TPT January 2009

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January 2009 44
Technology Update
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Tungsten carbide dies and mandrels
Agir Technologies (Mouton + Rivom), France, is a specialist in the manufacture of
tungsten carbide tools for cold metal forming. These tungsten carbide dies and mandrels
are manufactured in the company’s two workshops.
The company’s customers
manufacture tubes in
different steels and in non-
ferrous metals for various
applications, from smooth
tubes with small dimensions
(internal diameter 0.25mm,
external diameter 0.33mm),
to the largest tubes with an
internal diameter of 200mm
and external diameter of
300mm.
The most complex shapes
are used for gearbox
shafts or injection pipes in
the automotive industry.
The cooling of thermal
and nuclear power plants
requires specific steel pipes with helical grooved profiles that only a few companies are
able to manufacture.
In operation for over 80 years, Agir Technologies also manufactures adjustable dies
with carbide blocks for simple profiles (square), and helical mandrels dedicated to the
production of copper tubes used in air conditioners. The company has also developed a
specific programme to optimise the range of best-suited dies to obtain the final required
profile.
Agir Technologies – France
Fax: +33 3 8051 8136
Email:
Website:
 Agir manufactures a range of tungsten carbide tools for cold metal
forming
CRC-Evans Pipeline Equipment, USA, has
announced the introduction of a mandrel
designed to boost pull-cycle productivity by
as much as 20 per cent.
The Advantage mandrel requires only a
single bending machine operator, who
simply pushes a button on the control
panel. The self-powered mandrel quickly
and automatically finds its correct position
relative to the die without a reach rod,
eliminating the guesswork and safety issues
that go with standard manual placement.
The operator makes the pull, the pipe is
advanced, and the job continues.
“Automatic centring means that the cycle
times get shorter and jobs move faster,”
commented Fred Lysak, pipeline equipment
division president. “Setting the pace ahead
of the welding crews, especially on long
pipelines, means that a contractor can get
the pipeline bent and built faster.”
The chances of wrinkles and buckles at
bends are greatly reduced, because the new
mandrel’s advanced technology ensures
that it is perfectly positioned for every pull,
enabling accurate, quality bends every time.
Since the process is completely automatic,
it can be easily and quickly repeated until
the bend is complete. With no reach rod
involved, loading can be done from either
the pin-up or stiff-back end, for greater
flexibility of access, improving performance
where the right of way is narrow.
CRC-Evans Pipeline Equipment builds
and distributes a complete line of pipeline
construction equipment, including pipe
bendingmachines, ditch padding equipment,
pipe handling and support equipment, pipe
facing and bevelling machines, internal line-
up clamps, and laybarge and coating plant
equipment. The company is a subsidiary
of CRC-Evans Pipeline International, a
provider of specialised equipment and
services for the construction of pipelines.
CRC-Evans Pipeline Equipment – USA
Fax: +1 918 438 0968
Email:
Website:
Long and super-slim
borescopes for
effective inspection
The Gradient Lens Corporation (GLC),
USA, has launched a new and longer
Hawkeye Pro SuperSlim borescope for
easier inspection of defects in deep bores
and the narrowest tubes. The scopes give
a sharp, clear view of deep, very narrow
bores in machined parts, fuel and hydraulic
systems, castings, tubing, firearms and
other products.
The scopes are available in lengths of
10", 14" and 17". The long Hawkeye Pro
SuperSlim borescopes have an outside
diameter of 0.110" (2.8mm) allowing
inspection of bores as small as 1/8". They
use GLC’s patented endoGrins® lens
system, which allows them to relay images
at a long distance while maintaining image
quality. Users can clearly see surface
finishes and defects like burrs in deep bores
and cross-holes.
The scopes feature a 0° direction-of-view,
a 40° field-of-view, and offer a rotating
90° direction-of-view with a mirror tube
attachment.
“These new longer scopes offer easy
inspection of internal problems in the
deepest bores and microscopic holes in
components like spray tips and nozzles,”
said Dr Douglas S Kindred, GLC’s
president.
For more than 20 years, Gradient Lens
Corporation has designed, engineered and
manufactured precision optics and optical
instruments. The company’s offerings
include complete lines of Hawkeye precision
borescopes, Hawkeye Blue borescopes,
borescope accessories and Luxxor lighting
and video visual inspection products.
Gradient Lens Corp – USA
Fax: +1 585 235 6645
Email:
Website:
Launch of new hydraulic wedge mandrel