TPI May 2021

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The trade magazine for tube and pipe products

May 2021

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No need for time-consuming and risky welding and soldering Viega’s cold pressing technology is safer, faster, more efficient, and produces more durable results than conventional processing methods. Even extreme sizes can be pressed in a matter of seconds and remain permanently tight and friction-locked against longitudinal forces. Whether in the automotive, shipbuilding or chemical industry: Viega always fulfills all applicable national and international requirements. Viega. Connected in quality.

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Business & market news Business & market news

TMK is the first Russian company to test premium tubular oil & gas solutions according to highest international standards

TMK’s R&D facility at Skolkovo has become the first in Russia to run comprehensive bench tests of premium OCTG connections. The research took several months and was conducted to ISO standards to verify the performance of TMK UP CENTUM quick-assembly threaded connections. The tests marked the culmination of extensive efforts by the R&D facility’s experts since it was launched in late 2019. They were run to prepare the bench tests for operation, ensure equipment operability, select the necessary materials and refine the testing methods. Another important milestone was the preparation of a sample TMK UP CENTUM premium connection.

The tests checked the connection’s ability to support loads exerted on strings during the recovery of hard- to-recover reserves with overheated steam fed into the well to activate oil formations and lift heavy high-viscosity oil. The test program was based on ISO Qualification of casing connections for thermal wells. The laboratory simulated in-well conditions with the sample kept at 290°C for 120 hours and subjected to thermal cycle tests within the range of 40°C to 290°C while applying internal pressure exceeding 70 bars with the pipe under axial compression. The TMK UP CENTUM connection remained tight at all phases of the

testing program, proving its unique set of operational properties. “To successfully compete internation- ally, Russian high-tech tubular products need to reach the market faster than their foreign counterparts. Until recently, this was driven by foreign testing centres, with their shipping times, tight testing schedules and overheads significantly delaying the launch of new solutions in the market. After the first testing cycle, TMK has confirmed today that its Russian R&D facility can successfully run world-class comprehensive bench tests. When fully ramped up, the facility’s laboratory will be able to test up to 20 new solutions a year, not only covering our own internal needs but also opening up opportunities to engage other manufacturers,” said Igor Korytko, CEO of TMK. The R&D facility has two test benches: one to test the compression strength of a sample pipe with diameters of up to 762mm and a load capacity of 3,000 tonnes, and the other to test samples with diameters up to 406mm and a load capacity of 1,800 tonnes. During tests, pipe temperatures can reach 350°C at the maximum internal and external pressure of more than 2,000 bars, exceeding all existing requirements for oil and gas tubular products by a wide margin. The test benches also support bending tests, with the maximum bending angle of 20 degrees for a 30m long sample. TMK www.tmk-group.com

During testing pipe temperatures can reach 350°C at the maximum internal and external pressure of more than 2,000 bars

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Business & market news

Superior Tube strengthens quality expertise with appointment of new level III product quality manager

Steven Alai has joined precision metal tubing manufacturer, Superior Tube, as its new level III product quality manager. He will work closely with the production, quality, product development, and customer service teams at the Collegeville, USA-based company. Mr Alai will head up the development and execution of Superior Tube’s effective non-destructive testing and quality assurance program, reporting to Mark Heuberger, manufacturing, engineering and quality assurance manager. He joins the company with more than 20 years’ experience of operations and leadership roles in related fields associated with the manufacture of high quality, precision products.

Superior Tube plant manager, Cas Koshinski, said: “We are delighted to welcome Steven to the Superior Tube family. We look forward to working with him and benefitting from his leadership and operational experience for a long time to come.” Mr Alai added: “I am very pleased to be able to start on a new stage in my career, working for such a prestigious manufacturer as Superior Tube. I am looking forward to taking the non- destructive testing and quality assurance program forward to ensure that we can continue to manufacture and supply top quality, high performance tube products for customers around the world.” Superior Tube www.superiortube.com

Mr Alai joins the company after a 20 year career in the tube industry

Arjen Kamp appointed as manager to help implement agile business development at Tata Steel precision tubes division

Arjen Kamp has been appointed by Tata Steel as its new business development manager, responsible for precision tubes applications in automotive and heavy vehicles. He has more than 13 years of experience within the steel industry, combining technical expertise with business qualifications such as an MBA and MSc in metallurgy. Mr Kamp and his team will apply agile methods to help accelerate business development ideas and to create the flexibility that is needed during these challenging times. The business development team will, on a two-weekly basis, review any open actions, new leads and the overall ‘development funnel’. This method has enforced the entrepreneurial spirit in the team and allowed Tata Steel to

rapidly respond to changing priorities and opportunities during the Covid-19 pandemic. One of the results is that customer requests are followed up more quickly than in the past. Because of this agile approach the company has the ability to determine feasibility and opportunities on the spot. It can prioritise any daily business to act quickly on the issue that is most critical at that particular moment. To keep track of longer-term goals and directions, Tata has a two-weekly sprint review in place to review the overall progress and discuss the more strategic approach. Tata has adopted this agile approach for its automotive tubes business development to fully exploit the new

capabilities that have been developed in the recent years in high strength, high fatigue performance tubes. With these capabilities, it can provide additional value with its products in typical applications such as twistbeams and subframes, but also heavy vehicle products such as propeller shaft tubes or run-under-protection devices. Although currently times are difficult, as business development manager, Mr Kamp has found ways to connect with customers via Teams, Skype and Webex calls. He said: “It is a challenge to get in touch, but it turned out that via the online tools, it is also possible to understand the needs of our customers even during this crisis.” Tata Steel www.tatasteeleurope.com

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May 2021 TUBE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL

Business & market news

Xiris Automation recruits Dr Patricio Mendez as special adviser to develop new technology

Xiris Automation has announced the recruitment of Dr Patricio Mendez as a special adviser to help the company develop new camera and inspection technologies for the welding industry. Dr Mendez is professor and Weldco industry chair in welding and joining as well as director of the Canadian Centre for Welding and Joining at the University of Alberta. His teaching and research focus on the physics and mathematics of welding

and materials processing, including heat transfer, magnetohydrodynamics, arc plasma, thermodynamics and kinetics. Applications include wear pro- tection for mining, oil extraction, alloy development, procedure development, new welding processes such as laser cladding, casting, solidification and direct metal additive manufacturing using semi-solid processing. Professor Mendez holds a PhD and a MS degree in Materials Engineering from

MIT, and a mechanical engineer degree from the University of Buenos Aires. He is the recipient of various research and teaching awards and has 78 indexed publications and nine patents. As a special adviser, Dr Mendez will contribute to, and help steer, the product development underway at Xiris. Xiris Automation www.xiris.com

Intelligent gas technology for Industry 4.0: smart safety valve with integrated sensor

Witt has introduced its latest innovation, a new safety valve for gases with integrated sensor technology and communication interface, which is now available. The gas technology specialist is making an important contribution to networking and digitalisation on the valve sector’s journey to Industry 4.0, which means more transparency and ultimately greater safety for the user when handling gases.

Safety valves are indispensable in gas applications for protecting people, equipment and process integrity from overpressure. Safety valves fromWitt are spring-loaded and direct-acting. They automatically release overpressure from vessels, pipelines and equipment before an accident occurs. If the pressure drops below the danger threshold, they close again automatically. “Witt safety valves do their job with the utmost reliability, but in some cases may go unnoticed. With the signaling that is now possible, the user knows at all times whether critical pressures are occurring in the system and can react accordingly,” said sales manager Andrew Smart, underlining the impor- tance of the new functionality. “In this case, more information means more safety.” “This is the same valve of which tens of thousands are in service world-wide, but now with this super feature,” he added. According to Mr Smart, this added information is not only valuable for troubleshooting, but the smart Witt safety valves also provide the necessary data to prove that the system is operating faultlessly and, therefore, safely in the long term, which can be interesting for insurers, for example.

The status of the valve is continuously monitored by integrated sensors and communicated via optical and digital signals. Witt has accommodated the smart function extremely compactly in a box, which is firmly connected to the fitting. If the valve opens, this is indicated immediately, optically by a red/green diode directly on the valve and digitally by an NPN/PNP Open Collector signal. The user can be notified every time there is a demand on the valve, and is thus informed of process deviations. This transparency enables early intervention and significantly increases the safety level of the plant. The new SV805 Smart can be used for all technical gases and is available in brass or stainless steel. The opening pressure is individually adjustable from 0.5 to 45 bar. A TÜV certificate confirming the correctly adjusted opening pressure is supplied by the manufacturer. The permissible temperature range is -30°C to +60°C. The component is mounted in any position. The SV805 Smart conforms to the Pressure Equipment Directive 2014/68/EU, category III, module B and D.

The new SV805 Smart can be used for all technical gases and is available in brass or stainless steel

WITT-Gasetechnik www.wittgas.com

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Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation

Business & market news

SSAB concludes IJmuiden acquisition discussions with Tata Steel after analysis

SSAB recently announced that it was in discussions with Tata Steel concerning a possible acquisition of the IJmuiden steel mill and related downstream assets. The company has now announced that, after deeper analysis and discussions, there were limited possibilities to integrate IJmuiden into the SSAB strategic framework and the discussions with Tata Steel have therefore concluded. “We have carefully evaluated Tata Steel IJmuiden and have concluded that an acquisition would be difficult for technical reasons. We cannot be sufficiently certain that we could implement our industrial plan with the preferred technical solutions as quickly as we would wish. We cannot align Tata Steel Ijmuiden with our sustainability strategy in the way desired,” said Martin Lindqvist, president and CEO at SSAB.

“The synergies that we saw in the transaction would not fully justify the costs and investments required for our desired transformation. This means that overall, the transaction would not meet our financial expectations,” he added. SSAB’s goal is to be the first in the world, in 2026, to supply fossil-free steel to market and to be a fossil-free company by 2045 and, according to the group, the rationale behind the discussions concerning Tata Steel IJmuiden was based on its customers’ clear desire for a strong supplier of a broad range of fossil-free steel. Through an expanded range of steel products, which in the long term can be converted to fossil-free products, SSAB can become a more comprehensive supplier of fossil-free steel to existing and new customers in key segments.

This has also been about creating synergies between existing operations in the Nordics and in IJmuiden and getting closer to the European market. “The transition to fossil-free steel is a top priority for SSAB. We are continuously on the lookout for possibilities to invest and step up the pace of this transition. “Completely fossil-free steel will be a premium segment with great growth potential. We see large demand from customers, primarily within automotive and heavy transport,” added Mr Lindqvist. “I am convinced that SSAB has an important role to play in the industry’s continued transformation and regeneration,” he said. SSAB www.ssab.com

TechnipFMC awarded EPCI contract for the Equinor Breidablikk Pipelay installation TechnipFMC has been awarded an engineering, procurement, construction and installation contract by Equinor for the Breidablikk Pipelay, including option for the Subsea Installation scope located in the area close to the Grane Field, North Sea. The Breidablikk project is a tie-back to the existing Grane platform. TechnipFMC’s scope includes provision of flexible jumpers and rigid pipelines as well as pipeline installation work. Jonathan Landes, president Subsea at TechnipFMC, said: “We have collaborated closely with Equinor in order to optimise the solutions and methodology for the pipelay installation. We are honoured to once again be selected by Equinor to create value with our products and services offering.” The Breidablikk development is subject to final approval by the Norwegian authorities. TechnipFMC www.technipfmc.com

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Business & market news

Crimpers to re-shape or calibrate pipe ends UNIFLEX hydraulic crimpers offer a broad range of applications. As well as being useful for general hose assembly, it is possible to use crimpers to re-shape or calibrate pipe ends, and to assemble pushrods or cables. Using double or multiple crimpers, the user can assemble several parts simultaneously, which increases productivity considerably.

In addition to saving time, the customer also ensure the perfect assembly of every part. Individually optimised special crimping dies are suitable for the re-shaping of round and square pipes for pipe connections or complete plug-in systems, for instance, in scaffold construction. Uniflex Hydraulik GmbH www.uniflex.de

It is possible to use crimpers to re-shape or calibrate pipe ends

Camcon Auto partners with Drive System Design to help accelerate the development of intelligent valve technology

Automotive engineering company Camcon Auto has announced Drive System Design as its technology partner. The two companies are working together to further the development of advanced digital valvetrains for petrol and diesel engines. Replacing the camshaft in an engine with electric actuators for full, precise control over the engine’s breathing,

intelligent valve technology has the potential to significantly reduce fuel consumption and CO 2 for both passenger cars and heavy-duty applications. David Kelly, director, Drive System Design, commented: “The European CO 2 legislation for new heavy-duty vehicles is particularly challenging and iVT could be one of the key technologies to help achieve these requirements.” Over the past 10 years, Camcon Auto has been supported by DSD – itself a global leader in the development, engineering and testing of electrified powertrain systems for vehicles – and, during that time, the two have achieved significant milestones in the development of iVT. So far, the two companies have completed more than 1,000 hours of dynamometer testing on a 4-cylinder gasoline engine, the creation of a technology demonstrator vehicle and a four-valve single cylinder develop- ment engine, currently undergoing combustion research at Brunel University. The announcement marks the next vital phase in the development of iVT. Camcon Auto and DSD will now focus on the increased supply of single- and multi-cylinder development engines, placing iVT in the hands of leading OEM and Tier 1 powertrain development

divisions, managing hardware, software and functionality development. DSD will also support Camcon Auto- motive in further development of iVT as it takes the system closer to market. Danny Chapchal, chairman of Camcon Auto, added: “I am delighted to announce that Drive System Design (DSD) is our technology partner for iVT. From the very beginning of this project, DSD has played a vital role and the teams in Leamington Spa, UK, and Farmington Hills, US, are incredibly talented and well respected in the automotive industry. As we enter the next exciting phase, I know we have the right partner to help us achieve our aims.” Mr Kelly continued: “I am very proud of our achievements in the development of iVT. We have accomplished some significant milestones and I am very excited about the future potential of this technology to deliver real world benefits. I am delighted to have agreed an official technical partnership with Camcon Auto and we look forward to taking this innovative technology toward volume production in the passenger car and heavy-duty sectors.” Camcon Auto www.camcon-automotive.com

More than 1,000 hours of research and testing have taken place

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wiredIn USA

2011

The international magazine for the tube & pipe industries VOL 33 NO 5 US$33 SEPTEMBER 2020

www.wiredinusa.com

respected format aimed at the Americas.

Although an independent publisher, we have strong ties with the many leading international exhibitions worldwide, and our staff attend or our magazines can regularly be seen at:

wire Düsseldorf, Tube Düsseldorf, wire and Tube China, wire and Tube India, wire South America, Tubotech, wire and Tube Southeast Asia, wire Russia, Tube Russia, Wire & Cable Guangzhou, IWCS, FAbTECh, ValveWorld Expo, Steelfab, MACh, EurobLECh, TOLexpo, Made in Steel, Lamiera, Interwire, Saw Expo, boru, TEL, EMO and FAbTECh Canada.

Embracing the digital world, wiredInUSA – the monthly online ezine and web-based publication – was published for the first time. A vibrant and informative ezine, this has now become a well-

Here to serve the industries we helped to shape

social media sites.

technological awareness.

1988

Tube & Pipe Technology (TPT) was first published in 1988. Covering technological developments concerning tube and pipe manufacturing methods, production machinery and processing equipment, it is now published six times per year. www.read-tpt.com

A commitment to the future

client base. Through its range of publications and industry services, Intras provides clients with unrivalled support in terms of corporate and

Intras Ltd employs a dedicated team of staff, who

Like many publishers, we also embrace the use of digital and web-based technology and actively encourage engagement with us through our Twitter and Facebook

2020

Euro Fasteners & Fasteners ASIA first published in 2020. In-depth feature sections dedicated to the fasteners industry within our wire magazines. www.read-eurofasteners.com www.read-fastenersasia.com

individually serve the company’s growing international

promotional marketing, enhancing sales and promoting

1984

Intras Ltd was founded by John hogg as a management company to administrate the

activities of IWMA and ITA trade associations. Intras begins to create a worldwide database of companies and products involved in the wire, cable, tube and pipe industries.

2008

1970s

1992

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technical articles.

produced five times per year.

organised by Messe Düsseldorf.

www.read-wca.com

including the founding of ‘wire’ – the leading international wire and cable exhibition, now

John hogg, founder of Intras Ltd, was also a co-founder of the International Wire & Machinery Association (IWMA) and the International Tube Association (ITA). he played an instrumental role in the negotiation and establishment of international wire and cable shows,

1998

Tube Products INTERNATIONAL, reporting on specialist areas of tube and pipe products for applications such as aerospace, automotive, civil, energy, OCTG, structural and mechanical, published for the first time, and now

Wire & Cable ASIA – aimed at the increasing Asian market – was published for the first time. Now issued five times per year, it includes industry news, technology news, informative columns on telecom news and a glance at the American market, as well as

the Americas.

WWW.IDEAgency.it

January 2008

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Published for the first time in 1998, EuroWire (EOW) is the leading international magazine for the wire and cable industries. Covering corporate and technology news, technical articles, and informative news from

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Telephone: +44 1926 334137 Email: intras@intras.co.uk

Intras Ltd - independent publishers of Tube & Pipe Technology, Wire & Cable ASIA, EuroWire, Tube Products INTERNATIONAL and wiredInUSA magazines – has a proud tradition of supporting the wire, cable, tube and pipe industries since the 1980s. At the heart of the wire and tube industries for 40 years With an unrivalled global distribution in both print and digital formats, we have a firm belief in supporting businesses through combining editorial excellence and targeted advertising to reach the far corners of the globe. Our magazines and staff can be seen at numerous exhibitions worldwide every year, ensuring our clients receive the maximum publicity. Our readership is from the boardroom to the shop floor, with many companies retaining copies of our magazines down the years as technical journals.

Business & market news

Conex Bänninger hires manager to further target modular fabrications market

Conex Bänninger, a manufacture of plumbing and HVACR fittings and accessories, has appointed Roger Hoskins to the newly created position of modular sales project manager.

Mr Hoskins was previously with Wolseley, with whom he was sales and operations manager – HVAC offsite services (modular fabrication). He worked for the merchant for more than 30 years, starting from school as a branch trainee before going on to a number of senior regional and national sales management roles. Mr Hoskins said: “Opportunities in the offsite modular fabrication market are definitely growing as people recognise the cost benefits, high quality standards and other advantages of this modern method of construction. “Having been in the industry for 30 years and being able to look at projects from a detailed technical perspective, I can quickly get to the heart of what a customer is looking for, and work with them to develop effective solutions.

In his new post, Mr Hoskins will be focused on providing quality HVACR modular solutions for both original equipment manufacturers and the building services sector. “Conex Bänninger’s OEM design, engineering and production facilities are first class and I very much look forward to helping to showcase our Design for Manufacture and Assembly capabilities to M&E contractors, main contractors, design consultants, end clients and project managers,” he added. Bill Barlow, UK business unit director for OEM and ACR, said: “It’s great to have added Roger’s experience and specialist knowledge to our talented

team at Conex.” Conex Bänninger www.conexbanninger.com

Roger Hoskins will join the company as modular sales project manager

Supplying the world with the best for more than 50 years Vertical and Horizontal Tube Blades • New Knives, Jaws and Resharpening Blades to Customer Specifications• Many Coatings Available • Precision Machining

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Business & market news

GF Piping Systems expands footprint in South America

GF Piping Systems has announced the acquisition of FGS Brasil Indústria e Comércio Ltda (FGS), based in Cajamar, Brazil. As a manufacturer of polyethylene piping systems, FGS serves the local water and gas distribution market and other industrial segments. The acquisition will provide GF Piping Systems with a unique platform for further growth in Brazil and the South American region. Andreas Müller, CEO at GF, said: “We warmly welcome FGS and its employees to the GF family. The acquisition is a milestone in concluding our strategy 2020 and commencing the next strategy cycle. “As a specialist in sustainable solutions for the safe transport of fluids and

in reducing water losses, we are looking forward to realising the growth opportunities together with FGS.” The acquisition of FGS is fully in line with GF Piping Systems’ strategy to expand its global presence in the fifth largest populated country in the world. Brazil is undergoing a major govern- mental initiative that includes the devel- opment of the country’s infrastructure, especially in the water and gas utility sectors. In co-operation with a domestic water utility company, both FGS and GF were already part of a large water loss improvement program by replacing the São Paulo region’s piping network. As the leading supplier of HDPE systems, GF and FGS will be best positioned to serve existing and new customers.

