Technology News
138
M
arch
2014
Non-destructive
testing
SOFRATEST is a French company
that specialises in the manufacturing of
non-destructive testing equipment for
longitudinal or spiral welded pipes.
It has pioneered developments in
computer-based solutions for non-
destructive testing such as ultrasound
and electromagnetic techniques.
Its main products are automatic
ultrasonic for weld and parent material
inspection for ERW and SAW process
and multi-channel control (up to 32) for
high-speed inspection
of plate before forming.
The company of-
fers innovation and
application
of
ad-
vanced
technology
in turnkey systems
of automated inspec-
tion systems with full
traceability according to higher standard
(API, ARAMCO, SHELL, BS534,
DIN 17172).
Sofratest
– France
Email:
Website:
Off-line SAW spiral weld examination
Eddy current and ultrasonic
solutions for tubes inspection
WITH more than 25 years of experience
designing and manufacturing eddy
current and ultrasonic instruments and
systems, Contrôle Mesure Systèmes
has installed its ultrasonic rotating
head, designed for special steel tube
manufacturers like stainless steel,
titanium, zirconium and carbon steel
worldwide.
RotoUTscan, the result of several
years of R&D, allows testing of a large
diameter range from 6 to 250mm and
detects longitudinal and tranversal
defects, thickness measurement and OD
– ID and ovalisation.
The main advantages are: four
inspection targets in one system; great
modularity – each block can be changed
separately; reliability – totally adapted
to customer configuration; it comes in
a large range of sizes; real-time WT/
OD/ID; high resolution up to 1µm; high
accuracy up to ±2µm; min OD 6mm and
WT 0.4mm; and min flaw depth five per
cent or ten per cent WT.
Due to its great flexibility, RotoUTscan
can be adapted to many customers’
configurations. Once installed in
a strong control bench it can be
combined with eddy current systems
to allow a full body inspection of the
tube. Supervision software – PROBUS
– collects data provided by NDT
equipment, displays combined signals
(UT/ET) and creates inspection reports
that can be used as control evidence
for quality service and customers. Data
stored can be recalled for analysis and
quality treatment. CMS is also well-
known for eddy current instruments
and systems, and magnetising and
demagnetising units.
CMS provides remote assistance
all over the world for its industrial
applications.
The company will be at Tube
Düsseldorf stand H39, Hall 06.
Contrôle Mesure Systèmes
– France
Email:
Website:
Stainless steel pickling
HYDROFLUORIC acid (HF) is very toxic
and can potentially cause severe acid
burns. It has become an industry norm
to use HF, and many are convinced
that is the only effective ingredient for
cleaning stainless welds and restoring
the original properties.
For more than 20 years the Danish
chemical company Kemitura has been
producing and selling a non-toxic
alternative – Purefix
©
. The company
states that changes to EU legislation
and increased awareness of worker
safety have boosted interest in the
unconventional product, for example in
the offshore industry where HSEQ is a
key focus.
Andreas Hensen from Kemitura,
commenting on the increased interest in
Purefix, said, “It is not a new product at
all – we have made it for 20 years, so
initially we were a bit surprised. We are
not trying to get rid of HF products, that
would be naïve. It is in there for a reason,
and is very effective. Our pickling paste
takes a little longer to have the same
effect, but the customers we supply
agree with us that this trade-off is still
very attractive, when they avoid the very
dangerous HF on a daily basis. Purefix
is an alternative for the companies that
recognise the need for real action and
change, to improve safety.”
Kemitura says that in reality many
companies based in the EU break the
law on a daily basis, when not using a
product that is less harmful. The ‘rule of
substitution’ describes how all companies
should substitute all chemical products
where there is an alternative (Council
directive 98/24/EC).
Kemitura Group A/S
– Denmark
Email:
Website:
