TPT September 2012

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Technology News
88 September 2012
Levelling and cut-to-length lines
A NUMBER of things are changing in
the market of steel sheet, with important
consequences for machines designed
to produce it and turn the strip from coil
(in various widths and thicknesses) into
cut sheets prepared for the processing
of final products.
Cut-to-length lines are the most
affected by this evolution. The growing
demand for rolled products prompts
an increase in speed and precision of
cutting: working speed of thickness up
to 3mm is 80m/min, with an accuracy
of ±0.25mm on the length (cut with
rotary shear). For thicknesses up to
8mm working speed is 40m/min, cutting
accuracy ±0.25mm on the length (cut
with rotary shear). For thickness from 4
to 20mm, the speed is 40/20m/min, with
a length tolerance ±0.5mm (cut with
flying shear).
In recent years there has also been
a spread of high strength steels whose
superior mechanical properties require
– for cutting and levelling – forces and
higher powers involving the critical
review of the entire mechanics of
machines that make up these lines.
The importance of the levelling (not
to be confused with the straightening
that only serves to remove the residual
curvature of the winding coil) is generally
underestimated. The operation is,
however, of fundamental importance
for the quality of the sheet. If levelling
is not perfect, the plate may seem flat
but retain residual stresses in it. In its
transformation into finished products, for
example by precision trimming (or fine
trimming), cutting the material with the
punch, the fibres are cut and the internal
tensions are released. The result is
uncontrolled deformations and blanks
geometrically different from the punch
and the drawing. Deformations are often
unacceptable for quality products.
The same drawback occurs in heat
precision cutting, for example with high-
definition plasma or laser. The increase
of the quality requirements imposes an
almost perfect levelling, and levelling
lines of greater efficacy and efficiency.
Euroslitter Srl – Italy
Fax: +39 0341 451305
Email:
Website:
API pipe finishing equipment
FIVES Bronx offers Bronx/Taylor-Wilson
pipe testing and straightening machines
that have a global reputation and
admiration for their unsurpassed quality
and durability. What speaks volumes
more than anything is that Fives Bronx
has supplied over 100 new straightening
installations and over 50 new pipe
testing installations during the last ten
years. The leading pipe producers used
extensive research to make the name
Fives Bronx the technological choice for
their pipe finishing needs.
The company is currently in the
design and manufacturing stages for
two hydrostatic pipe testers for the
TMK group. The first installation is for
TMK’s Sinara division in Russia for a
hydrostatic pipe tester which requires
pressures for API standard Q125,
product diameters ranging from 60.3 to
168.3mm, for pressures up to 150 Mpa.
The tester design load of 2.962kN is
based on Q125 grade with a 168.3mm
diameter.
The second installation, located at
the Koppel division in the USA, is for
a hydrostatic pipe tester that will be
integrated within the heat treatment
OCTG line. The product diameter ranges
from 60.3 to 192mm for pressures up
to 20,000psi. The tester design load of
592,661 pounds is based on a 177.8mm
diameter testing at a pressure of 15,400
psi.
TMK’s decision to procure the
equipment from Fives Bronx was
made solely due to the intellectual
market expertise that has been proven
in previous installations in the USA,
Russia, Saudi Arabia and China.
In the last year Fives Bronx has
installed and successfully commissioned
three 177.8mm hydrotesters at Baoji in
China for API 5CT. Two six-roll series
6CR9 heavy-duty pipe straightening
machines were also added. With these
installations, the Fives Bronx group
has successfully established over 25
new pipe finishing installations in the
Chinese market.
Currently Fives Bronx is also in the
installation and commissioning stages for
a world-leading producer to build an API
OCTG pipe plant in Saudi Arabia. The
line will include two 355.6mm hydrostatic
pipe testers with end load designs above
1,000,000 pounds. The heat treatment
hydrotesters will be processing the
diameter range above 20,000 psi, with
the second machine processing line pipe.
The second machine will be for line pipe
and will only be testing at a maximum
pressure of 7,250 psi. Also included
within this facility will be a 177.8mm heat
treatment hydrotester.
This particular installation will have a
maximum end load of 592,596 pounds
and will process OCTG API pipe at a
pressure of 30,250 psi. As part of the
complete pipe finishing line, Fives
Bronx has installed three API heavy-
duty pipe straightening machines. Two
are Bronx 6CR11 heavy-duty design
machines and will process pipe from
114.3 to 355.6mm. The third machine is
also a heavy-duty design straightening
installation and is the Bronx series
6CR9, for pipe ranging from 60.3
to 177.8mm. Completing the line
requirements were two 355.6mm end
facing and bevelling machines.
Included within the pipe plant in
Saudi Arabia is a complete lab testing
facility for off-line collapse resistance
specimens.
Fives Bronx – USA
Email:
Website:
Series 6CR10 pipe straightening machine