FGS serves the local water and gas distribution market and other industrial segments

Since 2016, FGS has almost doubled sales to approximately BRL 160mn with a workforce of 240 employees. Both parties have agreed not to disclose any financial details of the transaction. Closing was expected in the first quarter of 2021. FGS CEO Roberto Gadotti stated: “We are excited to join the GF family. This transaction will derive positive synergies and will provide a strong foundation that supports accelerated growth within numerous markets and product segments.” GF Piping Systems www.gfps.com

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Business & market news

Alfa Laval appoints Moody Direct as its latest authorised distribution partner

Alfa Laval, a heat transfer, centrifugal separation and fluid handling specialist, has announced the appointment of Moody Direct Ltd as its latest plate heat exchanger distribution partner in the UK. This appointment will enable Moody Direct to support Alfa Laval’s light industry customers with a range of both brazed and gasketed plate heat exchangers. “This appointment is part of our planned distribution expansion in the

UK,” said Marcus Halliday, energy division channel manager at Alfa Laval Ltd. “Moody Direct Ltd is well known within the heat exchanger market and has established a strong reputation for technical excellence and customer support.” Mr Halliday added: “We are very excited by this appointment and are keen to support Moody Direct Ltd with targeted growth in application areas including hydraulics, automotive, power generation and many others.”

“Since our 2016 appointment as an Alfa Laval Authorised Integrator, we have excelled in supporting the UK market with hygienic process solutions. The continued growth within our heat exchanger division has given us the technical knowledge and industry experience to expand our heat exchanger services into the industrial and energy market sectors,” said Ken Wild, director at Moody Direct Ltd. Alfa Laval www.alfalaval.com

Airborne Oil and Gas reinforces its energy transition journey with re-brand to Strohm

Manufacturer of thermoplastic com- posite pipe, Airborne Oil and Gas, has changed its name to Strohm. The launch of the new brand comes as the organisation confirms its commit- ment to the oil and gas sector’s energy transition and accelerates its strategic growth into the renewables market. Strohm CEO, Oliver Kassam, said: “As the industry works towards climate reduction targets and the focus sharpens on green energy production, the time was right for us to refocus and align our brand in this direction.” “Using the globally recognised GHG Protocol standards, we have proven TCP’s value as a sustainable solution, which will further aid organisations with their standardisation and energy transition strategies. We have also

identified significant growth for TCP in the hydrogen and offshore wind markets, supporting both bottom fixed and floating wind projects. “With the world’s largest track record for TCP, we have built up a solid reputation in the oil and gas sector over the years. Behind the success of our technology-driven products is our loyal and talented workforce. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all our employees, and our stakeholders, for their continued support in helping us achieve all our successes to date.” Strohm’s TCP Flowlines, Risers and Jumpers are made from completely corrosion resistant and recyclable materials and the business utilises 100 per cent green energy to power its production plant in The Netherlands. The research also determined that TCP’s manufacturing process produces 40 per cent lower CO 2 levels compared to that of carbon steel pipe. TCP’s lightweight, high strength properties allow it to be efficiently installed either through horizontal lay systems onboard of small multi-purpose vessels, or (for TCP Jumper Spools) through a subsea deployment pallet, eliminating the need for two separate vessel campaigns to deliver metrology and then installation.

