The magazine from Yorkshire Copper Tube Issue Seven - Spring 2010

IN THIS ISSUE: WE LOOK BACK AT 60 YEARS OF COPPER TUBE MANUFACTURING IN KIRKBY

Celebrating 60 years of Copper Tube from Kirkby

SPECIAL EDITION

WELCOME / NEWSWelcome to your specially extended Spring edition of Tube Talk. In celebration of our 60 year anniversary of manufacturing copper tube at our Kirkby site we have added another four pages, which are filled with nostalgia and pictures from yesteryear.

You’ll still find all the latest news and product information from Yorkshire Copper Tube and

we’ll be answering more of your technical questions.

We’re also offering 20 lucky readers the chance to win a pack of our practical anniversary goodies including tube cutters, polo shirts and t-shirts. See page 11 for details.

Enjoy your extended read and don’t forget, if there is anything you would like to see in future editions of Tube Talk just drop us a line; we’re always happy to hear from you.

The Editorial Team

The winner of the Yorkshire Copper Tube Win a UK Break competition, Christopher Watson, has lots of celebrations in the pipeline this year and the £300 hotel voucher prize is the icing on the cake.

Christopher, who is the second generation to run J Watson Plumbing in Blackburn, has been using Yorkshire’s copper tubing since he started his career 34 years ago.

His father, Joseph, started the business in 1950, which, of course, coincides with our milestone anniversary of copper

tube manufacturing in Kirkby.

Christopher said: “I am a firm believer in using British made products and my father was using Yorkshire’s copper tube when I was still at school.

“The products are so great that I have carried on the tradition since then.”

We hope he enjoys his break and that his business continues to prosper.

Congratulations to everyone who won one of the 300 Proud to Be British scarves up for grabs too!

2 | Tube Talk

CELEbrATIONS IN ThE PIPELINE fOr bLACKburN PLuMbEr

At the end of 2009 we bid a fond farewell to our Export Sales

Director Robert Smith as he retired with 37 years’ experience under his belt.

He started in the industry in 1973 and, after progressing through the ranks, he joined Yorkshire Copper Tube in 1990. Over the next 20 years he played a major role in the evolution of the company.

A real asset with copper blood running through his veins; we will miss his expertise, his industry knowledge and, of course, his sharp wit!

ROBERT RETIRES AFTER 37 YEARS

CELEbrATIONS IN ThE PIPELINE fOr bLACKburN PLuMbEr

We’ll be making our debut appearance at PHEX, the Plumbing and Heating exhibition, at Wembley on 28th and 29th April so, if you’re in the area, come along to Stand 36 and say hello.

We’ll have all the latest information on our products and technical experts will be ready and waiting to answer any questions you may have.

If you can’t make it, don’t worry! We will be at the Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge events later in the year.

WE’rE ALL SET TO ShINE AT PhEX

Tube Talk | 3

Yorkshire’s official Mr Triathlon, HR Manager Alan Hall, has been selected to take part in the 30th Escape from Alcatraz in May.

He was chosen from an international lottery of thousands of hopefuls to join world champions, Olympic medallists and the best amateur triathletes from more than 40 countries.

After jumping from a ferry at the infamous Alcatraz Island, Alan will swim one and a half miles of freezing cold, shark infested waters before embarking on an 18 mile bike ride and finishing off with a demanding eight mile run through the trails of the Golden Gate recreational area.

It’s the first of four triathalons he has planned for this year so let’s just hope the tales of shark infested waters were indeed only myths to stop prisoners escaping from the notorious prison!

Alan’s escape from Alcatraz

PhEX Wembley

28th & 29th APrIL

STAND 36

YOur TEChNICAL QuESTIONS ANSWErEDIn the third in a series of Tube Talk features, experts at Yorkshire answer some of your frequently asked questions.

Q. Can copper tubing be used in contaminated ground?A. Yes, plastic covered copper tubing is suitable for most contaminated land applications because the covering protects the copper from corrosion and the copper itself is impermeable to contaminants in the soil.

Q. Can copper tubes in sizes up to 28mm be bent?

Q. Can copper tubes be used for supplying any type of water?A. No. Copper tubes to BS EN1057 are not recommended for use with acidic water (i.e. the water has a pH value of less than about 6.5) and/or a total hardness value (expressed in terms of parts per million of calcium carbonate) below about 60 ppm. Copper tubes are therefore unsuitable for conveying (for example) distilled or demineralised water. However, copper is the eminent material for use with all waters which comply with EU Regulations on drinking water (i.e. all U.K. mains water supplies).

