된다.

파이프라인 플라스틱의 VP 엔지니어링을 함께 하고 있는 Boros는 플라스틱 파이프 시스템은 쉽고 저렴
한 설치때문에 구리, 콘크리트, 철 같은 경쟁적인 파이프 소재를 대체함으로써 계속해서 시장점유율을 얻을 것이라고 설명했다.

Speaking at the Plastic Pipes XVII conference and exhibition held on Sept. 22-24 in Chicago, Ill., Stephen Boros, chairman of the event's organizing committee, noted that four major factors -- development of the shale oil and gas industry, regional market expansion, innovation, and awareness in the field of lifecycle assessment (LCA) -- will potentially lead to double-digit growth in the global demand for plastic pipe systems over the next 10 years.

Boros, who is also VP Engineering for Pipelines Plastics, LLC, explained that plastic pipe systems continue to gain market share through supplanting competing pipe materials such as copper, concrete and steel due to easy and low-cost installation as well as long-term performance.

"In North America, these inherent advantages are now further supported by the development of the shale oil and gas industry," he said. "This development not only benefits the energy market but also represents a more secure long-term supply and cost advantage from a power costs to raw materials standpoint. Technology transfer will undoubtedly propel the growth of demand for plastic pipe systems in other world markets."

Twenty percent of the 120 papers delivered in Chicago originated from Asia, reflecting the importance of regional expansion. "Last year, China became the world's largest producer and consumer of plastic pipes," Boros said. "While we can expect the U.S. market to maintain double-digit growth as recovery in the construction market picks up, we can also predict similar gains in Asia and eventually Eastern Europe."

In his welcome speech, Boros reviewed some recent innovative applications that are changing the way plastic pipe technology is viewed from an environmental perspective. These included applications in the field of horticulture, water management to mitigate flood or relieve drought, and greening of the Sahara desert from within.

"The versatility of plastics and the human minds that are inspired to share their useful contribution to the planet are ceaseless," he said. "Unlike competitive pipe industries, the world's leading plastic pipe makers regularly invest over 10 percent on research and development. By 2024, we estimate that our industry and the many industries that support our industry will embrace a global sales turnover of USD 500 billion."

One landmark paper delivered by The European Plastic Pipes and Fittings Association (TEPPFA) exemplified the sustainable nature of plastic pipe systems. Numerous independent LCA studies have been commissioned by TEPPFA to provide incontrovertible evidence of the low environmental impact of a wide range of plastic pipe applications.

"LCA assessments with competing pipe materials further confirm our sustainable credentials," Boros said. "By communicating these scientific results to customers and stakeholders throughout the world, we shall lend appeal and thus promote further industry growth."

 

[출처 = Water World / 2014년 10월 9일]