TPT May 2010

57 / 116

Technology Update
May 2010 55 ›
suitableforhigh-pressurepipelines, including
main gas pipelines. Thanks to a reduction in
wall thickness, with all other parameters
remaining unchanged, the pipes provide an
alternative to longitudinally welded pipes,
as well as to spiral-welded pipes of lower
grades. In addition, the reduction of wall
thickness results in a weight decrease,
which allows more efficient transportation.
The company has been producing
spiral-welded pipes since 1960. Since
then, more than 24,000km of pipes have
been produced, representing around 3.5
million tons. The company takes advantage
of its strategic location in the heart of
the continent for exporting its products to
many European countries and further. The
pipe mill produces approximately 100,000
tons per year, and the pipes are used
in gas distribution, crude oil and water
distribution lines, district heating and cooling
systems, civil engineering and for structural
purposes.
US Steel Košice sro – Slovakia
Website:
Spiral-welded
pipes and flat
rolled products
US Steel Košice sro, a subsidiary of USS
Corporation, is a producer of flat rolled
products with an annual production capability
of 4.7 million tons. The company produces
a wide range of hot rolled, cold rolled and
coated sheets for different industries.
In addition to flat rolled products, the
company produces spiral-welded pipes,
made from structural and micro-alloyed hot
rolled coils. The pipe diameter dimensions
vary from 406 to 1,422mm, with wall
thicknesses from 5 to 14.2mm and lengths
from 8 to 18m. The production process is
continuously monitored; the pipe surface
and welds are systematically inspected
using series of non-destructive tests, and all
results are recorded and archived.
All pipes are manufactured in accordance
with internationally recognised API, EN and
DIN standards, with grades up to X70
according to API Spec 5L, or L 485 MB
according to EN 10 208-2 standards. To
keep up with recent trends US Steel Košice
has expanded its production range for extra
high-strength steel to X80 or L 555 MB
grades respectively. Because of greater
yield strength, the X80 pipes are particularly
The US Steel Košice sro pipe products