Q. how much water will a metre of 8, 10, 15, 22 and 28mm tubing hold?A. 0.036, 0.058, 0.15, 0.32 and 0.54 litres respectively (all figures approximate).

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A. half-hard temper, plain tubes in sizes up to 10mm can be bent using external springs and in sizes 15 and 22mm can be bent using internal springs. The springs should be made in accordance with bS5431. Spring bending is not recommended for 28mm tubes. Soft temper, coiled pipework in sizes up to 10mm (both plain and plastic covered) can often be manipulated by hand. All sizes of tubes (soft coils and half-hard, straight lengths) in sizes up to 28mm can be bent using machines fitted with appropriately sized and matched formers and guides.

PArT ONE

CONCLuDES NEXT ISSuE

Celebrating 60 years of

manufacturing in Kirkby

Take a trip back in time to see 60 years of the history of Yorkshire

Copper Tube in the first of our two part installment.

Tube Talk | 5

ProductionAll of Yorkshire’s copper tube starts life as a 400 kilo copper billet, which is heated to 860oC and extruded through a die to make a tube.

www.yct.com

QUALITY AND RELIABILITY FROM YORKSHIRE

Buildings throughout the world, from domestic housing to schools,

hospitals and luxury hotels, rely on copper pipework supplied by

Yorkshire for their plumbing, heating and gas services. The built-in

quality of Yorkshire tube, certified by BSi Kitemark and backed by a

25 year guarantee, ensures trouble-free operation, year after year.

You can rely on Yorkshire: so ask for it by name.

YORKSHIRE COPPER TUBE : BUILT IN QUALITY

91140_YCTSkyscraper_183x280.indd 1

8/4/09 10:06:00

Promotion

Our promotional materials have always reflected the quality of our products and services.

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YORKSHIRE COPPER TUBE

COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE

KME Group

90929 Tube Systems CORPORATE_ART 6/2/09 14:38 Page 3

Our LiteratureWe are always ahead of the times when it comes to our product literature.

Quick as a flashIt takes just 30 seconds to extrude 75 metres of tube into the conveyor where it is cooled and the solid ends sheared off.

Tube Talk | 7

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CONCLuDES NEXT ISSuE

Copper coilingAll tubing that will be 28mm or smaller is drawn through the primary shumags and coiled into baskets.

Spinner blocksTube is manually fed into spinner blocks, where up to 1,000 metres per minute are drawn to further reduce the size.

Tube Talk | 9

The aim is to allow the company to analyse processes and business functions in order to further improve customer service and become the lowest cost producer of high quality copper tube in Europe.

Yorkshire Copper Tube recently played host to sister companies from France, Germany, Italy and Spain for an OpEx training event. It was such a success that Yorkshire’s state of the art office complex has been named as the preferred Europe wide destination for all future OpEx training.

Simon Blackmore is Yorkshire’s OpEx lead person and has earned the status of Black Belt. He works full time on various projects that follow the basic rules of the DMAIC process, which means Define, Measure, Analyse, Improve and Control.

He explains: “Our involvement in OpEx will

help us further improve our products and services. We are working hard to implement processes that increase customer satisfaction, improve our manufacturing processes and ensure safe and efficient working across all our employees.

“I am also in the process of training other members of staff and we have several members that have achieved Green Belt status, which means they will work on OpEx projects in addition to their other duties.”

Watch this space for more news about OpEx projects.

Yorkshire Copper Tube leads the way with

Never a company to rest on its laurels, Yorkshire Copper Tube has cemented its commitment to ongoing improvement by signing up to the KME Group led initiative OpEx.

Yorkshire Copper Tube is releasing its very own DVD in our latest expedition into the digital age.

It is packed with information about what we do and how we do it, from a timeline that pinpoints landmarks in our glorious history to an animated video journey through our state of the art production plant.

You’ll also find all our company and product literature on there, meaning you can keep all our information in one, easy to access place.

Drop us a line on yorkshire@icgonline.co.uk and we’ll put a copy in the post to you.

We’re always on the lookout for new and exciting ways to connect with you, our valued customer.This year we are embarking on a high profile media campaign, where we will be sharing all our news and keeping you up to date with any projects we are working on.

We will be featuring in key industry titles throughout the year so keep your eyes peeled.

YCT ON ThE bIG SCrEEN

Read all about us

10 | Tube Talk

From polo-shirts to t-shirts and tube cutters to dynamo torches and flasks, we’ve covered every base when it comes to plumbing essentials.

