TPT November 2010

T echnology U pdate

CMT robotic technology

CRC-Evans Automatic Welding designs and builds automatic welding systems for land and offshore pipeline construction. In addition to renting or selling these systems to contractors on a project basis, the division provides other specialised services such as engineering, on-site technicians and training. The company is a subsidiary of CRC-Evans Pipeline International, a provider of equipment for the construction of pipelines. CRC-Evans Automatic Welding – USA Fax: +1 832 249 3292 Email: autoweld@crc-evans.com Website: www.crc-evans.com produce completely different products on one production line. This provides the tube manufacturer with the possibility to not only produce round tubes but also complex welded and open sections. The system ensures that all tool parameters are set and the new product can be produced within the required tolerances and without need for additional adjustment. Dreistern GmbH & Co – Germany Fax: +49 7622 391 88 200 Email: heinrich.weber@dreistern.com Website: www.dreistern.com

CRC-Evans has integrated CMT (cold metal transfer) technology with its P450 automatic welding machine, creating new parameters of quality and speed for work on small-diameter pipe. This equipment offers advanced capabilities that the company claims can make a significant difference in productivity for offshore projects. CRC-Evan’s CMT robotic technology controls all functions digitally with advanced software that instantly processes welding

data. Equipped with continuous digital feedback, CMT boosts response time for the power supply and executes precise control of the AC servo wire feed motor. 5G and 2G root bead passes are completed rapidly and perfectly. No copper backup clamp is required. “This technology is game-changing for small-diameter offshore and spoolbase pipeline operations,” said Paul DeWeese, president of CRC-Evans Automatic Welding. tube and profile producers are not prepared to manage this challenge. Roll tool change- over techniques require too much time. At the same time, the companies are forced to reduce their inventory cost in order to meet cost targets. Dreistern has developed a number of technologies that allow for an efficient counter strategy. They target two main areas: Reduction of the required time for a product change to a few minutes, in order to allow the producer to supply small batch sizes without the need for intermediate storing; and enhanced capability to

Improved capacity

A GLOBAL oversupply of goods is forcing many producers of consumer goods to produce an increasing number of new products for any possible target group. As a consequence their suppliers have to deal with an increasing number of product variants and often drastically reduced lead times. Many

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N ovember 2010

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