TPT September 2009

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Technology Update
42 September 2009 ›
T&H Lemont delivers dual capacity high
frequency quick-change welded tube mill
Magnetic billet lifter
for increased safety
INDUSTRIAL Magnetics, Inc, USA, has
designed a magnetic billet lifter to lift and
rotate round, thick, steel billets, increasing
production cycles and safety.
Each billet lifter is designed for the application,
based on the shape and weight of the steel
billet. The on/off magnetic billet lifter can
lift and rotate steel billets from horizontal to
vertical orientation, or vice-versa, and load
the billet safely into machines and stations
without fear of dropping the load.
Industrial Magnetics, Inc – USA
Fax: +1 231 582 0622
Email:
Website:
T&H LEMONT has installed a new dual
capacity, quick-change tube mill system,
which will produce standard mechanical
rounds as well as hollow structural shapes.
The company developed the dual capacity
pipe and tube mill systems to give pipe
and tube producers wide ranging flexibility
to handle demand for JIT deliveries of
welded pipe and tubular products. The dual
capacity mill design allows for a greater
range of production diameters in a minimal
amount of floor space. In effect, the dual-
capacity mill system gives a pipe and tube
producer the ability to produce a range of
pipe and tubing normally produced from two
different sized mills.
With a dual-capacity mill, the entire entry
and exit equipment is designed to be
universal, as are the mill bases and drive
systems. The dual capacity of a mill is
achieved by two different sized sets of quick
change subplates, designed to mount on a
single base system and utilise a universal
drive system. In this most recent instance,
one set of subplate-mounted driven stands
with 3.5" shafts was designed for producing
tubing from 1.25" to 5", and a second set
of subplates with 6" shafts was designed to
produce tubing from 2.5" to 8" diameter.
The distance between the stands was
optimised for the products produced on
each set of subplates. As with all quick-
change systems, one set of subplates will
be in production while the second set of
subplates is available for change-over. The
mill was also designed to use an overhead
crane system to assist in the change out of
the subplates. The subplates are held to
the base by a special hydraulic clamping
system, allowing them to be connected
rigidly and precisely to the mill base and,
when necessary, disconnected from the
base quickly and efficiently.
T&H Lemont has also signed a new
contract with a second customer to supply
a dual capacity, high-frequency, quick-
change welded pipe mill to produce API
products.
The overall size range for this new mill will
be 0.75" to 4.5" diameter.
T&H Lemont – USA
Fax: +1 708 482 1802
Email:
Website: