TPI January 2024

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The international trade magazine for tube and pipe products

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The trade magazine for tube and pipe products

January 2024

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Business & market news

Corinth Pipeworks awarded major contract for OMV Petrom’s Neptun Deep in the Black Sea

and other Romanian entities). OMV Aktiengesellschaft, one of the largest listed industrial companies in Austria, holds a 51.2 per cent stake in OMV Petrom, and the remaining 6.4 per cent are held by other foreign investors. Of the total shares of OMV Petrom, 28.1 per cent represents the free float on the Bucharest Stock Exchange. Sumitomo Corporation Group conducts business activities in a wide range of industries on a global scale, with its six business units, an initiative and regional organisations all over the world working closely together. Strategically and organically integrating its robust business foundation and its diverse, high-level functions, the company creates new values by staying up to date in dealing with changes and improving existing frameworks to help solve social issues. Corinth Pipeworks, the steel pipe segment of Cenergy Holdings, is a leading steel pipe manufacturer for the global energy and construction sector. With projects executed in more than 50 countries worldwide, it develop valuable solutions and aims to exceed its customers’ expectations whether the application is a challenging offshore subsea flow line, a high criticality onshore gas transmission pipeline or transportation of up to 100 per cent hydrogen in high pressure pipelines. All this by combining experience, on time delivery, innovation and investments in

Corinth a comprehensive portfolio of products and solutions to supply and deliver challenging, current and future offshore development projects, using the latest welded linepipe technology. “We are particularly delighted to be awarded this major project by Sumitomo Corporation Europe, a trusted partner of OMV Petrom, the largest integrated energy company in Southern and Eastern Europe,” said Ilias Bekiros, general manager of Corinth Pipeworks. largest integrated energy company in South Eastern Europe, with an annual group hydrocarbon production of approximately 43 million BOE (barrel of oil equivalent) in 2022. The Group has a refining capacity of 4.5 million tons annually and operates an 860MW high-efficiency power plant. The group is present on the oil products retail market in Romania Pipeworks has OMV Petrom is the

Corinth Pipeworks, as subcontractor of Sumitomo Corporation Europe Limited, will manufacture and supply approximately 160km of longitudinally submerged arc welded steel pipes (LSAW) for the development of an offshore natural gas pipeline for OMV Petrom’s Neptun Deep project in the Black Sea – a major contract valued between at €100mn and €150mn. The Neptun Deep Block in the Black Sea has an area of 7,500km 2 and is located at a distance of about 160km from the shore of Romania, in water depths up to 1,000m. Neptun Deep is the largest natural gas project in the Romanian Black Sea and the first deepwater offshore project in Romania. The 30” pipeline will be manufactured at Corinth Pipeworks’ facilities and will include external anti-corrosion coating and internal flow efficiency lining, applied at the same location as pipe manufacturing at Thisvi, Greece.

and neighbouring countries through approximately 780 filling stations under two brands – OMV and Petrom. OMV Petrom is a company in which Romanian shareholders hold over 42 per cent of the shares (of which the Romanian state, through the Ministry of Energy, holds 20.7 per cent and 21.7 per cent are owned by pension funds in Romania, to which are added almost 500,000 individual investors

The Neptun Deep Block in the Black Sea has an area of 7,500km 2 and is located at a distance of about 160km from the shore of Romania

the latest technology. Corinth Pipeworks

www.cpw.gr

Sweco assists Ukraine in reconstructing water system for city of Kremenchuk

aspects as well as identifying available water resources in the area including water balance for the next 25 years. The result will be an improved, expanded and more resilient drinking water infrastructure with special attention to energy efficiency. The project is financed by Swedfund and will be delivered in compliance with EU and international standards. Sweco www.swecogroup.com

developing analysis and preparatory work required to improve and secure the water quality and distribution system as well as its capacity. Sweco will assist in the fast-tracking of the reconstruction and modernisation of the water supply system for drinking water intake, water purification, monitoring of quality and process automation systems. This will include a feasibility study including technical, environmental, social and economic

