TPT July 2007

2007

substantial experience, as it is not enough for the chiller to be properly sized. It is essential to know the ideal quantity, as well as the inclination of the spray nozzles required to cool the pipes. The thickness control device, which affords the possibility of effecting accurate adjustments to the extrusion die head, optimizes the process. A special cutting unit

EXHIBITOR PROFILES

Alcobex Metals Ltd India

Alcobex Metals Ltd is an ISO 9001- 2000 certified company engaged in the manufacture of copper and copper based alloy through the hot extruded and cold drawn methods. A key player in the world market for heat exchanger and condenser tubes, the company also offers solids and profiles in various alloys ranging from Ø 6-159mm and lengths of up to 18m. With over 40 years experience, Alcobex serves the power industry, refineries, desalination plants, offshore, ship building, sugar industry and component manufacturers. The main alloys in the range are 90/10 copper nickel, 70/30 copper nickel, cunifer 66/30/2/2, aluminium brass, admiralty brass, aluminium bronze, silicon bronze, phosphorus bronze, copper DHP/ETP, and copper chrome zirconium. Established in 1974, Bandera is a world- leading manufacturer of extrusion lines for plastic products, including pipes, film and thermoplastic foils/sheets. The company has recently completed the supply to a Russian producer of a turnkey line for three-layer coating of steel pipes (ie epoxy primer, tie resin, polyethylene), with a diameter range of 1¼" to 21" and a length of up to 12m. The Bandera pipe coating process takes place via sleeve technology, which consists of a special co-extrusion die head that achieves a uniform distribution of the coating layers over the circumference of the pipes. The line has a production capacity of up to 300m 2 /h, an effective rate due to the Luigi Bandera SpA Italy Website : www.alcobex.com

› Bandera’s new turnkey line for three-layer coating of steel pipes

relatively small diameters of the pipes undergoing the coating process. Bandera has developed an automatic device for both axis-pipe and axis-die head alignment. A number of sensors, assembled at the inlet of the co-extrusion die head, detect the exact pipe position. These sensors are interfaced with two different handling systems that allow the extrusion die head to continuously adjust its position along the X and Y axes. The line is of significant size (160m x 30m), and presents numerous relevant technical features. A special washing and rinsing unit cleans the pipes prior to their entrance into the gas furnace, to be fully dried, before proceeding to the sand blaster. Innovative, automatic and fully independent tape wrapping units wrap the pipe heads with adhesive tape, in order to ease the pipe brushing process that will take place downstream. Downstream of the take- off unit, the pipe is heated by a specific induction furnace (170-220°C) and subsequently goes through the ‘primer cabin’. Inside the primer cabin a uniform layer of epoxy varnish is distributed over its surface, in order to increase the adhesion of coating materials to be applied by the extrusion die head. A number of cooling tanks are positioned immediately downstream of the extrusion area, fed by a specific raw material charging, drying and dosing system. These cooling tanks have the function of decreasing the temperature of the pipe down to about 50°C. Since this process involves significant water volumes, a closed cycle system is used. The water in this system is filtered and cooled by a chilling unit before being recycled. This technology is derived from

facilitates the operators in carrying out the separation of the pipes downstream of the extrusion area. New brushing cabins allow the removal of the coating material from the pipe heads more quickly and precisely, as compared to the procedure adopted in the past. Bandera has also introduced an additional machine into the line, adding technical value to it and consequently increasing its technological level. This additional machine is the automatic pipe-packing device that, through the use of a handling unit, affords the possibility of placing the pipes in hexagonal bundles, preparing them for transportation. New, high temperature and wear-resistant technopolymers are used along the whole line for the manufacturing of the roll gangs. These are the conveyors that carry out pipe handling among the various machines in the line. An electronic control system is used to help operate this line, and Bandera have also developed software for pipe coating lines.

Website : www.luigibandera.com

Bossi Srl Italy

With over 40 years of experience in the production of machines for metal surface finishing, Bossi Srl offers a wide range of solutions for grinding, satin-finishing, polishing and deburring. Bossi’s products include centreless grinding/polishing machines for round

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J uly /A ugust 2007