TPi January 2022

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The trade magazine for tube and pipe products

January 2022

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Business & market news

Business & market news

Sandvik celebrates its first full reference order for innovative Sanicro 35 grade tubes

the customer selected this alloy for its high performance and cost effective offering. Johan Israelsson, president, business unit tube Americas, Sandvik Materials Technology, added: “Our strong, long- standing client relationship meant that when we suggested a new solution to their heat exchanger corrosion challenges, they were prepared to consider it. A short delivery time was also a consideration. Sanicro ® 35 is gaining a reputation as a cost alternative option to other steel grades and high nickel alloys.” Sanicro 35 offers high strength and corrosion resistance at a wide range of temperatures and is available globally to support heat exchanger and hydraulic and instrumentation tubing needs. Sandvik Materials Technology www.materials.sandvik

Sandvik Materials Technology, a developer and producer of advanced stainless steels, special alloys, and other high-performance materials, has received the first full order for its Sanicro ® 35 grade that bridges the performance gap between stainless steels and higher-cost nickel alloys. The order for Sanicro ® 35, which is an alternative to duplex and austenitic stainless-steel grades and nickel alloys, encompasses supplying tubes for two heat exchangers used in a crude unit fractionator at a major refining company in the US Gulf Coast. “Sanicro 35 opens up a wider range of opportunities for Sandvik and our customers. It is an economical alternative to other materials while offering very high corrosion resistance, comparable to traditional metallurgies,” said Karen Picker, technical marketing engineer, Sandvik Materials Technology. Global composite pipe technology com- pany Strohm has opened a new office in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and is establishing a centre of excellence for engineering its Thermoplastic Composite Pipe (TCP) technology as part of its growth strategy in South America. Renato Bastos, who has been Strohm’s vice-president in Brazil for the past three years, will head up the Rio de Janeiro site. He has over 20 years’ experience in the energy industry, with a strong background in the installation of steel and flexible pipes. Mr Bastos said: “With Brazil’s ultra deepwater market ramping up and an increasing number of independent operatorsacquiringfields fromPetrobras, we see opportunities both in the highly demanding pre-salt applications as well as with the independents on the mature fields. “With this move, we are in a great position to take advantage of these opportunities. Our TCP is perfectly

Sanicro ® 35 is an alternative to duplex and austenitic stainless-steel grades and nickel alloys

Previously, the bundles were constructed with hyper duplex stainless-steel tubes, however the refinery’s challenging process conditions called for an even higher corrosion resistant alloy. After an extensive evaluation of the corrosion and mechanical properties of Sanicro 35, as compared to other high- cost nickel alloys under consideration,

Pipe technology company Strohm plans new TCP centre of excellence and office base in Brazil

suited as its non-corrosive and robust, offering up to 60 per cent reduced CO 2 footprint compared to steel alternatives. It has also reduced installation costs as it is so lightweight. As well as extending its footprint in Brazil, Strohm is gearing up for the execution of a significant contract, which is expected to be announced soon. The company is aiming to hire an additional ten local people over the next twelve months to bolster the engineering and back- office support teams to further enhance business development opportunities. There are also plans to establish a local TCP manufacturing capability to better support the clients in the region. “Establishing a new office in Rio as well as a new TCP engineering centre is an important stepping-stone towards our long-term vision of designing and manu- facturing locally in Brazil. It also enables us to further pursue relevant research and development projects with the operators established in country, under Brazil’s National Agency of Petroleum

framework, as well as demonstrates our commitment to our clients and the local economy,” continued Mr Bastos. As part of Strohm’s plans for expansion in Brazil, the company has also launched a Portuguese version of its website. Strohm www.strohm.eu

Renato Bastos, who has been Strohm’s vice-president in Brazil for the past three years, will head up the Rio de Janeiro site

