TPi January 2020

Tube welding technology

High quality orbital TIG welding For high quality orbital TIG welding it is important that the tungsten electrode is ground precisely or the weld will never be correct. Such precision requires experience and skill. on this technology that use tungsten electrodes. With accurate grinding it is possible to weld longer and that means greater efficiency and at the same time the weld seams are higher quality.

The electrodes can be cut down to just 8mm, thereby making it possible to make the exact electrode length needed for the orbital welding head and minimising waste of the expensive electrodes. Inelco Grinders www.inelco-grinders.com

The Ultima-Tig-Cut model serves a double function: precision grinding and cutting of tungsten electrodes.

A tungsten grinder offers high quality welds, and Inelco Grinders has developed several machines based

Kemppi joins forces with SSAB in sharing welding production information

Welding digitalisation pioneer Kemppi and global steel company SSAB have integrated their cloud-based WeldEye and SmartSteel platforms to streamline base material information handling in welding production. The results of the successful pilot are now available for all companies that are currently using both digital platforms. SSAB SmartSteel is a cloud-based platform that stores all the data related to steel, from its manufacturing to delivery, processing, use and recycling. By scanning a unique identity code on the steel plate, base material information and material certificates are easily available in digital format. Kemppi has been working with SSAB’s API (application programming interface) in automating SmartSteel data transfer directly to welding equipment through its own cloud-based software solution for welding management, WeldEye. Collecting welding documentation is time-consuming. Documents have to be collected from different source systems, and documenting the welding process is performed manually. WeldEye strives to make the process smoother by collecting welding parameters digitally from workstations, and by adjusting the welding equipment according to digital welding procedure specifications (dWPS). To automate the process one step further, SSAB now offers its SmartSteel data through an interface to be used in the process. Experience has shown that the digitali- sation of welding-related operative and

Kemppi chief digital officer Juhana Enqvist, with Niko Korte, SSAB’s senior manager of digital business development

platforms is a new way of doing business together. We are working our way towards the Internet of Materials. Every initiative like this takes us one step closer to creating a digital identity for steel and complete traceability.” Following the successful pilot, SSAB customers who are already using Kemppi’s WeldEye software can get automatic material information from the SmartSteel cloud. New partners are also able to contact SSAB in order to start developing new services around

administrative tasks improves welding quality, saves time and reduces the repair rate. The WeldEye/SmartSteel integration streamlines the welding pro- cess, as the necessary base material information is quickly and easily avail- able to the welders. “The results of the pilot are promising,” said Juhana Enqvist, chief digital officer at Kemppi. “The material certificates are now automatically sent to WeldEye. Being able to scan products with SmartSteel, get the certificates automatically and document everything gives the customer a complete view of the base materials in the welding process.” Niko Korte, senior manager of digital business development at SSAB, commented, “Building cloud-based

SmartSteel. Kemppi Oy www.kemppi.com SSAB AB info@ssab.com www.ssab.com

48

TUBE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL January 2020

www.read-tpi.com