Jack Wallace, Yorkshire Copper Tube’s Sales Director, said: “We have filled our stock room with very useful branded merchandise and we

will be giving 20 packs away in June.

“This competition gives plumbers the chance to get a full pack of goodies, all of which will come in handy time and time again.

“It is our way of saying thanks to our customers, and welcoming new ones.

“But get your entries in quickly because the competition closes on June 4th. Best of luck.”

To enter the competition please answer the question below, which is based on information in this edition of Tube Talk.

Q. What is the name of the exhibition that Yorkshire Copper Tube will be attending throughout 2010?

YOrKShIrE GOODIES GALOrE

If you would prefer to post your entry, please send a postcard to: Tube Talk Promotion, ICG, Windy Harbour Barn, Harbour Lane, Warton, Preston, Lancashire, PR4 1YB. Please include your name, business name, address, postcode and contact telephone number.

EMAIL YOUR ANSWER TO TubETALK@ICGONLINE.CO.uK PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, POSTCODE AND CONTACT TELEPHONE NUMBER.

No edition of Tube Talk would be complete without a competition and this time round we are offering you the chance to win a fantastic pack of practical goodies.

THE DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES IS FRIDAY 4TH JUNE 2010. ANY ENTRIES RECEIVED AFTER THIS DATE WILL NOT BE INCLUDED. THE WINNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED SHORTLY AFTER THE CLOSING DATE. NO CASH ALTERNATIVE IS AVAILABLE. FULL TERMS AND CONDITIONS ARE AVAILABLE ON REQUEST. Tube Talk | 11

WIN+

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20 SETSTO GIVE AWAY!

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POLOT-ShIrT

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Disclaimer: Yorkshire Copper Tube operates a policy of continuous improvement of products and services. Every effort has been made to ensure that information contained in this newsletter is accurate. However, Yorkshire Copper Tube does not accept any liability for any omissions or errors in the text.

KME Group

Yorkshire Copper TubeEast Lancashire RoadKirkby, Liverpool L33 7TU United Kingdom

SalesTel. +44 (0)151 545 5079Fax. +44 (0)151 549 2139sales@yct.com

Technical ServicesTel. +44 (0)151 545 5107Fax. +44 (0)151 545 5018technical@yct.com

www.yct.com

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Can you find these ten words hidden within the word search above?DVD Polo shirt Tube cutters Torch Manufacturing Phex Celebration Anniversary Alcatraz Billet

Tea Break Word Search

MEET Our PEOPLE...We ventured into the warehouse and had a chat with Warehouse and Transport Manager billy Thompson and Transport Planner Yvonne Theaker-burns for this edition’s Meet Our Team feature.

Billy joined Yorkshire Copper Tube as Night Shift Supervisor in 1999 and was promoted to Warehouse Manager in 2003. During this time he worked increasingly on the transport side of the business and in 2005 became Warehouse and Transport Manager.

He has more than 32 years experience in logistics and oversees the stock, loading and planning for UK deliveries, Mediterranean and Middle East container loads and incoming stock deliveries from Yorkshire’s sister plants in Europe.

Billy lives in Rainhill with his partner and two teenage children. He spends much of his spare time doing DIY; although he admits that much of it is under duress! None of Billy’s work colleagues believe that, up until leaving school, he was actually in training to be a priest.

Billy’s ‘right hand woman’ is Transport Planner Yvonne Theaker-Burns. With more than 20 years experience in the transport industry she joined Yorkshire Copper Tube in 2006.

When we asked her what she did on a day to day basis the simple answer was: “I make sure our customers get what they want, when they want it.”

Of course, it is a bit more complicated than that, as she has to ensure her route planning provides optimum vehicle utilisation and efficiency.

Yvonne lives in Ormskirk and is due to marry in June this year. She has an eight year old daughter and two grown up step children. She spends her weekends helping husband to be, Steve, in the family livery business.

A l C A T r A z E C T f T A Ao M T j M f P T E S u M f P nC f h t A A o l B o B f D o AE l D q n S l C x f E P S Y nl o V x u f o l j Y C r V g nE E S C f A S o h E u P g h IB C g j A A h g I K T B T K Vr E D r C n I o l g T u u S EA o l P T o r g u T E j r D rT o r C u h T T r A r S W f SI A T o r C h E P W S B S g Ao o P P I S j K u E P E T E rn D g f n g M u M x u K o r Yh C o x g h T r I n g B l Y lE g E g D W D T u D D o K E Ko h E T g V l q V x u r E f hP Y l K h f D D f E E h h A lE f D C A q o h B B I l l E T