Once installed subsea, it requires no maintenance or corrosion inhibitors, providing a solution that has full life-cycle sustainability. The results have identified further areas of growth where Strohm’s enabling products can help maximise economic recovery for oil and gas oper- ators as they transition towards a low- carbon future. Strohm has also pivoted its product development to include a programme suitable for renewables. Martin van Onna, Strohm’s chief commercial officer, added: “For the past 13 years, we have been at the forefront of bringing disruptive, enabling TCP technology to the marketplace. As the originators of TCP, we see its acceptance accelerating every day. “This success has evolved from working closely with our clients, partners and operators, taking their requirements as a starting point for our product and technology development and focusing on reducing their total installed and life- cycle cost. We are delighted to now add sustainability to that list. Through our products, actions and name we show our commitment, and we look forward to engaging with our clients moving forward as Strohm.” Strohm www.strohm.eu

CCO Martin van Onna and CEO Oliver Kassam

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Silicone tubing: applications in the pharmaceutical setting and the global fight against Covid-19

By Matthew Bishop, operations manager at Viking Extrusions

Silicone tubing is very popular across the medical and pharmaceutical industries, and the material itself is present in virtually every medicinal environment. There are practical as well as economical reasons for this. Tubes made from silicone are chemically inert and FDA approved, and allow for the easy transportation of both gases and liquids. An important example of silicone tubing in a medical sense are peristaltic pumps. These pumps are vital for functioning ventilators, the same kind that we are all too familiar with. They are the ventilators that aid with assisted breathing, and have been particularly newsworthy recently because of the coronavirus pandemic. There was

In the case of peroxide-cured silicone, the excess peroxide is burnt off in a long post-cure. It is still as efficient but for convenience more people tend to favour the platinum-cured variant. The importance of cleanliness Silicone is not just used in the pharmaceutical setting. The same qualities that make it useful for medicinal purposes – the ease of which it can be sterilised and its robustness – also make it useful for the food processing industry.

The silicone tubing allows for the easy transportation of both gases and liquids

The fact that silicone tubing is FDA approved means it can be applied virtually anywhere a production line needs to carry liquids that may be consumed. Or where the tubing will be exposed to extremely high or low temperatures. For example, platinum-cured tubing is used extensively in the dairy industry on milking machines. With both food and pharmaceutical production, the sensitivity-requirements of the silicone are similar. Extra care must be taken to ensure that there is no contamination from any other material grades, thus ensuring a very clean environment. Likewise, extra attention and care also has to be directed towards the handling of the parts to make sure they are sterile. Unsung heroes? Most people probably attribute silicone to DIY sealants and adhesives and nothing else. But the tubing that we are increasingly reliant on is almost universally used to help satisfy production lines all over the food and pharmaceutical world. And as we have seen, they were sorely needed back in March, when governments began to universally plan for an overwhelming viral run on the hospitals. Given the impact of the coronavirus and the surge in demand of ventilators at the beginning of the lockdown, I expect the market will pay more attention to – and insist on – ever more refined silicone grades, and especially in pharmaceuticals. We are at the beginning of a new age of silicone extrusion production.

an unprecedented demand for silicone peristaltic pumps and other types of ventilator tubing made from silicone shortly after the coronavirus outbreak. And though the demand for peristaltic pumps has levelled out now, there is still a lot of interest in the different types of silicone medical tubing, for the development and deliverance of medical goods to meet the surge in response to the outbreak. Medical grade silicone tubing will be used in much of the equipment that will be used to make a vaccine. Silicone and sterilisation Silicone has been a popular go-to material since the mid- twentieth century, and has competed with PVC and various other types of plastic and rubber tubing. But at least in a medical sense, silicone has an advantage over many of these other materials in that it is heat resistant to a higher temperature than most other translucent materials – such as plastics – making it safer. In fact, silicone can resist extreme high and low temperatures. Ranging from -60°C to temperatures exceeding 200°C. (And higher grades are available to withstand even greater temperatures.) This temperature robustness is largely down to the chemical stability that silicone exhibits, and makes it particularly useful for piping and tubing that needs to be sterilised — that is, heated up to the point where any microbes are destroyed, without damage to the tube itself. The different types of silicone tubing There are two popular types of silicone that are licensed for medical applications: peroxide-cured and platinum-cured. The latter grade is usually preferred over the latter because it has a particularly high tear strength for extra robustness. Platinum-cured silicone can also undergo what’s known as an “addition cured” process, meaning no chemicals can come off of it. A very important quality that ensures purity of whatever substance is passing through the tube.

Viking Extrusions www.vikingextrusions.co.uk

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Case study: radiusing of tube tooling components with drag finishing technology

end the customer chose the R 4/700 SF system, because Rösler was the only supplier that could offer a dry finishing process for the tools. Mr Winkler added: “The dry solution eliminated the process water cleaning system required with the wet processing solution. This reduced not only the capital expenditure but also resulted in lower operating costs.” Automated finishing that is perfectly adapted At the heart of the compact, plug-and-play drag finisher is a carousel equipped with four rotary spindles, each spindle allowing the mounting of three work pieces. The carousel and the rotary spindles are outfitted with separate drive motors allowing the setting of totally different rotary speeds for carousel and spindles. The processing bowl is filled with processing media, which in this particular application consists of crushed walnut shells and aluminium oxide. A vibratory motor mounted below the processing bowl ensures the optimum mixing of the processing media. Required bowl changes can be quickly carried out with a forklift truck. For the actual process the tools to be finished are manually mounted to specially designed work piece fixtures, which in turn are attached to the spindles equipped with quick-connect couplings. To facilitate this operation, the operator moves the spindles to the load/unload station with the touch of a button. This allows quick, ergonomic and simple loading/unloading of the work pieces. Once the respective processing program, stored in the programmable system controls, has started, the carousel with the spindles is lowered so that the rotating spindles are immersed in the processing media. Carousel and spindles are moving clock- and counter-clockwise at the defined rotary speeds. At the midpoint of the processing cycle depending on the tools to be finished – the total finishing time varies between 15 and 45 minutes – the rotary direction is usually changed. This guarantees an even radiusing of the tool edges on all sides. Continuously growing work piece spectrum Initially it was planned to use the drag finisher for five frequently used tool types. Mr Winkler reported: “The new mechanical drag finishing system produced such good results that the usable life of these components could be practically doubled. And in some instances it could even be increased by a factor of ten. Since commissioning the drag finisher about six months ago, we have increased the spectrum of work pieces to be finished mechanically to around 20 different tool types.” This positive experience led the voestalpine group of companies to list Rösler as the exclusive supplier for this particular finishing application. Besides the mechanical edge radiusing of additional tool types, the process optimisation specialist is also considering a polishing application. Mr Winkler concluded: “If the results of trials are as we expect, we will purchase a second processing bowl with the required processing media. A key advantage of the Rösler drag finisher is that processing bowls can be easily exchanged, allowing us to quickly switch applications.”

The company voestalpine Rotec is a global operator that specialises in the manufacture, refinement and marketing of precision steel pipes and tubes. Since the company belongs to internationally operating steel and technology corporation voestalpine, its customers have direct access to comprehensive know-how ranging from steel liquification to a complete range of pipes and tubes. The development of innovative products and manufacturing technologies takes place in four divisions. Within the corporate structure the voestalpine Rotec, headquartered in Krieglach, Austria, belongs to the metal forming division. At this location in Austria the company manufactures primarily belt tensioning tubes for the automobile industry. The complex manufacturingequipment formakingpipeand tube components is also designed and built at the same location. Hannes Winkler, assistant to the plant manager at voestalpine Rotec and responsible for process optimisation, explained: “To be able to make our products at internationally competitive costs, our company utilises continuous improvement processes.” Increasing the usable life of tooling Even before wear became visible, stamping tools like arbors and die plates had to be replaced because of minor fracturing at the edges. Frequently the edges were reworked by hand. But this did seldom extend the usable life of the tools. With around 50 million manufactured components per year tooling supply was a significant cost factor. Therefore, it was not surprising that the process optimisation specialist was looking for an automated, repeatable edge radiusing process for prolonging the service life of the tooling. Dry processing in a drag finisher Edge radiusing of the tools is an ideal application for the drag finishing technology. This unique mass finishing system allows the precise, targeted surface finishing of high-value, complex work pieces. Exactly defined process parameters guarantee absolutely repeatable finishing results. “From my previous occupation at a supplier of motor sport components I knew that Rösler Oberflächentechnik builds such equipment. That is why I contacted Rösler first. Of course, we also contacted other suppliers of mass finishing equipment and asked them to run processing trials for us”, continued Mr Winkler. In the

The usable life of components could be practically doubled, and in some instances it could even be increased by a factor of ten, according to Hannes Winkler

Rösler www.rosler.com

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