Tube Products International March 2015

14 / 76

business & market news
12 Tube Products International March 2015
Heat exchanger tube testing
Magnetic Analysis Corp (MAC)
Echomac® ultrasonic inspection
systems are being used by a number
of tube manufacturers who supply steel
tube for heat exchanger applications. A
recent installation at Ratnamani Metals
& Tubes Ltd, a major steel tube producer
in India, is testing welded stainless steel
heat exchanger tube to meet industry
standards.
The system incorporates an Echomac
ultrasonic instrument with an ultrasonic
rotary containing eight transducers: two
for detecting longitudinal defects, two
for transverse, three for wall thickness
and OD/ID measurement, and one for
water temperature compensation to
enable dimensional measurement. This
is the second system of this type that
MAC has supplied to the company.
MAC has also supplied several
ultrasonic test systems to Schoeller
Werk GmbH & Co KG in Germany, to
inspect heat exchanger tubing made
of stainless steel and titanium alloys.
In addition to detecting defects, the
company uses these test systems to
provide quick feedback to the operators
on any changes taking place in the
welding process.
One system incorporates seven
ultrasonic channels, while the other
includes 14 channels. MAC also
supplied a complete inlet table and
outlet conveyor.
Eddy current test systems are also
generally required to inspect any tubing
that is to be used for fluid transmission.
When using eddy current technology,
care must be taken when testing 300
series welded tube. Generally, the 300
series is close to being non-magnetic,
while the 400 series is much closer
to being magnetic. However, where
300 series tube is being welded, the
weld can become ‘delta ferritic’, which
creates permeability noise that will
interfere with an eddy current test.
This problem can be solved by
‘saturating’ the tube by means
of a direct current coil, which MAC
can supply. When this is done, the
permeability becomes relatively uniform
and the ‘noise’ is minimised. It is also
possible to avoid the permeability noise
by testing the product after it has been
annealed.
Magnetic Analysis Corp – USA
Superior Tube and Fine Tubes
appoint new global director
Superior Tube and Fine Tubes, both part
of the Watermill Group, have appointed
Shion Hung to the position of global
director of customer programmes and
business intelligence. Superior Tube,
based in the USA, and Fine Tubes,
based in the UK, manufacture precision
tubing for critical applications across
a range of global markets, including
aerospace, nuclear, oil and gas and
medical.
Based in the USA, Mr Hung will take
the lead on building customer insights,
analytics and programme functions,
which will help to shape the strategic
direction of both companies and
enhance their execution capability.
Prior to taking up his new role,
Mr Hung was platform director, access
and advanced energy, for Johnson &
Johnson, where he developed market
forecasts, business models and new
product development priorities for the
medical devices market. He previously
held the position of global marketing
and partnerships manager for Alcoa,
identifying growth opportunities and
execution strategies for industries
including aerospace, oil and gas, and
consumer electronics. In addition to a
degree in electrical engineering from
Rice University, he holds an MBA and
SM from MIT.
Commenting on his new appointment,
Mr Hung said, “Superior Tube and Fine
Tubes both have an excellent reputation
for their technological capabilities across
a number of key markets, and I’m very
much looking forward to helping them
build on that and further extend their
global presence.”
Fine Tubes Ltd – UK
Superior Tube Company – USA
Shion Hung
Echomac ultrasonic inspection system
to inspect stainless steel heat exchanger
tube at Ratnamani Metals & Tubes Ltd