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AR T I C L E
SMS Group
mother tube. Experience has shown that the higher the initial
eccentricity, the greater the improvement in the eccentricity
resulting from the cold pilgering process.
After cold pilgering, the outside and inside surfaces of the
tubes are thoroughly degreased in special cleaning tanks (the
degreasing facilities are produced by subcontractors). The
subsequent finishing steps are then as follows:
• Straightening
• Non-destructive testing (ultrasonic and eddy current)
• Cutting to length
• Mechanical water pressure testing
• Visual inspection/checking of the tube dimensions
• Marking/(thread cutting)/packing
Straighteners, installations for hydrostatic testing and thread
cutting machines all belong to the SMS group scope of supply.
Other systems and machines are subcontracted according to
the technical specifications of the SMS group.
After commissioning of the hot and cold production lines, the
SMS group engineers do not leave the shop, but accompany
and optimise the start-up of production – a matter of course
for the SMS group. At the request of the customer, the SMS
group can offer a wide variety of services. This starts with the
continuous training of the customer’s staff on the machines
through to the optimisation of the maintenance system.
Furthermore, the SMS group carries out modernisations and
plant expansions, such as replacement of components or
increases in press force on the steel tube extrusion presses.
SMS Group – Germany
Fax: +49 211 881 4902
Website:
Summary
The market situation described at the beginning with the
growing demands on oil country tubular goods (OCTG) will
give rise to an increased demand also for larger-dimensioned,
high-alloy steel tubes to allow larger volumes of oil and gas to
be won even under difficult exploration conditions. The SMS
group as a competent full-range supplier aims with its plant
development to meet precisely these demands. The goal is
to be able to offer extrusion presses for tube diameters up to
16" (406.4mm).
Starting from complete plants, modernisations and upgrades,
the SMS group also offers the use of modern information
technologies in combination with the right maintenance
strategy.
Authors: Dr Ing Hansjörg Hoppe (hansjoerg.hoppe@sms-
) is sales engineer and Dr Ing Hans Pelster (hans.
) technology engineer in the forging
plants business unit of the SMS group
Figure 8:
Principle of the cold pilgering process