TPT September 2011

T echnology U pdate

Seamless tube from SMS Meer

CHINESE tube manufacturer Jiangsu Valin-Xigang Special Steel Co Ltd has commissioned a new PQF ® (premium quality finishing) seamless tube mill. The mill will enable the company to reduce standstill times and increase productivity at its works in Wuxi. The annual capacity in future will be 500,000 tons and the maximum tube diameter is 10¾". The line is built around a six-stand PQF mill of LCO (lateral change over) design, in which the stands are changed from the side, to simplify service and maintenance. The mill allows tubes with thin walls to be produced within close tolerances and requires less material and energy. “The PQF mill enables tubes to be produced with a higher quality, thus strengthening our position on the market,” said Lei Youtong of Jiangsu Valin-Xigang. The company will use the machine predominantly for the production of tubes for the oil and gas industry. SMS Meer and SMS Innse supplied the core components of the rolling mill equipment for the new PQF line, including the Carta automation and quality assurance system. The scope also includes a PQF calibration stand for checking the rolls and chocks after dressing. In addition, SMS Meer was responsible for project management, erection supervision and commissioning and for hands-on training of the operating personnel. The seamless tube plant at Jiangsu Valin-Xigang is the 11 th PQF mill to be successfully put into operation, and a further five such seamless tube mills will go into production during the course of 2011. SMS Meer GmbH – Germany Fax: +49 21613 501667 Fusion weld head AMI’s Model 21 series weld heads provide increased quality and efficiency for fusion welding processes. The company claims that, when used with the AMI Model 207 power supply, the Model 21 weld heads will exceed the clamping and alignment performance of current weld heads. Model 21 series weld heads, which feature auto-clamping mechanism and LED alignment verification system, are suitable for new process piping installation projects, bench top production work, or applications where tight clearances are a challenge. Programming allows for auto weld head opening for bench top applications or manual weld head opening for field applications. The auto-clamping and tube centring mechanisms produce positive fixing of tubes, better alignment and proper tube location in relation to tungsten position, reducing the potential for time- consuming and repetitive fit up. The Model 21 tube alignment verification feature saves time and allows the weld heads to be used in applications where limited space would prevent alignment verification from above. Arc Machines Inc – USA Email: info@sms-meer.com Website: www.sms-meer.com

Email: sales@arcmachines.com Website: www.arcmachines.com

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S eptember 2011

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