TPi November 2013

products & developments

Steel and aluminium tube stockist Kirkby Steel Tubes is a privately owned mild steel, stainless steel and aluminium tube stockholder, operating in a 50,000ft 2 warehouse in St Helens in the north west of England. The company, founded in the 1960s, is strongly independent and believes that this gives it the ability to obtain the most competitive prices from suppliers of tube worldwide. The company has expanded over the last ten years into dealing with complex export jobs, and it regularly exports to the Middle East and Africa. In July the company shipped to Africa a container of aluminised products, including tube from 38 to 127mm OD with a 1.5mm wall thickness.

steel, stainless steel and aluminium bends, and all corresponding fittings. It works extensively with the pneumatic industry, providing a just- in-time delivery service with bespoke bends of varying centreline radii, with couplings and fittings to suit. Kirkby Steel and Lakeside can take on small and large jobs, and states that customer satisfaction is vital. The companies are constantly expanding their stock range in tube, and can also source hot finished seamless and cold drawn seamless mild steel tube through its mills.

Kirkby also offers a cut-to-length delivery service from its state-of-the- art RSA cutting machine, which allows high speed cutting at tight tolerances. The company’s expansion has taken it into the pneumatic conveying industry with sister company Lakeside Engineering, based at the same site. Lakeside deals in all forms of mild

Kirkby originally serviced the conveyor roller business but diversified into many niche areas that use large OD tube with thinner wall thicknesses; the company then extended the range to all sizes of ERW mild steel tube. The rise of the exhaust industry in Britain provided the opportunity to stock a diverse range of aluminised products.

Kirkby Steel Tubes Ltd – UK mail@kst.uk.com www.kst.uk.com

New ring grip tube coupling Tuf-Lok has introduced the Tuf-Lok ring grip tube coupling – a rugged, heavy duty, self-aligning and self-grounded tube coupling with a high end pull for almost any application where tube ends need to be connected. conditions are accommodated, so the Tuf-Lok tube coupling is leak-proof from the outside, as well as the inside. The leak-proof connection is maintained even when the Tuf-Lok tube coupling is completely submerged – a feature not always achievable with other tube couplings.

steel, aluminium and most other thick or thin wall tube. The coupling is available in sizes 76 to 152mm (3" to 6") in mild steel, zinc plated or stainless steel. Custom gaskets are also available.

Tuf-Lok International – USA info@tuflok.com www.tuflok.com

The Tuf-Lok tube coupling installs quickly, and reinstallation is also fast and easy. This makes it suitable for applications where assembly and disassembly are required. With the Tuf-Lok ring grip tube coupling, the tube ends do not require machining or grooving, and do not become marred or damaged when making a connection. The high end pull capability makes the Tuf-Lok ring grip tube coupling one of the strongest and most rugged available. This toughness is important for many applications, including those with high dynamic loads or applications where the structural integrity is important. Vibration and excessive tube movement can be accommodated by the tube coupling. A special design feature built into the gasket of the Tuf-Lok ring grip tube coupling allows it to accommodate both high pressure and full vacuum pressure conditions. Even high external pressure

The Tuf-Lok ring grip tube coupling can be installed on almost any kind of metal tube, irrespective of the wall thickness. It can also be used on mild steel, stainless

Tuf-Lok UK sales@tuflok.co.uk www.tuflok.co.uk

Tuf-Lok tube couplings

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November 2013 Tube Products International