TPT July 2012

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Industry News
6 July 2012
Schuler
acquires
large pipe
expertise
THE demand for large pipes for the
construction of pipelines is currently
growing. Schuler AG, Germany, has
reacted to this trend and expanded its
product spectrum to include turnkey
systems solutions for the economic
production of large pipes. This was made
possible by the company’s acquisition
of ATIS GmbH, an engineering firm
specialising in this field. The respective
contracts were signed in April.
Schuler has more than 170 years of
expertise in the field of metal forming,
as well as extensive know-how in
research and development, large
equipment manufacturing, project
processing, and global service network.
ATIS will provide detailed knowledge
of the planning, development, delivery
and modernisation of complete pipe
equipment and systems throughout the
world. “This strong partnership offers
numerous benefits for our customers,”
said Jochen Früh, managing director of
Schuler Pressen GmbH.
Pipelines have to span huge distances
across inhospitable terrains and are
often exposed to extreme conditions.
Temperatures well below freezing and
enormous pressures, such as on the
seabed, exert huge loads on the pipes.
At the same time, the pressure inside
the pipes is being constantly raised
in order to extend the distances of the
transported materials.
“The stability and absolute quality
of the manufactured pipes is therefore
all the more important,” explained
Dietmar Rieser, managing director
of ATIS. During their manufacture,
pipes are carefully scrutinised using
ultrasonic devices, X-rays and water
pressure (with a hydrotester). There are
two basic methods for the production
process itself: “Large pipes are either
welded together as spirals from a long
metal coil or bent to an ‘O-shape’ with
a longitudinal weld,” explained Manfred
Wischnewski, managing director of
Schuler SMG GmbH & Co KG.
Spiral-shaped pipes can be
manufactured in lengths of up to 24m, with
diameters of 450 to 3,500mm and wall
thicknesses of 6 to25mm. The formingand
welding stages can directly follow each
other (online process). Longitudinal weld
pipes with diameters of up to 1,625mm
and wall thicknesses of up to 65mm are
produced using either crimping presses,
U-forming and O-forming presses, or
equipment for the step forming process –
such as Schuler’s Linear Feeding J-Press
(LFJ press). Longitudinal weld pipes are
usually produced in lengths of 12 or 18m.
The new LFJ press can also produce
lengths of up to 24m.
A lower-priced alternative to stainless
steel pipes, needed for the transport of
aggressive or sensitive substances,
are lined pipes – a combination of thin-
walled stainless steel and conventional
carrier pipes. They are produced using
the hydroforming process during which
the pipes are also sized. They can be
produced in lengths of up to 12m and
reach diameters of up to 530mm.
Schuler AG – Germany
Fax: +49 7161 66 907
Website:
ATIS GmbH – Germany
Fax: +49 7555 927530
Email:
Website:
View of a spiral pipe plant