TPT November 2007

Technology Update

supplier with a history of over 45 years of machine building experience and an installed base of more than 8,000 pieces of equipment in more than 60 countries. Eagle Precision Technologies Limited – Canada Fax : +1 519 756 0195

Hydroforming project benefits from all-electric CNC tube benders

Eagle Precision Technologies Limited, Canada, has supplied 6 all-electric benders for a unique hydroforming application to Vari-Form, a leader in hydroformed component manufacturing. Hydroforming is a cost-effective way of shaping malleable metals such as steel into lightweight, structurally stiff and strong parts by injecting pressurised fluid into a tube to form the material into a die cavity. The first step in producing hydroformed shapes is to bend a tube to a net shape to fit the die prior to hydroforming. This step of the process requires exact bending procedures and accurate machine operation to minimise scrap and fit the die correctly. In addition, the high-volume requirements of this project demanded a tube bender that could provide minimal cycle times. Vari-Form conducted an in-depth technical evaluation of the different tube bending machine suppliers to the market. Following this evaluation, Vari-Form chose the Eagle all-electric CNC tube bender for this project.

Email : sales@eaglept.com Website : www.eaglept.com

Eagle’s range of all electric benders have been designed with high efficiency, clearance and robustness as essential design criteria to meet Vari-Form’s requirements of high speed, reliability and accuracy. Furthermore, to meet Vari-Form’s minimal cycle time requirements, Eagle’s bender control solution, BendPro G2, can overlap machine motions and achieve optimal manufacturing efficiencies. Eagle Precision Technologies is a leading manufacturer of CNC tube and pipe benders, tube and pipe end-finishing equipment, muffler manufacturing equip- ment and tooling. The company is a global › An Eagle Precision Technologies all-electric CNC tube bender

Debris stoppers prevent pipeline catastrophe

The embarrassment and expense of dropping tools or leaving debris down holes or in pipes during maintenance can often be prevented by using inflatable plugs. Conversely the same product can be used to prevent overhead debris falling on to operators or onto sensitive equipment. Huntingdon Fusion Techniques has extended its range of ‘pipe stoppers’ which are simply inserted and then inflated to seal a pipe or tube. One of the earlier applications for this innovative product was at a UK naval dockyard faced with the task of preventing debris weighing up to 1kg falling into the nuclear power plant during maintenance. The stopper had to be fed through a 600mm aperture and then inflated to seal a 953mm diameter vessel. HFT manufactured the stopper with safety ties so that in the event of the stopper collapsing and falling down the hole it could be retrieved. Additionally a skirt was incorporated around the periphery so that any dust and debris would not fall into the crevice between the vessel wall and the edge of the stopper. Power generating companies have standardised on inflatable stoppers to prevent dust and particulate material falling into the turbines when repairs are undertaken. In addition, a number of pipeline companies use the stoppers to seal off pipelines at night or at the weekend to prevent entry of vermin and other animals. Huntingdon Fusion can manufacture these stoppers up to several metres in diameter and can also produce non-circular section devices to meet specific customer requirements. Huntingdon Fusion Techniques Ltd – UK Fax : +44 1554 836 837 Email : hft@huntingdonfusion.com Website : www.huntingdonfusion.com

Leading Chinese range of seamless steel tube products

Ningbo New-Era Steel Tube Co Ltd is one of the leading Chinese manufacturers and exporters of seamless steel tube products. Established in 1987, the company supplies customers located worldwide, including Germany, USA, Netherlands, Singapore, Korea, Argentina, and India.

The company provides seamless steel tube and pipe (cold drawn and cold rolled), together with high precision tubes. Ningbo can manufacture non- standard and special application tubes, according to international standards, as well as EN, DIN, ASTM, SA, and BS standards. The product size range is 6mm-323mm OD ( 1 / 8 " to 12"), and width thickness from 0.8mm to 30mm. In the region of 85 per cent of the company’s products are for export. The main export standards include DIN1629/2448 ST37/ST52, ASTM A106/ A53/API 5L Gr.B, DIN2391 NBK, BK+S, BK, ST35.8, ST52-3, DIN2440/2441 (EN10255) ST33-2, EN10216-2 (DIN17175 16Mo3, ST35), and ASTM A519 4130, 4140, 1020.

› Ningbo manufactures a range of seamless steel tubes ranging from 6mm to 323mm

Ningbo New-Era Steel Tube Co Ltd – China Fax : +86 0574 87700068 • Email : trade@xjygg.com.cn • Website : www.xjygg.com.cn

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N ovember /D ecember 2007