TPT May 2007

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Technology Update
31 May/June 2007
In front of the NDT-bench, a rotary wet
brushing device can be installed. Two
planetary driven steel brushes rotate around
the axially transported tube, cleaning the
surface from loose scale and dirt.
Due to this prior cleaning process, any
pollution into the UT-water circuit can be
avoided, and wear of the rotating probes
and pollution of the water circuit drastically
reduced. Furthermore, the line efficiency
and the ‘false defects’ with second testing
can be reduced by 80 per cent.
The high precision concentric driving units
and complete transport mechanics can be
set-up within 2 minutes. The tube guiding
precision is validated by the high testing
repeatability during the tube calibration
mode.
Control interface to HOST computer
systems are available for production
reports and line status reports. The line is
completed by a bypass repair section with
manual grinding and final inspection. It is
expected that the line will increase the 2007
mill capacity by approximately 50,000t.
Reika has also received another order for a
complete cutting line with two rotary cutting
machines for large diameter hot rolled
tubes. These high performance rotary cut-
off machines can easily match the output of
the rolling mill/furnaces with a capacity of
approximately 350,000t/a.
Using the machine, which has a low tool
cost compared to carbide layer saws, Reika
claims that the customer will recoup the
investment cost within 2 years, based on
consumption cost.
Reika GmbH & Co KG – Germany
Fax: +49 2331 969036
Email:
Website:
Advanced spiral welded pipes
from Slovakia
US Steel Košice sro, part of the USX
Corporation, is a leading worldwide steel
producer with an annual capability of 23
million tons. The company is one of the
largest producers of steel flat rolled products
in central Europe with an annual capacity of
4.5 million tons.
It is an advanced integrated steel company,
involving processes from raw material
processing through iron and steel making
to final product output. The company
principally produces deep-drawing, micro-
alloyed and structural flat rolled steels for a
large range of industries.
The company also operates a pipe plant
for spiral welded pipes, produced from
structural and micro-alloyed sheets. Steel
sheet with machined edges is formed into a
pipe shape and welded from both sides by
an automatic submerged welder using an
electrical arc, followed by cutting to required
lengths with bevelled trims.
› Cutting is undertaken to required lengths with
bevelled trims
Each pipe passes a series of non-
destructive tests: ultrasound and x-ray
inspections, pressure testing and a visual
inspection both from outside and inside. The
diameters of produced pipes range from
406mm to 1,420mm, wall thickness from
5-14.3mm and length from 8-18m.
The annual production capability is
approximately 60,000t. The pipes are
used mainly for gas, crude oil and water
distribution lines and other civil engineering
and structural purposes.
The pipes are made from materials with
strengths up to X70 according to the
specification API Spec 5L. The products are
also fully compliant with several European
standards.
US Steel Košice sro – Slovakia
Fax: +421 55 675 6498
Email:
Website: ww.usske.sk
› US Steel Košice manufactures spiral welded
pipes from Ø 406mm to 1,420mm
fi The process of stamping on spiral welded pipe
Mill modernisation
and manufacture
I2S, USA, specialises in the design,
manufacture and servicing of rolling
equipment for the ferrous and non-
ferrous metals industry, with a focus on
the metals rolling industry.
The company’s equipment can be
used by tubemakers and other steel
processors to reduce the losses
associated with producing over-
gauge products. These products are
manufactured on process lines that
convert coiled metals strips, such as
stamping, cold roll-forming, welded
tube/pipe production, and other types of
continuous metal strip processing lines.
The company’s plant contains one of the
largest indoor cranes in the northeast
USA (125t), and machine tools that
allow the company to machine large
mill housings in the 100t range. Its CNC
machines are linked with its CAD system
by Smart CAM, and all engineering
is performed on CAD, with over 80
terminals online.
I2S has modernised over 100 Sendzimir
20 Hi Cluster Mills, and since 1990 has
manufactured 15 new 20 High Cluster
Mills. The company has also modernised
over 110 2 Hi, 4 Hi and 6 Hi mills,
and has independently manufactured
another 45 new mills.
The company’s mills are used for wide
variety of materials, including precious
metals, copper and copper alloys,
carbon steel, stainless steel, and special
high strength super-alloys, and are
engineered and customised to meet
specific user needs.
I2S – USA
Fax: +1 203 284 1819
Email:
Website: