TPT March 2010

I ndustry N ews

World’s oldest drill pipe machine still going strong after 40 years

productivity as a result of the global boom in oil and mineral exploration. “The longevity of this machine is a tremendous acknowledgement of the engineering skills and quality of workmanship that are still the hallmarks of Thompson friction welding machines today,” commented Simon Jones, Thompson’s Asia sales manager. Thompson machines are specially engineered to produce drill rods or heavy- duty oil pipes as they feature extended back stops and special forge clamps for friction welding an unlimited range of pipe sizes and lengths, he explained. As part of a crop of repeat orders, Thompson has supplied its third friction welder to a Korean manufacturer of drive axles. The company still operates its existing machines purchased 30 and 14 years ago respectively. Sales of Thompson friction welding machines for producing a wide variety of axles are still flourishing with strong demand from commercial vehicle makers in Europe and the Far East, stated Simon Jones. Thompson – UK Email: sales@thompsonfw.co.uk Website: www.thompsonfw.co.uk

THOMPSON is celebrating a remarkable engineering milestone after learning one of its first friction welding machines for producing oil drill pipes is still in use more than 40 years after it was made in the Midlands, UK. The firm believes it is the oldest working machine of its type anywhere in the world

and is delighted by the discovery, which only came to light when the Indian drill pipe manufacturer Oil Country Tubular ordered a new friction welder for its factory in Hyderabad. The company plans to continue using its existing Thompson machine, but now needs the additional equipment to boost

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Left to right: Simon Jones, Thompson’s Asia sales manager, V.Krishna Mohan Rao, Oil Country Tubular’s assistant general manager (production) and Peter Lovegrove, Thompson’s operations director

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