NUPI announces global alliance with ChevronTexaco

NUPI has announced a global alliance with ChevronTexaco Corp. for the design and supply of retail piping systems to serve ChevronTexaco's retail service station network operating under the Chevron, Caltex and Texaco brand in 73 countries. The alliance agreement is for three years. In accordance to this deal, Nupi will supply to Chevron's filling stations throughout the world its advanced piping systems for automotive fuels, in particular the Smartflex range, offering superior reliability and install productivity. "This is a very exciting time for NUPI," said Massimo Genoni, Managing Director of NUPI S.p.A.. "Having been selected by a global energy company for our competitive products in manufacturing, innovation, safety and the environment is very comforting. Our culture & vision is to provide a totally integrated solution, offering the highest levels of operational excellence. We are committed to making our relationship with ChevronTexaco work at all levels." NUPI is a wholly owned Italian company that has been developing and manufacturing piping solutions for the oil industry since 1994.

Nupi Industrial Division ( ID) is an autonomous unit of Nupi S.p.A. Group of Castel Guelfo (Bologna, Italy), leader for 25 years in the development and production of thermoplastic piping systems for plumbing.

Nupi ID, based in Imola (Bologna), started its activity in 1995 as Nupi SpA launched a long-term R&D program aimed at developing dedicated piping systems for the conveyance of petroleum, automotive fuels, chemicals and, in general, for industrial applications.

Nupi ID undertakes all sales activities through its officials operating out of the Company's offices: Corporate Headquarters (Europe, Africa, Middle East, South America), the Nupi Americas Inc. Office, located in Houston, TX (United States, Canada), with two sales and marketing offices located respectively in Philadelphia, PA (Eastern.) and San Francisco, CA. (Western), the Asian Sales and Marketing Office, located in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia (Australia, Pacific, Asia and the Subcontinent).

Currently, Nupi ID manufactures two main product lines: Oiltech and ChemPEX. Oiltech consists of multilayer piping systems, including Smartflex, the system developed for applications at gas stations, refineries and tank farms. ChemPEX is a Cross-linked Polyethylene System that makes use of a proprietary catalyst formulation developed for the oil and geothermal industry

Nupi ID operates its own R&D, marketing, sales, shipping, manufacturing and customer support departments. Nupi ID also holds intramural and on-location technical seminars and customer training sessions.

Key benefits of the Smartflex system

Nupi's unique Smartflex system is a comprehensive solution, addressing multiple concerns from oil companies and service station contractors, in terms of installation quality as well as long term durability (30 years warranty) in presence of the aggressive fluids composing not only today's, but also tomorrow's automotive fuels.

The Smartflex system offers an integrated approach, aligning:

Quality

• state of the art combination of HDPE, building the structural layer, with hydrocarbon and permeation resistant polymers used in the inner layer, the joints and every other part in contact with fluids.
• reliable lifetime predictability, based on advanced models calculating the thermo-mechanical behavior of pressurized Smartflex pipes
• ISO9000 compliant quality systems guaranteeing a pre-set quality level for all products

Productivity

• Smartflex pipes offer dramatic productivity gains in the installation, compared to metal based, as well as versus traditional plastic pipings. Their built-in electric welding devices save time and provide a faster, more reliable, less permeable bond, associated with overall cost reductions

Integration of the supply chain

• The quality of installations is monitored through a bar code based system, storing vital details such as how and when the installation was performed, installer's identity and skill level, materials used (lot, production date, etc), as well as enabling only certified installers to complete the operation.

ChevronTexaco Corp. (NYSE: CVX), one of the world's largest integrated energy companies, is involved in every aspect of the energy industry, from oil and gas exploration and production to transportation, refining and retail marketing, as well as chemicals manufacturing and sales and power production. The company is the second largest U.S.-based company and the fifth largest in the world. Active in more than 180 countries, ChevronTexaco employs more than 50,000 people worldwide.