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Business & market news

Fine Tubes achieves health and safety certification milestone

continuous improvements and buy-in from stakeholders that are important for keeping everyone healthy and injury- free at work.” To achieve this certification, Fine Tubes built upon its established safety management system, leading to an increased awareness of risk assessments and improved employee engagement in health and safety topics. This recognition underlines Fine Tubes’ reputation as a safe place to work. It also strengthens its operational control systems and allows compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) awarded Fine Tubes the certificate, which is valid for three years. SSAB including positions within finance and controlling at SSAB. She joined Rautaruukki in 2005 and has also worked for SSAB Special Steels. “I’m very pleased to welcome Leena to her new job. She has extensive experience of working at SSAB and I know she will make a good contribution to SSAB’s development in her new role,” said Martin Lindqvist, president and CEO of SSAB.

Fine Tubes, a UK-based metal tubing manufacturer, has been awarded the ISO 45001:2018 health and safety certification. The certification validates that the business has met stringent health and safety standards to protect its employees at work. Dr Mathew Davies, health, safety and environmental manager at Fine Tubes, said: “We are proud to have dem- onstrated the strength of our health and safety management programme by receiving the ISO45001:2018 certificate. It shows that we have put in place, and are maintaining, a high level of occu- pational health and safety excellence. Not only does it demonstrate our entire team’s compliance and full engage- ment with the demanding assessment process, but also our commitment to

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) awarded Fine Tubes the certificate, which is valid for three years

Fine Tubes has also achieved its 14001:2015EnvironmentalManagement System Certificate. Fine Tubes www.finetubes.co.uk

SSAB appoints acting CFO Leena Craelius

“I’m really looking forward to taking on this new challenge and to supporting the company in our journey toward a fossil- free and industry-leading company,” added Ms Craelius. Ms Crealius holds an MBA in finance from Helsinki School of Economics and a BBA in International Business from Häme University of Applied Sciences. SSAB www.ssab.co.uk

SSAB has appointed Leena Craelius as acting CFO.

Miss Craelius is currently vice-pres- ident of finance, controlling and IT at SSAB Europe and has a lot of experience in the steel industry. She has held several senior positions at

Leena Craelius

PAO Severstal delivers large diameter pipes to Peru PAO Severstal has delivered 6,000 tons of large diameter pipes (LDP) to the Republic of Peru in South America. the company’s industrial site in St. Petersburg’s Kolpinsky district. The pipes were manufactured according to the API 5L PSL 1. updated on the progress of production and delivery, provide an additional competitive advantage.”

Severstal uses its own rolled metal to build the pipes, which is produced in mill 5000 of the company’s sheet rolling shop, on the same industrial site as the ITZ. Once shipped from the port of St. Petersburg, the LDPs were delivered to South America to the port of Ilo in Peru. This was Severstal’s second shipment to Peru in 2021 following the delivery of a trial batch in the Spring, bringing the total deliveries for this year to 6,000 tons. PAO Severstal www.severstal.com

The LDP were produced at the Izhorsky Pipe Plant (ITZ, part of Severstal’s Russian Steel division), located at

Alexander Semenov, sales director for the energy sector at Severstal, said: “Severstal has significantly expanded the sales geography of our exports for large diameter pipes. We now cover Europe, Asia, North Africa, Middle East, and North America and South America is becoming a new target market. Our customers choose to work with us because of our ability to complete orders quickly and guarantee a high level of quality in our products, supported by our own steelmaking and rolling facilities. The tracking services we offer, which keep our customers

The large diameter pipes were produced at the Izhorsky Pipe Plant

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Business & market news

Decom Engineering expands into new Aberdeen base in order to target North Sea energy clients

having a local facility and staff is the next logical step, and we have identified a site and hope to be up and running by Q4 of this year.” Established in 2011, the Northern Ireland-based engineering company has developed technologies which provide greener, faster and safer solutions for decommissioning in the energy sector. The company’s Pipe Coating Removal (PCR) equipment can strip and clean decommissioned or surplus pipelines of multiple coatings so they can be repurposed for use on other projects, while its range of cold cutting saws are in demand on international decommissioning projects as oil and gas operators replace or remove ageing infrastructure and redundant assets. In the last year Decom Engineering has hosted a number of technologies showcases and equipment trials in and around the Granite City, which has led to securing contracts with major energy sector contractors. The new facility will strengthen its position to win further work in the UK and further afield with clients who have global operations, and it is anticipated up to six new engineering, design and administration posts will be created. Decom Engineering has completed contracts in mainland Europe and Asia Pacific, and is tendering for new work scopes in Thailand, North America, Brazil and India.

