Worldwide demand for plastic pipe is forecast to increase more than 4% a year through 2007, reaching 6.3 billion meters.

Anderson Metals has hired Gil Fanchin, a 27-year industry veteran, as a regional sales manager based in California.

Valve World 2004 Conference: Submissions are now being accepted for papers to be presented at the Valve World 2004 Conference Nov. 9-11 in Maastricht, the Netherlands.

The American Iron and Steel Institute elected as its chairman David Sutherland, IPSCO's president and CEO.

World industrial valve demand will increase 5.5% per year through 2007 (including price increases) to more than $60 billion, according to the study “World Valves” by The Freedonia Group, a Cleveland-based market research firm.

Manufacturing purchasing and supply executives are optimistic about their companies' prospects for the first half, and predict additional growth during the second half of 2004, according to the 66th Semiannual Economic Forecast by the Institute for Supply Management.

Emerson Industrial Automation is the recipient of the 2003 Frost & Sullivan Award for Customer Service Leadership.

Parker Instrumentation has been selected to supply more than $250,000 worth of valves and compression tube fittings during the first quarter of 2004 to the refurbishment of the Basra refinery in southern Iraq.

Cooper B-Line has produced a new Seismic Restraints guide with an instructional CD, covering multi-directional bracing for mechanical piping systems, electrical conduit and cable tray.

Europe's Geberit Group has spent some $372.5 million euros to acquire the Mapress Group, a leading provider of metal press fitting systems and drainage products for a broad array of applications, including residential buildings, fire sprinkler systems and industrial piping.