Sweco will take part in the ongoing rebuilding of Ukraine by contributing with expertise in a project to secure potable water supply for the 220,000 inhabitants in Kremenchuk. Specialists from Sweco will deliver expertise in urban water engineering, process engineering, hydrology and environmental impact analysis in a project financed by Swedfund. The purpose is to support Kremenchuk City Council and its water company in

TUBE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL January 2024

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Business & market news

Tube 2024: stainless steel tubes vital for the energy transition

prospective buyers and business partners in person,” said Andrea Kiel, spokesperson for the company. “Overall, cooperation with business partners and the development of long term collaborations have always played a central role in the sustained success of our company.” Butting maintains such a partnership with the trading house RFF, also a regular attendee at tube. “For us as an international trading company, the trade fair is the most important industry event every two years. Especially in times when the markets have challenges to overcome, it is important for us to show our presence. The direct contact during the trade fair strengthens confidence in our collaborations with partners all over the world. With our commitment, we are doing our part to ensure that tube remains attractive and provides even more added value,” explained Holger Bellersen, responsible for media relations at RFF. In particular, the professional exchanges with customers and colleagues, partners and suppliers makes the trade fair a valuable platform for exhibitors. Only those with a good network will be able meet the current challenges. And the stainless steel pipe industry is facing many of these on a wide variety of levels. For example, steel mills, pipe producers and stockists must make exposure to high temperatures, harsh chemicals, and moisture, ensuring reliable performance in offshore and subsea environments. “We are excited to continue our collaboration with the experienced experts at Element Hitchin,” said Julie Campbell, senior project manager at Magma Global. “Their world-class laboratory will prove invaluable as we work to ensure the ongoing success and evolution of our M-pipe product line to meet critical needs in offshore, subsea and other demanding energy applications.” Luke Shield, general manager for Energy UK South at Element Hitchin, added: “By combining Element’s extensive expertise in materials testing

On the seabed and in the desert, in chemical plants and in the food industry, in pharmaceutical production and in mechanical engineering – and soon for the transport of hydrogen – pipes have to withstand ever higher pressures, higher temperatures and more corrosive media. This requires stainless steels and other high performance materials such as nickel based alloys and titanium. No wonder, then, that the global stainless-steel community will be meeting again at tube 2024, the world’s leading trade fair for the pipe industry. The event takes place from 15-19 April, 2024 at the Messe Düsseldorf exhibition centre in Germany. Stainless-steel producers, pipe manu- facturers and specialist distributors will present themselves in Halls 1 and 3, representing the global stainless steel industry. For example, Butting, a specialist in welded stainless steel pipes, has been attending tube as an exhibitor for decades. “The trade fair is one of the most important events for the stainless steel pipe industry worldwide. There we can showcase our products made of rustproof materials, as well as our capabilities for further processing, to a highly qualified specialist audience. In 2024, we will again be taking advantage of this first-class opportunity to meet our customers, Element Materials Technology has renewed its strategic partnership with Magma Global, a TechnipFMC company. The collaboration is focused on advancing thermoplastic composite technologies for the energy sector through rigorous testing and validation. In this renewed partnership, the two companies will harness Element’s state-of-the-art facilities in Hitchin, UK, to evaluate and extend the capabilities of Magma’s innovative M-pipe systems. The M-pipe is constructed from a lightweight, high strength thermoplastic composite it provides corrosion resistance, pressure ratings and rapid deployment unmatched by traditional steel or flexible pipe alternatives. Importantly, it is engineered to withstand prolonged

The global stainless steel community will be meeting again at tube 2024

the transition to green energy at a time when current energy prices are rising and the global economy is weakening. In addition, the shortage of skilled workers is slowing down many companies.

At the same time, as industry switches to hydrogen, opportunities are created because the existing pipeline infrastructure must be completely converted to the new energy carrier. Old networks need upgrading and new pipelines and facilities have to be built. Investments worth billions are being planned worldwide. Orders that will require reliable partners – in stainless steel production, tube manufacturing and specialist distribution of tubes and they can be found at tube 2024. Messe Düsseldorf www.tube.de Element and Magma Global renew pipe cooperation

and characterisation with Magma’s advanced composite technologies, this partnership strengthens our capability to drive innovations that enhance safety, performance and sustainability. We look forward to building on our shared commitment to technical excellence and pioneering the next generation of solutions tailored for the energy sector’s toughest challenges.” The collaboration represents an important step in advancing materials science and shaping the future of the energy industry. Element Materials Technology www.element.com Magma Global www.magmaglobal.com

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January 2024 TUBE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL

Business & market news

Formation of new US OCTG manufacturers association aims to develop domestic supply chain

The group estimates it represents about 75 per cent of US OCTG production. The new trade association appointed veteran Washington trade lawyer Roger Schagrin of Schagrin Associates as its general counsel. “Our goal is to level the playing field for the US OCTG industry and bring OCTG imports down to market shares aligned with basic steel products. At a time when US trade and climate policy is focusing on decarbonisation, it is important that US OCTG manufacturers offer exploration and production companies domestically manufactured, reliable, low-GHG products.” The new association is looking forward to working with the Administration and Congress to strengthen American energy and national security by promoting a healthy, domestic OCTG industry. US OCTG Manufacturers Association www.tenaris.com

of USOMA. “As American energy production is a matter of national security, we must promote and develop reliable, domestic supply chains, such as a world-class US OCTG industry. “Foreign producers, many from countries that do not have a local OCTG market, and, consequently, have non-market excess capacity, account for roughly half of the US market.

Six US OCTG manufacturers have announced the formation of a new Washington DC, US-based trade association called the US OCTG Manufacturers Association (USOMA). The six companies are Tenaris in the USA, Vallourec Star LP, Borusan Pipe US, PTC Liberty Tubulars, Welded Tube US and Axis Pipe and Tube. The group elected Luca Zanotti, Tenaris president for the USA, as chairman

“The US industry can replace these imports and create thousands of high paying jobs in American OCTG plants and in the American steel plants that supply their hot rolled coils, while reducing the carbon footprint,” said Mr Zanotti. The six members of the new trade group have 19 facilities in nine states and employ approximately 7,500 US workers.

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Business & market news

Rosen UK secures new Aberdeen location to support pipeline growth

has led and driven the Aberdeen side of the business, said: “We have put significant investment into the business to date and by investing in a larger, modern, bespoke consultancy office space, we can better serve our expanding client base and ensure our team has the resources and environment to thrive.” One of the key features of the new office is its EPC A Energy Rating, demonstrating Rosen’s commitment to sustainability. The refurbished building incorporates solar panels and an energy-efficient heating and ventilation system, supporting its initiative to monitor and reduce company-wide CO 2 emissions. Rosen has seen substantial growth in its upstream consultancy business during the first half of 2023. The company’s commitments during this period have already surpassed the targets set for the whole of 2023 and is positioning itself for a projected 50

Rosen has relocated its Aberdeen, Scotland office to accom- modate its growing engineering team and future expansion plans. The new office, in the West End of the city, is a significant investment for the company. This reflects Rosen’s commitment to the north-east of Scotland where it has established a loyal client base since its inception in 2018. The move will support its growing team and further establishes the company’s position as a centre of excellence for asset integrity management services. With the move, Rosen has more than doubled its office space in Aberdeen from 1,500ft 2 to an impressive 4,000ft 2 . This expansion not only provides fit-for-purpose working environment for the current staff of 26, but also provides state of the art IT, meeting facilities and allows for the planned growth of the team. Bryn Roberts, technical engineering manager for Rosen Aberdeen, who

per cent increase in turnover by the end of the year. Throughout the year Rosen has secured contracts with major operators and delivered numerous consultancy contracts, including wrapping up a complex topsides RBI project for a major operator helping them demonstrate best practice and continue successfully growing their business. Additionally, Rosen provided support to another major operator by completing engineering life extension assessments for its production and export pipeline systems. Rosen will also lend its expertise to an upcoming offshore asset decommissioning project. Rosen UK www.rosen-group.com Martin Nesbitt (head of engineering), Bryn Roberts (technical manager) and Paul Birkinshaw (business development manager)

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January 2024 TUBE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL

Business & market news

UK Prime Minister visits pipeline pigging specialist One of the UK’s leading manufacturers and suppliers of pigging products – North Yorkshire based iNPIPE Products – welcomed Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for a visit. – is reflected in the continued commitment and loyalty of our team, all of whom have played an enormous part in making iNPIPE the successful business that it is today.”

As part of the visit, the Prime Minister met the six apprentices based at iNPIPE’s Brompton-on-Swale facility, near Richmond, North Yorkshire, spoke to all members of staff and received a full tour of the company’s six-acre site, including the foam shop, where the Prime Minister viewed some of the latest foam pig technology manufactured by the business and used for pipeline cleaning, de-watering and swabbing. The visit also provided the management team with the opportunity to talk through their continued strategy for growth which has seen the business export 70 per cent of its turnover worldwide. Speaking about the visit, Simon Bell, MD at iNPIPE Products, said: “We are very proud to have been visited by the Prime Minister and were privileged to welcome him to our premises. “Everyone at iNPIPE Products is extremely proud of the business and the success that we have all worked so hard to achieve during what will be our 40th year of trading next year. Our consistently strong performance is coupled with a strong internal culture with many of our team having been with us for 25 years or more. “Our success – recognised by the Prime Minister choosing iNPIPE as the company to reinforce government support for British industries exporting our products and services worldwide

Mr Sunak said: “I welcomed the opportunity to return to iNPIPE – a world-class manufacturing and design business in my constituency. “It’s commitment to innovation and quality of manufacture has led to worldwide success anchored in the workforce here in North Yorkshire. I was particularly pleased to see the company’s commitment to growing its own team through its longstanding commitment to an apprenticeship programme, which already has seen young people develop into senior roles in the company.” iNPIPE Products is a world leader in the design, manufacture, supply and hire of pipeline pigging, maintenance and testing products across the oil & gas, petrochem, powergen, mining, nuclear, water and food processing industries. Formed in 1984, the business will be celebrating 40 years of trading next year, employs 68 members of staff – including eight apprentices – across its Brompton-on Swale and Aberdeen sites and works with many of the world’s largest brands across Europe, the Middle East, North America, South America and Asia. iNPIPE Products www.inpipeproducts.com safety and enhance operational performance. Dr Chiraz Ennaceur, CEO of CorrosionRADAR, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Dominic Emery to our board of directors as we embark on the next phase of growth at CorrosionRADAR. Dominic has extensive experience from some of the world’s leading energy companies. His expertise will help us considerably as we continue to lead the charge in accelerating the rollout of technologies that detect, locate and address the risk of corrosion damage

The visit comes almost 10 years since the Prime Minister last visited the iNPIPE business – before becoming an MP. It also provided an opportunity to support one of the largest single employers in his Richmond (Yorkshire) constituency. The company’s growth has increased employment opportunities for apprentices in a successful, expanding engineering company with almost 12 per cent of the workforce now being made up by their apprenticeship programme. The visit comes on the back of one of the most successful periods to date for iNPIPE Products, which has seen the company invest in a new service centre in Aberdeen, Scotland and grow its global customer base.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pictured with MD of iNPIPE Products, Simon Bell