Decommissioning solutions company, Decom Engineering, is expanding its operations with a new base near Aberdeen, which will improve access to key oil & gas clients. The £200,000 investment will establish a test centre and office facility on the doorstep of Europe’s oil capital, as part of a strategy to win major decommissioning projects. Decom Engineering chief executive officer, Sean Conway, said: “Aberdeen is a hotbed of technology companies who support the traditional oil & gas sector – and now the renewable energy industry – by innovating and developing cleaner, greener and safer ways of satisfying global energy demand. “My family have close links to the oil & gas sector and Aberdeen, and the early part of my career in the decommissioning sector was spent in the northeast of Scotland, so it is an area that has had a strong influence on how we have grown the business. “Our focus is on the decommissioning sector and with many of the oil & gas majors increasingly focused on the transition from hydrocarbons to renewable energy, opportunities for us to win new business in the UKCS will undoubtedly grow. “Previously we have rented premises or test facilities to showcase our products and expertise to North Sea clients, but

The company continues to invest in research and development and with its own in-house design and build capability. It means tools and equipment can be adapted to bespoke client requirements. Mr Conway added: “We have invested more than £700,000 in ongoing research and development as we devise decommissioning technologies that are more environmentally friendly and cost effective. Aberdeen and the UKCS is an important market for us, but it can also be a gateway to international projects, which will add to our track record in mainland Europe and the Asia Pacific region.” Decom Engineering www.decomengineering.co.uk The saw is secured to the structure before cutting starts, allowing for a fast and reliable cut

Enhanced gouge versus metal loss classifier TD Williamson, the pipeline solutions provider, has enhanced its Multiple Dataset (MDS) gouge versus metal loss (GvML) classifier, resulting in its first published performance specification for gouge identification and depth sizing within a dent.

TDW has enhanced its Multiple Dataset gouge versus metal loss classifier

MDS offers comprehensive mechanical damage assessment by leveraging multiple technologies on a single inspection platform, where data is easily correlated to identify coincident threats. The new classifier identifies gouges in natural gas and hazardous liquids

detection, identification or sizing of gouges associated with mechanical damage, one of the leading causes of catastrophic pipeline failures worldwide. TD Williamson www.tdwilliamson.com

pipelines with greater confidence and provides depth sizing of gouge and corrosion features using field-validated tolerances. According to the company, no other technology can provide this level of

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Business & market news

Fränkische Rohrwerke optimises existing extrusion line with advanced new extruder machine

Following a modernisation of its machin- ery and equipment already implement- ed by battenfeld-cincinnati over the last few years, Fr nkische now decided to acquire the conical twin screw extruder model conEX NG 65. It has replaced an extruder in an existing line which was about 18 years old, with very satisfying results. battenfeld-cincinnati launched conEX NG, a series of three conical twin screw extruder models over five years ago. Their characteristics include the ability to process an enormous range of different PVC types as well as to withstand high tooling pressures of up to 520 bar. The extruders come with a lengthened preheating zone and an optimised screw design to provide high output rates combined with optimal melt quality. Additional advantages of this conEX version are a reduced footprint, lower investment costs in relation to output rates, and a lower energy consumption than the predecessor model. pipeline. Genebre recommends respecting the installation prescriptions of the balancing valve. If the balancing valve is also used for indirectly reading the transfer flow rate, Genebre recommends it is installed away from direction changes, throttling, adjustment, and shut-off parts to limit interferences and increase reading stability and accuracy of the differential pressure reading. To avoid thickening of mud and difficult- to-remove impurities, the piezometric inlet connections in horizontal paths must always be directed so that inlets are positioned upwards when they are installed. The new valve is complemented with pressure inlets to carry out the indirect reading of the transfer flow. Genebre www.genebre.es Fränkische Rohrwerke www.fraenkische.com battenfeld-cincinnati www.battenfeld-cincinnati.com

Corrugated pipes, which are used worldwide in water management and drainage systems and as cable conduits, require high melt quality and perfect homogeneity during extrusion. For this reason, Fr nkische Rohrwerke Gebr Kirchner GmbH & Co KG, based in Bavaria, Germany recently announced the purchase of a new-generation conEX from battenfeld-cincinnati Austria GmbH. The pipemanufacturer used this extruder to replace an older model in an existing extrusion line and was then immediately able to meet all requirements in terms of quality standards and output. Fr nkische is a family-owned company that was founded more than 100 years ago, and its core product line is corrugated pipes made of PVC, which serve as water management and drainage pipes, as well as cable conduits. While the cable conduit pipes range from DN 40 to DN 200" nominal width, the pipe manufacturer makes water management and drainage pipes for road construction, agricultural drainage, drainage of buildings, landscaping and construction of sports facilities, as well as sewerage systems, which reach up to 800mm in diameter.

Conical twin screw extruder conEX NG 65

Frank Beck, head of operations and supply chain building construction at Fr nkische, said: “The extruder is equipped with a screw optimised for the application. We are really enthusiastic about this high-precision job in terms of melt homogeneity and product quality.” For its corrugated pipe production, Fr nkische uses several extruders from battenfeld-cincinnati. The pipe manufacturer has already maintained a customer-supplier relationship based on mutual trust for more than 25 years.

New static balancing valve from Genebre Fluid control company Genebre has announced a new static balancing valve. The company, which has celebrated its 40 th anniversary this year, has introduced the new valve, Reference 3074, as part of its 2021 catalogue in the Genebre Hydro Sanitary Line.

Balancing valves are hydraulic devices that regulate and balance the fluid flow in heating and cooling installations with high precision. They are useful to provide a more uniform temperature distribution in equipment with many terminals such as hotels, hospitals, schools and so on. The 3074 valve is a balancing valve which means it has a single component device, adjustment functions and measures cold and hot fluids transiting inside closed and open systems. This means that it features micrometric adjusting of the transfer flow, an indicator of calibration reading of numerical value on the valve’s hand wheel, it has the possibility of

The 3074 valve is a balancing valve which means it has a single component device

verifying the flow in transit of the circuit by means of piezometric inputs and the possibility to block in a certain position. The static balancing valve can be installed in any vertical or horizontal

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Business & market news

TSC Subsea’s ARTEMIS vCompact – a solution to being in a tight spot

the capability of ART to produce high resolution data through anti-corrosion coating without having to remove that coating, means that it provides a high- specification solution to challenges such as these. “Having proven its credentials, there is huge potential for its use in and around subsea structures and pipelines where accurate remaining wall thickness meas- urements are critical for safe operations.” The location of the pipeline joints required the inspection to be conducted remotely within a very narrow field joint section which was too confined for the standard ARTEMIS. The solution, in the form of the ARTEMIS vCompact, was developed. The design incorporates TSC Subsea’s Acoustic Resonance Technology (ART). ART is a high-resolution technology that penetrates and inspects through thick subsea coating with lightweight, high-precision 3-axis scanning to produce high accuracy wall thickness measurements and corrosion mapping. Strong magnetic feet fix the scanner firmly in position. The ROV then detaches and stands off, negating the need for it to hold station accurately for long periods of time. The tooling utilises motorised and encoded manipulators, which enable the probe to accurately follow the areas to be inspected. Inspection data is transferred to a

TSC Subsea, a developer of advanced subsea inspection solutions for challeng- ing situations, has designed a new ROV- deployed automated scanning tool that addresses the issue of carrying out tight access field joint inspection through difficult to penetrate pipeline coating. The ARTEMIS ® vCompact, a smaller, lightweight, more-flexible version of the standard ARTEMIS, was designed, developed and built by TSC Subsea’s engineers to work in tandem with inspection class ROV for the remote inspection of pipelines and structures. It was designed and built in a turnaround time of less than six weeks to meet the precise requirements of a project for Beach Energy in Australia’s Bass Strait, to carry out wall thickness inspection on the 20" Otway pipeline near the Thylacine A platform. “The ARTEMIS vCompact successfully completed its operations for Beach Energy with flying colours, with all inspections being performed within two days,” said Stephan Freychet, senior project manager. “All the data from the remote inspection was analysed remotely by a team in Norway. “This project demonstrated the potential of the ARTEMIS vCompact and the industry-leading capability of ART. It can be deployed in a number of applications where size and agility are crucial in overcoming the problems of tight access. This, combined with A laser welded fin tube, which is used for furnaced and industrial boilers has been released in China for the first time. The advantage of the new fin tube is that the contact thermal resistance is almost zero. Compared with high frequency welding, it has the characteristics of a high finned ratio and light weight and compact assembled heat exchanger volume, which is more energy-efficient and better for the environment. There are many types of fin tubes, mainly high frequency welding finned tubes. Although compared with embedded and braised methods, they are more advanced in product quality and production automation.

TSC Subsea has designed a new ROV-deployed automated scanning tool

topside computer and can be analysed from anywhere in the world.

Jonathan Bancroft, global sales manager, said: “I’m immensely proud of the new ARTEMIS vCompact solution that the TSC team developed in record time. Our client had a problem with no solution, and in just six weeks our engineers designed, built and tested the ARTEMIS vCompact to address the market gap. This new solution is a great addition to our diverless inspection portfolio and demonstrates TSC Subsea’s commitment to innovate through technology.’’ TSC Subsea www.tscsubsea.com Laser welded fin tube innovation released in China

which has a number of big advantages: the thickness of base pipe can be 0.8 to 1.5mm, and the thickness of fins can be 0.3 to 1mm. Compared with other processes, material cost is greatly improved; the penetration rate is also higher, which can prevent the corrosion of gap, prolong the service life and reduce the heat transfer resistance; the material limit is broken and different materials can be used for processing; it is easy to complete deep fabrication – coil and bend can be directly carried out; the welding heat affected area is small and the metallographic change is small, which makes it possible to process the small diameter fin tube. Shanghai TS Industrial Co Ltd www.lordfintube.com

However, there are many shortcomings in heat exchange efficiency and dust prevention. Laser welded finned tubes are a more technologically advanced product,

Laser welded fin tube released in China for the first time

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Business & market news

Safe high-density polyethylene conduit pull strength technical document is now available

Installers can quickly look-up the safe pull strength for the conduit they are using from the tables, derating it for actual ambient temperature conditions and the time under tension, for use with an in-line tensiometer or in selecting the breakaway link with the correct rating. The SPS values already include the appropriate safety factor. TN-63 is applicable to any pulled into place installation, including open trench and horizontal directional drilling (HDD) methods. Tables of SPS values are provided for industry standard DR and Schedule wall types, up to 6" in diameter. An explanation the behaviour of conduit under load is provided and guidance on installation considerations is included. Published on PPI’s website TN-63, is one of several PPI documents related to the design and installation of HDPE conduit which are published as a service to the industry. The PPI Conduit Design Calculator provides assistance in selecting HDPE conduit types for mini- HDD applications. The Plastics Pipe Institute Inc www.plasticpipe.org small batch sizes. All these benefits enable the tubes to extend the operational life of critical subsea instrumentation. Fine Tubes is dedicated to manufac- turing high quality, precision tubes to tough industry specifications. The busi- ness has a long and successful his- tory of operating in the oil and gas and chemical process sectors. Its Super Duplex products deliver extended product life and reduced downtime and maintenance costs, as well as enhanced strength and corrosion resistance properties. Super Duplex tubing from Fine Tubes performs without failure time and time again, offering maximum pressure resistance up to 100,000psi. Fine Tubes www.finetubes.co.uk

exerted on the conduit,” said Patrick Vibien, P, Eng., director of engineering for the PCD. “If the safe pull strength is exceeded during installation the conduit may permanently deform at some location along its length. This necking down may create an obstruction within the conduit such that when the cable is later pulled into place, it is be blocked from passing through this section. Knowing the safe pull strength will protect the conduit during installation and the investment in the installation.”

The Plastics Pipe Institute Inc (PPI) has released a new technical note to assist conduit installers in calculating safe pulling loads in order to avoid damaging high-density polyethylene (HDPE) conduit. TN-63 is available for free at https:// plasticpipe.org/pdf/tn-63-2021.pdf from the PPI, which is the North American trade association representing the plastic pipe industry. “When pulling HDPE conduit into place, an increasing axial tensile load will be

PPI TN-63 safe pull strength cal- culations for conduit: including derating factors provides not only the equations used to calculated the Safe Pull Strength (SPS) for HDPE conduit but easy-reference tables of pre- calculated SPS values for typical industry HDPE conduit wall diameters and thickness types. Guidance is also provided on how to derate the safe pull strength for elevated tempera- ture installation and time-under- tension considerations.

The document assists conduit installers in calculating safe pulling loads to avoid damaging high-density polyethylene (HDPE) conduit

Super Duplex tubing now with enhanced strength and improved corrosion resistance for oil & gas

The demanding nature of marine environments makes it critical for subsea oil & gas instrumentation to offer excellent corrosion resistance and a high mechanical strength. Materials must be resistant to stress corrosion cracking, pitting and crevice corrosion and fatigue. All of this and more, including high performance, and superior strength over a long period of time. Super Duplex tubes from Fine Tubes operate in the most aggressive off- shore, downhole and subsea environ- ments. They meet the industry’s strict quality and safety requirements and are engineered to operate without fail- ure in chloride-bearing environments. Demanding applications include heat exchangers, flow meters, downhole pressure housings and smart wells, and other critical downhole oil & gas instrumentation.

High-pressure tubing with pressure ratings of up to 100,000psi for subsea control units

The NOROSK M-650 approved Super Duplex tubes manufactured by Fine Tubes can be made to order in standard and specialist non-standard sizes in seamless straight lengths. Advantages include custom-made to precise customer requirements, high- quality, extremely reliable product performance, short lead times, and

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Focus on seamless steel pipes set to continue across a diverse range of industries By Yash Pathak at Fact.MR

Why choose seamless steel pipes? In comparison to other available types of piping, seamless steel pipes do not require any joints or welding, which add to their strength and other benefits such as corrosion resistance. In addition, seamless steel pipes have higher operating pressure and tolerate mechanical stress better than welded pipes, also known as non-seamless pipes. Seamless pipes also reflect perfect finishing, which is flawless and desirable, resulting in higher demand for them for many uses. Depending on the applications, these pipes are manufactured in rectangular, circular, tubular, or square shapes, which can effectively transport gases, slurries, powders and other liquids. Below are some of the key advantages of seamless steel pipes. High-pressure strength Welded seams of steel pipes are the weakest links, that can be easily affected by external pressure, humidity, and excessive heat. Since seamless pipes do not require welding, the uniform structure of the pipes enhances their ability to withstand pressure, making them equally strong around the circumference of the pipe. Uniform shape The welding process in welded seam pipes adds stress, heat and extraneous variables to the product, which disrupts the uniformity of these pipes. On the other hand, seamless steel pipes have a uniform and round shape, which is obtained by

With constant advancements in industrial applications, there is no room for over reliance on traditional equipment. Industrialisation across the globe is picking up pace, and equipment manufacturers are trying to keep up with the ever-growing demand. Piping systems are omnipresent and are used in construction, oil & gas and residential sectors. They are considered the foundation of heavy machinery and projects. Therefore, it is imperative to select the type of piping that effectively supports heavy-duty operations for better production output. In recent years, seamless steel pipes are gaining significant traction with increased applications in a variety of high- potential end-use industries. As per market intelligence provider Fact.MR, sales of seamless steel pipes are poised to grow at a healthy 7 per cent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) through to 2031. Seamless steel pipes are known for their ability to withstand pressure more effectively as compared to other methods of piping, while being faster and more cost-effective to build in many cases. Seamless steel pipes are made from solid steel sheets or bars, which are formed into a solid, cylindrical shape called billets. These billets are then heated and cast over a piercing rid to obtain a hollow tube or shell. These pipes are used in gas lines and pipes to carry liquid. Since seamless steel pipes are able to tolerate high pressures, they are also widely applied in high-pressure applications such as refineries, hydrocarbon industries, hydraulic cylinders and oil & gas infrastructure.

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a continuous extrusion of the alloy being used. The uniform shape of seamless pipes also comes in handy while reinstalling pipes and adding fittings. Greater strength under load While seamless steel pipes can be more expensive than other alternatives, they are more reliable due to their high load- bearing capabilities. The reliability of seamless steel pipes makes them a viable option in the long run. Load strength is a crucial aspect of piping systems. The pipes must support their own weight and the weight of the material they are transporting as well. Pipeline leaks and pipe failure are usually common in welded pipes. As seamless pipes are not welded, these failures can be avoided. The benefits of seamless steel pipes make them an excellent choice in commercial applications such as oil rigs, shipbuilding, pressure vessels, offshore drilling and other pipeline applications. Types of seamless steel pipes As per the manufacturing process, seamless pipes can be divided into two categories, hot-rolled seamless steel pipes, and cold-rolled seamless steel pipes. Hot-rolled seamless steel pipes The manufacturing process of hot-rolled and cold-drawn seamless pipes is not entirely different. Cold rolling of seamless pipes is achieved below the recrystallisation temperature of rolling, whereas hot rolling is carried out above the recrystallisation temperature. Hot-rolled seamless steel pipes can disrupt the cast microstructure of the steel ingot, refine the crystal grains of steel, and eliminate any defects in the microstructure, thereby improving the mechanical properties of seamless steel pipes. These pipes are further divided into low, medium and high-pressure boiler pipes, alloy steel pipes, stainless steel pipes, geological steel pipes and oil cracking pipes. The diameter of hot-rolled seamless pipe is greater than 32mm and the wall thickness ranges between 2.5 to 75mm. Cold-rolled seamless steel pipes Cold-rolled seamless pipes comprise high accuracy of dimension and better finish of the surface when used for hydraulic and machinery equipment. These pipes not only include boiler steel pipes, alloy pipes, petroleum cracking pipes and steel pipes, but also carbon thin-walled steel pipes and special-shaped steel pipes. The outer diameter of cold-rolled pipes is usually less than 6mm and the wall thickness is lower than 0.25mm. In case of thin-walled pipes, the outer diameter is less than 5mm. As a result, cold-rolled pipes have higher dimensional accuracy than hot-rolled pipes. While manufacturing cold-rolled pipes, the speed of molding and productivity are increased significantly. The pipes can be rolled in different shapes to adapt to various end-uses. In addition, the cold rolling process can enhance plastic deformation in steel, thereby increasing the yield points of steel.

Applications of seamless steel pipes Because of their unique structure, seamless steel pipes are broadly used as a transmission medium for natural gas, oil, coal gas, water and other solid materials. Seamless steel pipes are lightweight, making them applicable in the petroleum drilling process, bicycle frames and auto transmission shafts. