TPi April 2012

products & developments

Tubes helping to understand the universe “Fine Tubes as a company are very constructive and open to new challenges – like performing the high sensitivity leak testing of the tubes,” according to Nicolaas Kos, mechanical engineer, technology department, CERN – the European Organization for Nuclear Research. “They ensure their products are of the highest specification, which is vital, as these tubes carry supercritical helium inside the ultra high vacuum in which the particle beams circulate. Even the smallest leakage of helium into the vacuum would perturb the functioning of the LHC machine.” The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is a particle accelerator considered to be the most powerful experimental physics apparatus ever built. Using it to smash sub-atomic particles helps scientists to understand more about the origin of the universe. It can be found at CERN’s facility, buried underground on the Franco-Swiss border. Our present knowledge of particle physics leaves many unanswered questions. Cosmological and astrophysical observations have shown that all of the visible matter in the universe accounts for only 4% of its composition. Physicists are searching for the particles or phenomena responsible for dark matter (23% of the universe) and dark energy (73%). A popular theory is that dark matter is made of neutral – but still undiscovered – supersymmetric particles. It is hoped the LHC will answer many questions about the make-up of the universe. It might prove the existence of dark matter and antimatter. Fine Tubes started making the first prototypes for CERN in 1995. The company manufactures the components using a specially formulated stainless steel that provides high mechanical strength and very low magnetic permeability at cryogenic temperatures.

High precision, non-ferrous tube

Small Tube Products (STP) manufactures small diameter, high precision, non-ferrous tube for engineered applications. Tube sizes range from 1 to 67mm (0.04" to 2.625"). STP produces tube using a broad selection of 24 different copper/copper alloys, and two aluminium alloys to ensure a match between the tube’s performance and the application’s requirements. The company’s speciality is standard or custom tube sizes, coils or straight lengths, including precision cut lengths from 3mm to 18m, either round or shaped tube and shipped when promised. The company is certified to ISO 9001:2008 and EN 10204:2004. Its on-site ISO 17025 accredited laboratory performs all customer required testing and certifications,

High precision from Small Tube Products

and is also available to provide independent testing services, in very short time periods. Traditionally served markets are transportation, electrical, heat transfer, welding and cutting, controls, electronics and consumer.

Small Tube Products – USA rlowe@smalltubeproducts.com www.smalltubeproducts.com

Fine Tubes Ltd – UK sales@fine-tubes.co.uk www.finetubes.com

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Tube Products International April 2012

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