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Tube Products International January 2014
products & developments
Make the titanium connection
RathGibson, a manufacturer of welded,
welded and drawn, and seamless
stainless steel, nickel, titanium, and
speciality alloy tubing, is connecting
with the power generation and chemical
processing industries by offering
titanium tubing for heat exchangers,
condensers and chemical processing
applications.
The tubing has the corrosion resistance
and strength-to-weight ratio that make
it suitable for operations in harsh
environments, including seawater.
RathGibson offers titanium grade 2 in
wall thicknesses from 0.51 to 2.11mm
(0.02" to 0.083"), with outer diameter
sizes ranging from 12.7 to 38.1mm (0.5"
to 1.5"). The light-walled tubing not
only optimises heat exchange, but also
reduces the overall operating costs.
A thin oxide film over the tube’s surface
maximises corrosion resistance. All
tubes are ASTM B338 and ASME SB338
certified, with excellent weldability for
more flexible designs.
“RathGibson has always and will
continue to produce high-calibre tubing
thatmeets our customers’ ever-changing
needs,” said Greg Jones, director, CPI
sales. “Our extensive experience with
the power generation and chemical
processing industries has led us to the
realisation that many situations require
the strength and durability that only
titanium can provide.”
RathGibson, a PCC Energy Group
Company, is a manufacturer of precision
engineered straight lengths, coil and
U-bend tubing for diverse industries
such as power generation, renewable, oil
and gas, petrochemical, chemical, food
and dairy, beverage, pharmaceutical,
and general commercial. Its US
manufacturing locations include
Janesville, Wisconsin; North Branch,
New Jersey; and Clarksville, Arkansas
(Greenville Tube).
RathGibson
– USA
Titanium tubing from RathGibson
New range of pipe plugs
Trelleborg Offshore and Construction’s
Infrastructure business, a global
supplier of polymer-based critical
solutions for deployment in highly
demanding infrastructure environments,
has launched a new range of pipe plugs
that are lighter, safer and more flexible
to install.
Jacco Vonk, business development
manager within Trelleborg Offshore
and Construction, commented, “Pipe
closures for maintenance or construction
work are a common occurrence in
sewage systems, so it is important that
they’re done quickly and efficiently to
reduce delays or potential problems.
In some instances, the pipe must be
completely blocked off or the flow
reduced. In these cases an inflatable
stopper or pipe plug is ideal for the job.
“In increasingly more challenging
environments with even tighter budgets,
it is important that working pipes are
stopped for as little time as possible
and concerns over difficult or unsafe
installations are diminished. This is why
we’ve invested heavily into the design
and manufacturing processes of our
pipe plugs, to create a product which
is simpler for installers to fit and is safer
once in situ.”
Trelleborg’s new production process
means that the plugs are no longer fully
manufactured by hand, resulting in a
higher consistency of quality control
and the ability to ensure finite detail
within each plug. Produced using layers
of rubber reinforced with high quality
aramid, the material can be applied
more tightly so less fabric is required,
resulting in a lighter and more flexible
product.
With new side handles incorporated
into the design, the plugs are easier to
handle and manoeuvre into position.
The top plates are smaller in diameter,
making transportation through tight
manholes and difficult 90º pipe turns
easier and quicker.
The refined material application used
within the new range will provide the
plugs with an advanced ability to
withstand high back pressures, reducing
any concerns of plug failures.
The multi-size, inflatable flow stopper
range is available for underground pipe
diameters ranging from 40 to 2,400mm,
and can be specified with or without
a bypass. The improved designs are
expected to decrease the time taken to
install and remove the plugs, as well as
improve flexibility and safety.
Trelleborg AB
– Sweden
Trelleborg’s
new pipe plug
