TPI July 2012

products & developments

Orbital welding carriage increases production

incorporate jog settings. The system is supplied with a main control box with 7,620mm (25ft) umbilical, wire feed spool capacity of 4.5kg (10lb), with a

Gullco’s Pipe Kat ® automated pipe welding system with integrated wire feeder unit incorporates a 40 IPM welding carriage design with quick- action mounting for ease of installation. The carriage is equipped with a high-speed return feature for faster repositioning of the carriage. The Pipe Kat is equipped with a linear oscillator with adjustable weave width and weld joint centreline adjustment, and all electronic motorised functions

Pipe Kat automated pipe welding system

maximum wire speed of 89-226cm/ min (35-633 IPM) and a wire size range of 0.8 to 2mm. The welding torch uses standard consumables.

Gullco International Limited – Canada sales@gullco.com www.gullco.com

Exports from South Africa South African pipe and tube manufacturers have been exporting their products for more than 40 years, and are committed to sustaining and growing this market through the provision of high- quality products, excellent service and timely delivery via established logistics and distribution networks.

of South Africa) is focusing on helping local steel pipe and tube manufacturers to increase exports, particularly value- added products, which have potential for growth in established markets.

of scaffolding tube, conveyor and mine appliance tube, shock absorbers (inner and outer tubes) and, since 2011, tubular steel security doors and tubing used in automotive products. According to Colin Shaw, executive director of the Association of Steel Tube and Pipe Manufacturers of South Africa (ASTPM), the steel tube and pipe industry has recovered well from the 2008 economic recession and, overall, 2011 was a good year for the industry. Export council STEASA (Steel Tube Export Association It incorporates a number of features including options to handle metric as well as imperial sizes, and can operate in English, German or Italian, as well as across three currencies: EUR, USD and GBP. “Our intention in developing the Sandvik ‘Bar converter’ app is to help customers to identify potential savings,” explained Birgitta Larsson, product specialist for hollow bar at Sandvik. “This app clearly demonstrates the potential raw material savings that can be achieved and aids machine shop customers weigh up the advantages of specifying hollow bar for appropriate machining contracts.”

ASTPM – South Africa astpm@astpm.com www.astpm.com

In 2011 tube and pipe exports continued to grow, particularly value-added tubular products such as seamless. Value- added tubular exports largely consist

STEASA –South Africa www.steasa.com

Bar converter app Sandvik is launching a free ‘Bar converter’ app for iPhone and iPad, which quickly calculates the potential savings when changing from solid stainless steel bar to Sanmac ® hollow bar. The app was developed to help design engineers, mechanical workshop operators and customers in general, who currently machine holes in the centre of solid stainless steel bar, to estimate the potential savings that could be achieved by switching to Sanmac hollow bar.

The app is available to download free from the Apple App store: http://itunes. apple.com/app/id508707912 Sandvik Materials Technology – Sweden www.smt.sandvik.com/tube

Sanmac hollow bar from Sandvik

By simply entering data such as component dimensions, bore diameter and the number of machined items, the app quickly calculates the estimated cost savings possible when switching from solid bar to hollow bar.

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July 2012 Tube Products International