Former BP chief of staff joins CorrosionRADAR CorrosionRADAR, a UK-based provider of predictive corrosion monitoring and analytics products, has appointed Dr Dominic Emery as non-executive director. a Distinguished Fellow with the World Economic Forum and a Senior Fellow of the Mission Possible Partnership. Based in Cambridge,

UK, CorrosionRADAR was founded in 2017 as a spin-out from the University of Cranfield. Its investors include Mercia, SAEV and angel investors. Mr Emery’s appointment will help support the company’s expansion plans, as it prepares to enter new markets and extend its range of ground-breaking corrosion remote monitoring solutions including Corrosion Under Insulation (CUI), which help businesses across the oil & gas industry reduce the risk of leaks, minimise emissions, improve

Mr Emery, who was formerly chief of staff at BP and head of strategy, brings with him experience from across the energy sector as well as an understanding of how the industry is evolving to manage the energy transition. He was founding CEO of the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative’s (OGCI) $1bn climate investment fund, set up by the world’s leading oil & gas companies to invest in technologies to reduce carbon emissions. He is currently

before it occurs.” CorrosionRADAR www.corrosionradar.com

TUBE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL January 2024

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Business & market news

AMETEK EMC elevates medical tube design and safety AMETEK Engineered Medical Device Components (EMC) is an innovation partner for the medical device industry. With a strong reputation for innovative materials and custom manufacturing solutions for medical device components, AMETEK EMC collaborates with medical device manu- facturers to get the next generation of life-saving medical devices to waiting patients and physicians. Major medical device OEMs partner with AMETEK EMC to accelerate innovative go-to-market concepts for devices and instruments. One of the key capabilities at AMETEK EMC are medical grade silicone moulding services. Silicone is an ideal choice for medical device components in surgical and dental applications as well as consumer health care products. Its excellent grip, tactile feel and high durability make it a desirable material for demanding environments. Silicone is biocompatible with low toxicity levels, easy to sterilise and autoclave, making it perfectly suited for clinical environments. The material’s ability to work across a wide temperature range, its chemical inertness and coat-ability further enhances its versatility. In addition, it offers a range of durometers, enabling adjustments based on specific use cases and required impact resistance. AMETEK EMC’s silicone moulding services include both liquid silicone rubber (LSR) moulding and silicone transfer moulding (STM). These cutting-edge moulding processes are utilised to manufacture an extensive range of medical device components, including catheters and tubing, connectors, handles or grips for surgical instruments, respiratory and anaesthesia equipment, programming antennas for cardiac rhythm management and hearing aids. Each moulding process caters to specific requirements. LSR moulding excels in fast, high-volume production, making it ideal for components that are less sensitive to pressure or impact, whereas silicone transfer moulding is a slow and gentle process, well-suited for over-moulding highly sensitive electronics such as PC boards and delicate cables. The successful execution of these processes is founded on AMETEK EMC’s experienced engineering team and state of-the-art technology, ensuring the delivery of high-quality products. AMETEK Engineered Medical Components www.ametekemc.com

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High tolerance, precise weld preparation for tubes and pipes used in aerospace By technical writer Del Williams on behalf of Tri Tool Technologies

Mr Belle. “In other cases, the Inconel’s outer layer may harden too quickly in response to machining, resulting in an imperfect shape for the Inconel.” “Of course, advanced alloys are very expensive, so getting the weld prep right the first time is absolutely critical,” added Mr Belle. To properly shape, cut and work with Inconel, the machinist must understand its properties and how to compensate for its limitations. Specialised facing and cutting equipment with tool bits are often required. “Without all of these components, machining pipe and tube made of advanced materials can become a major bottleneck in the aerospace manufacturing workflow,” said Mr Belle. Prepping for welding Although manual welding techniques are still utilised, particularly for larger pipes, most welding is performed by semi-automated orbital welding machines with closed weld heads. To create the weld, a generated arc is rotated mechanically 360° around the pipe or tubing in a continuous process. Orbital welding is prized in aerospace for producing reliable, high quality, repeatable welds that

