TPT November 2010

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102 November 2010 ›
Blasting, Coating & Galvanizing
MICHIGAN Seamless Tube, for over 80
years the producer of the broadest range
carbon and alloy seamless cold drawn
pipe and tube in US industry, has added
a new UV coating line to its South Lyon
facility, offering 100% solid UV coatings
with increased corrosion resistance and
enhanced product appearance.
Using a unique vacuum system for
achieving consistent film thickness all
around the tubular product, MSTube is now
able to provide its customers in distribution,
transportation, energy, heavy equipment
and original equipment manufacturers with
an added six months or more of corrosion
resistance.
The new coating line has been built using
a system installed by UK coating equipment
manufacturer Universal Finishing Systems.
Universal has beenmanufacturing integrated
modular pre-treatment, coating and drying
systems for the world tube industry for 15
years, with exports accounting for up to
80% of sales.
Tasked with the demand of applying a
black-pigmented high gloss UV coating,
Universal combined an Ultra-Vac vacuum
coating machine together with an 8-lamp
Supa-Cure UV curing system. With coating
thickness controlled by consistent vacuum
pressure and incoming air speed, the
system gives an immediate cured finish
all round the tube and 100% transfer
efficiency, minimising costs by recycling all
the coating.
MSTube is now able to provide 100%
solid UV coating to add to services, which
includes supplying a full line of mechanical
and pressure products to ASTM, ASME and
API including heat exchanger, condenser,
boiler, IPS pressure pipe, and oil production
tubes.
“The new line was up and running on
schedule,” says MSTube’s engineering and
maintenance manager David T Wellhofer.
“And Universal was very helpful in the start
up and training of our personnel.”
Universal Finishing Systems – UK
Fax: +44 1244 288102
Email:
Website:
Universal gloss on Michigan Seamless Tube line
Universal system at MSTube