TPT November 2011

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November 2011 87 ›
Bending & Tube Manipulation
Optimisation of material properties
FABRICOM, Belgium, a manufacturer
of induction bends, has the advanced
technological and machine operating
capabilities required to produce pipe spools
with bends in multiple planes from a single
length of straight pipe. This advanced
bending technique is the result of experience
gained throughout more than 30 years
of manufacturing and development work,
and is of particular value in onshore and
offshore oil and gas pipeline systems as
well as specific applications in the chemical,
petrochemical and energy sectors.
Some of the key benefits of producing
weldless pipe spools from straight pipes
are that it reduces the amount of welding
required, and as such the associated costs
and risks; and by reducing the number
of welds in the system, increases plant
integrity and safety while reducing the
required amount of in-service inspection.
Fabricom operates six induction bending
machines with diameters of up to 64", all of
which offer a high degree of flexibility in
terms of bend radius, bend angle and bend
plane, and being computer controlled, are
able to achieve close tolerances. The
company is able to work with all types of
material, including seamless or welded
pipes in carbon steel and stainless
steel, as well as the most sophisticated
alloy steels.
After bending, especially of heavy wall
materials or special alloy steels, it may
be necessary to restore the mechanical
properties using heat treatment. Such
treatments include stress relieving heat
treatment, normalising heat treatment,
normalising and tempering heat treatment,
quenching heat treatment, and quenching
and tempering heat treatment.
In order to be able to perform these
types of heat treatment, Fabricom has
five furnaces, all of which can be heated
to 1,200°C. In order to meet the strict
requirements set by the oil and gas industry
with regards to corrosion resistance and
superior material hardness, Fabricom
also has a quench tank at its facilities in
Belgium. Following heat treatment, bends
can be cooled down immediately in order
to obtain the right resistance and hardness.
Fabricom – Belgium
Fax: +32 2 251 17 90
Email:
Website:
Free-standing bending machines
GREGSON Induction Benders Ltd, UK,
has 30 years’ experience in the design
and manufacture of induction bending
machines. In the late 1970s and early
80s there was a high demand for quality
large bore pipe bending for the oil and
gas industries. During this period the
company developed machines to meet
these demands.
Acknowledging the weakness and
shortcomings of machines that use the
workshop floor as an integral part of
the foundation support, Geoff Gregson
formed a team of professional engineers
to develop a range of advanced, free-
standing machines where the bending
moment is contained within the machine
chassis.
The machines were initially developed
for internal use only, but the company
quickly started to receive enquiries to
supply machines.
Modern Gregson bending machines
are used throughout the world in all
major pipe-bending industries. The
latest installation is a 36" machine for
a bending company based in Houston,
Texas. This machine has been adapted
to bend structural steel as well as pipe,
giving greater flexibility. Features of
Gregson machines include the capability
to perform compound bending, a unique
induction coil design, top or end loading,
infinite bend radius, user-friendly and
easy to operate, composite arrangements,
low-cost tooling, and flexible software
packages.
Gregson Induction Benders Ltd – UK
Fax: +44 1782 641020
Email:
Website:
End forming/roll forming machine
MANCHESTER Tool & Die Inc offers the
hydraulically operated Model M10-H-
3-R End Forming/Roll Forming Machine,
featuring standard MTD components and
using the same tooling as the M71-H-3 and
24008 machines.
The M10-H-3-R offers the HMI
(Human Machine Interface) user-friendly,
programmable flexible control system
and includes diagnostics for machine
maintenance.
The end forming and roll forming
stations are positioned so the operator
can load and unload both clamp areas.
A design offering future auto loading and
unloading systems allows tube end forms
requiring end forming and roll forming
processes to be completed without
any staging of materials used between
processes.
The M10 can also be designed with
a 6-position end form station for tube
end forms that require components to be
assembled onto the tube before the rolling
processes. The machine footprint is 72"
wide x 96" deep.
Manchester Tool & Die Inc – USA
Email:
Website: