Handl ing, bundl ing & logistics
N
ovember
2014
85
Safety and efficiency during storage
FOR over 20 years Dutch company
Dhatec has been working on a research
and development programme that
keeps pipes in optimal condition during
logistics of line pipes. Several solutions
have emerged during the years to
improve safety of the logistic process,
including System88, Pipe Stop and Pipe
Carrier Premium.
Dhatec has studied the supply chain
of pipelines in detail. During each step in
this logistic trail there is a risk of damage
to both the pipe and its coating layer.
Dhatec isolated dangerous situations
during transport and storage, and this
resulted in the creation of solutions
that safeguard the quality of the pipe
and improve the process in terms of
efficiency and safety.
After establishing itself in the oil and gas
industry with pipe-end protection, Dhatec
started in 2002 with the development
of a safe and efficient transport system
as an alternative to traditional wooden
supports. The patented design of the
adjustable transport system is claimed
to eliminate the disadvantages of other
support systems.
System88 consists of a zinc plated
steel profile on which LDPE blocks can
be positioned that are secured with
locking pins. Due to the wedge-shaped
blocks, pipes are supported sideways,
and risks for deformation of the pipe are
reduced. Each pipe is blocked separately,
and finite element analysis shows almost
four times less displacement and almost
two times less stress compared to a
situation where pipes are supported by a
(wooden) beam.
During an extensive testing phase
of multiple years, the advantages
were proven in practice. Collision tests
between train wagons showed that
the frictional resistance of the blocks
is satisfactory. Tensile tests on the
block proved the quality and strength
of the PE compound material, which is
guaranteed for five years. Coated pipes
with a temperature of 80°C were loaded
on System88 to prove that the blocks
would not damage the freshly coated
surface. Finally, train wagons were
loaded with System88 for a durational
test of the system in
practice. As a result the
system was approved by
TÜV Nord in 2005.
Since 2005 System88
has been implemented in
the pipeline industry, and
over 10,000 trains and
trucks have been equipped
with the adjustable transport
system. Every five years
the tests are repeated to
guarantee safety during
long-term use.
Dhatec started to extend its logistic
programme with Pipe Stop, in 2009,
for storing pipes in the range of 8" to
150", and its latest development, the
Pipe Carrier Premium (2013), suitable
for both transport and storage of small
diameter pipes between 4" and 20".
The systems are based on the
same quality standards and share the
following advantages with System88:
reliable transport and/or storage system;
adjustable to a range of sizes; each pipe
is stably nested, with sideways support;
safe for pipe and coating; reusable and
highly durable; and weather proof.
Dhatec Line pipe Logistic Solutions
– Netherlands
Email:
Website:
Safe storage and transport for small diameter pipes
with Pipe Carrier Premium
Pipe handling system
VACUWORX, a manufacturer of vacuum
lifting technology and heavy-duty material
handling equipment, has launched a
lightweight pipe handling system to lift
and position drill stem in horizontal and
directional drilling operations.
The HDD Pipe Handling System
utilises wireless remote controller
operation and the latest vacuum-lifting
technology to tilt and place drill stem at
angles between 0° and 30° without the
use of ropes or slings. Suitable for use
with Vacuworx MC Series lifters, the
HDD unit is claimed to be significantly
lighter in weight than competing
technologies and requires only one
worker to lift drill stem and transfer the
pipe into a drilling rig, reducing exposure
to risk of injury in a pipe yard or on a
job-site. The unit is compact yet highly
durable, to meet the rigorous demands
of contractors or municipalities looking
for ways to decrease load times and
bolster safety during the course of
trenchless HDD applications. The
equipment features a 360º hydraulic
rotator that gives operators complete
control over drill stem and allows for the
precise placement of pipe joints with
fewer workers on the ground.
The HDD Pipe Handling System
handles single joints of steel pipe from
76 to 457mm (3" to 18") in diameter,
with lift capacities ranging from 771 to
2,449kg (1,700 to 5,400lb), depending
on the size and configuration of vacuum
pads. The HDD unit is suitable for
smaller excavators and host equipment
such as forklifts, cranes, wheel loaders
and boom trucks.
The MC Series lifter is powered by
a self-contained engine and includes
audible and visible alarms, adding
an additional layer of safety and
performance in the field. The HDD Pipe
Handling System’s integrated safety
control valve also ensures pipe is never
dropped. All Vacuworx lifting systems
are CE certified, OSHA compliant and
manufactured to meet or exceed ASME/
ANSI safety standards.
With a growing base of distribution
points in the USA, Canada, Latin
America, Australia, Europe and Africa,
Vacuworx offers on-site maintenance
and repairs, and stocks a full line of parts
available for shipping 365 days a year.
Vacuworx
– USA
Website:
