Technology News
48
N
ovember
2014
Flame-free alternative to welding
SWISS firm Haelok has devised a
high-pressure pipe fitting system that
can take less than a minute, even
for an unskilled worker. The fitting
system, which has been used by one
of Europe’s largest energy providers to
repair its network, uses metal-to-metal
compression to offer a viable flame-free
alternative to welding.
With no need for open flames, this
eradicates the danger of repairing
district heating pipes in dark, narrow
spaces.
Pipes can be fitted quickly, while
water is still running, so the district
heating system was barely down for
any time at all. A spokesperson from
the energy provider said, “Obviously,
the safety and convenience of our
customers is always our priority and we
want to keep downtime on our network
to a minimum without taking any health
and safety risks. The Haelok system
helped us get the best of both worlds
– safe and cost-effective maintenance,
and the district network back up and
running before most of our customers
even noticed it was down.”
Haelok uses a wedge design and
axial pressing with up to 60 tons to
create a seal that is as strong as a
welded connection. It was devised in
Switzerland ten years ago, and was first
used on a cruise liner two years later.
Since then, the Haelok system has been
used by more than 100 customers.
The spokesperson from the energy
provider elaborated, “Haelok also gives
us an edge because it can be used by
workers without welding or specialist
connection experience, so we are
not dependent on the availability of
specialist staff, which again minimises
inconvenience for our customers and
maximum flexibility for ourselves.”
The Haelok press has a purely steel
composition, with no elastomeric or
rubber sealings. It was invented with
difficult, constrained working conditions
in mind, and has a working temperature
ranging from -50°C to 400°C and a
certified working pressure of up to 600
bar.
The system has 16,500psi certifica-
tion, and full conformity to ASME
B31.1 Power Piping and ASME B31.3
Process Piping.
Haelok AG
– Switzerland
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Miyachi America announces Sigma
femtosecond laser tube cutter
MIYACHI America Corporation, a
manufacturer of laser welding, laser
marking and micro machining equipment
and systems, has announced its new
Sigma femtosecond laser tube cutting
system.
The new cutting system provides edge
quality for both metals and plastics,
making it suitable for medical device
applications, including a wide range of
diameter tubes and stents.
Developed in partnership with laser
source provider Jenoptik to expand
Miyachi’s cutting capabilities in the
medical device industry, the tube cutter
is the first of a new family of femto-
powered solutions based on Jenoptik’s
ultra-short pulse disc laser platform.
Ultra-fast lasers offer a unique ability
to process a wide range of materials
without thermal effects, a feature that
offers revolutionary capability for the
medical device industry.
Jenoptik’s disc laser platform stands
apart from other lasers, with cut quality
achieved with superior beam quality
and pulsing characteristics. Combined
with Miyachi America’s precision cutting
Sigma platform and proprietary Delta
Motion control software, the system
offers high-resolution high quality cutting
for a wide range of diameter tubes and
stents.
Applying an ultra-short pulse width,
the Sigma femtosecond laser tube
cutting system uses a cold ablation
process to cut materials, creating an
excellent edge quality.
Post processing is minimal, with only
ultrasonic cleaning required for materials
like nitinol. The nearly cold cutting
process means very fine feature sizes
can be cut into the thinnest material,
while still maintaining mechanical and
material integrity. No internal water
cooling is needed for even the smallest
diameter tube.
Miyachi America Corporation
– USA
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