History of the Flowtite technology

In 1965, a group of engineers at the paint company Jotun A/S in Sandefjord, Norway, started experimenting with polyester resin and glass fibers. In cooperation with Drostholm and Danish engineers, the continuous filament winding (CFW) process for GRP pipes and tanks was created. The first CW machine was built in Norway and started commercial production in the early seventies.

In cooperation with Owens Corning, the process was further developed, the technology company created and the Flowtite brand registered. In the mid-seventies, the first winding machine was commissioned for Amiantit in Saudi Arabia and further followed around the world. Over the years, Amiantit became Flowtite’s biggest customer. Ever since, GRP pipes have enjoyed huge success in the Middle East, where dozens of CW machines are in operation.

At the turn of the century, the Amiantit Group acquired Flowtite Technology and Owens Corning’s pipe factories including its licenses in Europe and around the world. A new era with impressive growth started. The R&D efforts were strengthened, the design of pipes, joints, and fittings optimized, and the manufacturing process further automated. Several new factories – both licensees and joint ventures – were established and Flowtite pipes are now manufactured on all continents.

The Flowtite technology is owned and licensed by the Amiblu Group. In 2017, the two market leading companies for glassfiber reinforced plastic (GRP) pipes, Amiantit Europe and its Flowtite technology, and Hobas Europe as part of the Wietersdorfer Holding GmbH, have combined forces to form a joint venture company, Amiblu. Amiblu’s headquarters is in Klagenfurt, Austria, and the company has production facilities in Germany, Spain, Poland and Romania. It has a R&D centre in Norway and employs around 1,500 people. Amiblu has an extensive network of sales offices, licensees, as well as manufacturing and distribution partners around the world.