TPT March 2016

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168 MARCH 2016
4-8 April 2016
Process optimisation in
bending and end forming
TUBE bending and end-forming
processes consist of several operations
that increasingly require the integration
of transverse and complex technologies
and expertise.
Many manufacturers limit their offering
to standard productive solutions,
leaving the customer the responsibility
to optimise the process within limits
imposed by budget, logistics and time
scheduling.
For Crippa, the customisation of
machinery is a critical question for the
development of new products. 40 per
cent of the company’s resources are in
the R&D department, fully engaged in
supporting the customer in the choice
and integration of the best available
technologies to realise their products.
Where there are high production
volume requirements, the company
realises transfer machines, aimed at
achieving the best cycle times and the
maximum feasibility and repeatability.
In addition to tube bending and end-
forming machines, Crippa integrates
robots, punching units, shearing and
cutting devices, optical and vision
measuring systems, and automatic
solutions to load, unload and handle the
tubes.
In some applications there is a need to
bend pipes with blocks or pre-assembled
flanges at their extremities, which must
be properly orientated before facing the
bending process. Previously, the only
solution to bend this kind of product
consisted of using customised tooling to
bend each pre-assembled pipe.
Crippa has designed a new loading
device based on a vision system that
orientates the tube without changing the
bending tooling. This system is based
on the use of cameras that detect the
piece coming from an automatic feeder
and compare it with the planned and
programmed image of the piece. The
cameras communicate directly with the
bending machine, indicating how to
correct the position of the tube and how
to orientate it correctly. The machine
performs the required operations and
the tube is placed in a perfect position.
Crippa’s Easy Position technology
allows just one toolset to bend different
preassembled tubes. In addition, set-up
times are reduced, as there is no need
for time-consuming tooling changes.
Crippa SpA – Italy
Fax: +39 031 760 244
Email:
Website:
Crippa’s Easy Position technology uses
cameras to detect the incoming workpiece
and compare it with the planned piece
Sta nd no.
5B32
Complete production line for steel tubes
TUBE mill equipment supplier ASMAG
has shipped a complete line to
manufacture up to 4" high-precision steel
tubes to a customer in the USA. The
comprehensive line comprises a fully
automated 600kN triple draw bench with
integrated pointing machine, and a fully
automated finishing line consisting of a
ten-roll straightener RRM-pro-100/10,
testing table, multiple sawing line,
chamfering units and a stacking, bundling
and banding system.
The requirements of the line were to
achieve savings on production costs
and a simultaneous increase in quality
of the products made. Modern drive
technology and innovative machinery
concepts in addition to a high degree of
automation allow for faster production
speed and higher availability of the line.
The placement of all equipment in-line
and the resulting elimination of manual
material handling between the individual
components of the line resulted in
significant reduction of scrap.
The customer benefits from ASMAG’s
quality and consistent manufacturing
standards, a single point of contact, and
seamless integration of all machinery,
equipment and components into a
reliable, comprehensive line. ASMAG
components, machinery and equipment
are exclusively manufactured at its plant
in Austria.
Together with Seuthe, the ASMAG
group focuses on equipment for the
manufacture of steel and non-ferrous
metal tube, pipe, profile and bar products.
ASMAG GmbH – Austria
Email:
Website:
Smallest induction bending machine
CB&I Cojafex BV, which has a well-
established reputation for its induction
bending machines for large pipe sizes
(48", 56", 64" and above) and heavy
wall benders (up to 6" wall thickness),
has introduced its smallest machine to
date.
This innovative new 1" to 4" bending
machine is capable of producing spool
pieces in carbon, alloys, stainless and
duplex grades in pipes with a length up
to 6m.
The highly automated machine has
been installed at NIRAS in Norway, at
a facility that specialises in bending all
duplex grade materials.
CB&I Cojafex BV – Netherlands
Fax: +31 10 4122494
Email:
Website:
Sta nd no.
6A02
Sta nd no.
5A18