The challenge is only increasing as the aerospace industry utilises lighter and stronger materials such as Inconel and other nickel superalloys to improve fuel efficiency and reduce the weight. In addition, pipe and tube welds are subjected to unprecedented high pressures, cryogenic temperatures and intense environmental stresses such as vibration and thermal cycling. “Aerospace companies are pushing the boundaries of what can be achieved every day. As a result, they are utilising more advanced materials for piping and tubing, often with smaller diameters, thicker walls and more complex joint geometries than even ten years ago,” said Chris Belle, CEO of Tri Tool Technologies. Founded in 1972, Tri Tool Technologies is a leading provider of machining tools, custom engineered solutions and on-site services for the aerospace, defence, power generation, oil and gas, life sciences and semiconductor industries. To minimise or eliminate weld failures for these critical applications, the key is achieving very consistent, high quality weld prep every single time, said Mr Belle. “The more inconsistent the machining, the more weld process challenges you will have, potentially resulting in weld failures. Unfortunately, materials such as Inconel only increase the chances of joint misalignment, poor prep angles and contamination,” explained Mr Belle. Inconel is an alloy composed of 58 per cent minimum in all weights of nickel with significant chromium and molybdenum. It is resistant to oxidation, corrosion and scaling in high-temperature environments and so is an ideal material for use in rockets and spacecraft. However, its toughness also makes it incredibly difficult to machine. “It is not unheard of for cutting and shaping tools to be broken or deformed when used on Inconel,” explained However, installing or replacing piping and tubing is no small challenge. Aerospace welding is a delicate process that demands precision. Prepping pipe and tube for welding requires very precise, repeatable machining of the ends to very tight tolerances. The cutting and bevelling can create no contaminants and must achieve a specified surface finish. The work is often performed in confined spaces such as tube racks or the wings of an airplane. Like the arteries, veins and capillaries of the human body, extensive piping and tubing systems deliver essential gases and liquids to critical equipment and systems within space and aircraft, as well as to critical infrastructure such as launch pads.

Tri Tool Technologies’ 300STS is a lightweight, portable facing machine for weld preparation on autogenous welding

TUBE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL January 2024

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and can deliver rapid, repeatable, precision cuts within .001" on tubes .125" (3.2mm) – 2.375" (60.5mm) in size, with up to .20" (5.08mm) tube walls. According to Mr Young, the tool bit plays an outsized role in precision facing and squaring of tube ends. If a tool bit is constructed of an inferior material or excessively hardened, it can result in premature chipping of the cutting edge. When there is little to no helix angle in a tool bit, it can cause severe chatter marks and screeching. “When performing weld preps on pipe and tubing, you are only as good as your bits,” said Mr Young. The highest quality bits are designed and given specialty coatings to maximise the number of cuts before cut quality is degraded while producing manageable chips with no signs of heat discoloration, a maximum fine surface finish, and an acceptable amount or no measurable burr. To meet aerospace requirements, the 300STS utilises Tri Tool’s patented Durabits. “Many of our aerospace customers are using these tools every day, all day,” explained Mr Young. “In high production environments, it is critical that the tool and bits hold up to thousands of preps per month, sometimes thousands per week.” Custom machining equipment Given the cutting-edge nature of aerospace applications, customised solutions may also be required. Although standard tube squaring products are available from several sources, most will not make modifications based on customer requests. Tri Tool Technologies, however, can produce variations of standard equipment through modifications and other customisations. This can include integrating controls, sensing technologies or remote-control technology.

