Following approval from the European Competition Authorities (ECA), the merging of the European activities of GRP pipe producers Hobas (Klagenfurt / Austria; www.hobas.com) and Amiantit (Dammam / Saudi Arabia; www.amiantit.com) – including Flowtite's (Sandefjord / Norway; www.flowtite.com) activities – was successfully completed on 28 August (see Plasteurope.com of 15.08.2017). The 50:50 joint venture is named Amiblu, with headquarters in Klagenfurt.

Nick Crofts is CEO of the jv and Claus Brun, former managing director of Hobas, is CCO International. The "Hobas" and "Flowtite" brands will continue as part of the new company. Flowtite has been part of the Amiantit group since 2001.

GRP pipes produced by Amiantit and Hobas, which is a subsidiary of Wietersdorfer (Klagenfurt; www.wietersdorfer.com), are used in drinking water, irrigation, waste water, hydropower and industrial applications.