TPT January 2012

I ndustry N ews

T&H Lemont delivers “dual capacity” high frequency quick-change welded tube mill

T&H LEMONT has recently installed a new, dual capacity, quick change tube mill system. This mill will produce standard mechanical rounds as well as hollow structural shapes. The dual capacity tube mill system was developed by T&H Lemont in conjunction with a long time, repeat customer. The customer approached T&H Lemont with the need to increase production of a wide range of structural products in a limited production area. The dual capacity mill allows for a greater range of production sizes in a minimal amount of floor space. In effect, the dual capacity mill gives a pipe and tube producer the ability to produce a range of pipe and tubing normally produced from two different sized mills. With a dual capacity mill, the entire entry and exit equipment is designed to

be universal, as are the mill bases and drive systems. The “dual capacity” of a mill is achieved by two different size sets of quick change subplates designed to mount on a single base system and utilise a universal drive system. One set of subplate mounted driven stands (T&H Model WU35M-12) with 3.5" shafts was designed for producing tubing from 1.25" to 5" with wall thickness from 0.095" to 0.25". The second set of subplates with 6" shafts (T&H Model WU60M-12) was designed to produce tubing from 2.5" to 8" diameter with wall thickness from 0.125" to 0.5". The distance between the stands was optimised for the products produced on each set of subplates. Each set of subplates included three driven squaring clusters to form the shapes. Production

was increased and change-over times minimised by the T&H AutoSet automatic stand adjusting system. This motorised, programmable system allows the operator to make “push-button” roll stand gauge changes. Additionally, this mill was designed to utilise an overhead crane system to assist in the change out of the subplates. The subplates are held to the base by a special hydraulic clamping system. This allows the subplates to be connected rigidly and precisely to the mill base and, when necessary, disconnected from the base

quickly and efficiently. T&H Lemont – USA Fax: +1 708 482 1801

Email: info@thlemont.com Website: www.thlemont.com

20

J anuary 2012

www.read-tpt.com

›