meet stringent criteria set by organisations such as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). However, there is very little room for error when prepping pipe or tube ends for orbital welding, with little allowance for gaps or non-square surfaces. “In addition to the specifications from the aerospace company, you also have to meet the requirements of the orbital tube welding machine to create weld joints with a very high success rate,” said Cameron Young, manufacturing solutions engineer at Tri Tool Technologies. Today, tube and pipe cutting products help ensure the proper fit and alignment of the pieces to be welded to avoid misalignment, gaps or uneven welds. Most are manually operated and perform machining operations such as cutting, severing, facing and bevelling. Facing involves cutting the end of a pipe to achieve a flat and smooth surface with precise dimensions to ensure it can be securely and accurately connected to other components without gaps or leaks. When working with thick pieces of metal, it is often necessary to create a groove or bevel to facilitate proper penetration and fusion during welding. To further increase productivity without sacrificing precision, field machinists need portable squaring equipment that can be used in tight access areas, such as within tube racks or a wing. “You need a tool that is compact enough to actually do the prep well but is also still portable that you can bring with you to your work site or take up on the ladder,” said Mr Young. For production-level tube facing, he points to Tri Tool Technologies’ 300STS, a lightweight, portable facing machine for weld preparation on autogenous welding. The tube squaring tool has an industry-leading 9.5" clearance

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January 2024 TUBE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL

penetration would disrupt the flow of fluid and compromise the nozzle’s performance. Their previous attempts using off-the-shelf handheld tooling to remove the root penetration resulted in inconsistent surface finishes that hampered non-destructive tests on the weld further down in the process. They needed a specially designed tool that could go through the narrow nozzle throat and expand into the nozzle chamber to remove the weld root without damaging any of the surrounding area. To avoid having to redo the entire fabrication process, the company engineers needed a tool that could reach inside the nozzle and machine the weld root to be flush. Tri Tool was able to design and develop a custom precision micro boring system to remove the difficult-to-reach weld root penetration based on an existing ID weld profiling system. With the rapid expansion of private space companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin, the pace of development of next generation spacecraft and aircraft, along with critical support infrastructure, is only increasing. The need is no less great for aircraft manufacturers, for everything from commercial airlines to cargo aircraft and fighter jets. Fortunately, there are aerospace-specific pipe and tube squaring solutions that can cut, weld, square and bevel with exacting accuracy, time-saving speed and field-proven performance. By making the right choices, these tools help ensure the integrity of welds even under the demanding stresses and conditions of next generation air and space systems.

In a recent example, the company modified the 300STS to perform miter cuts up to 8 degrees based on a customer request. The ability to make miter cuts while maintaining the same flatness and surface finish requirements is ideal for adjusting the angles of tubes that do not precisely fit in preparation for orbital welding. “To accomplish a two-degree offset, for example, you might face each end with a one-degree angle so they meet up perfectly and the weld head can make the weld because the gap is extremely tight,” explained Mr Young. Prototypes of the product were introduced at the FABTECH show in September 2023, and Tri Tool Technologies expects to release the miter model as a standard product in 2024. A new proprietary Inconel cutting bit also originated from a request from a leading commercial space company building a new launch vehicle platform. To increase efficiency and accelerate project timelines, the company needed to optimise the squaring of difficult-to-machine Inconel tubing. The existing strategy and methods for cutting Inconel were not easily scalable and did not provide the extreme precision, reliability and consistency needed for the project. When the private space company contacted Tri Tool Technologies, the company’s aerospace fabrication experts immediately recognised the need to develop a proprietary cutting bit specific to the customer’s application. The result was a new cutting bit technology with a proprietary base material, coating and grind design. The cutting bit easily machined the Inconel components and created a smooth machined surface. Tri Tool engineers also ensured backward compatibility with the customer’s existing equipment, enabling the company to move forward without redoing other downstream and upstream production processes. With Tri Tool’s proprietary cutting bit, the leading commercial space company is accelerating production times of its launch vehicle platforms and delivering on-schedule. Weld root penetration in difficult-to-reach areas can also be a concern. When fabricating a two-part, small diffuser nozzle weldment at its California facility, one of the world’s leading private aerospace manufacturers noticed a small weld root penetration inside the nozzle chamber caused by the arc welding process. If not removed, the weld root

Tri Tool Technologies www.tritool.com

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