Marcegaglia to run Liberty Precision Tubes UK: sources

Marcegaglia, the world’s largest welded tube producer, will operate the Liberty precision tube mill in West Midlands, reliable market sources told S&P Global Platts.

Liberty Precision Tubes has an annual production capacity of 80,000 mt, but currently produces only 30,000 mt/year, UK sources told Platts. It is understood that Marcegaglia aims to increase production in a first phase and then possibly purchase the company.

The Liberty mill makes tubes for both the UK and export markets, serving automotive, petrochemical, construction, electrical, material handling/conveyors, garden and leisure, furniture and horticulture sectors.

“Marcegaglia in the UK produces already precision tubes so the eventual purchase makes sense in order to increase its presence in UK,” a trader commented.

Marcegaglia UK was established in 1996 and is makes electro-welded carbon steel tubes for a wide range of applications. Its production facilities are located in Dudley (West Midlands) and in Rotherham (South Yorkshire).

Taken together, the facilities, employing 128 in total, have yearly output capacity of 100,000 mt of finished products, making Marcegaglia UK the largest precision tube maker in Great Britain.

Marcegaglia and Liberty when contacted by Platts did not reply before the editorial deadline

— Annalisa Vill and Len Griffin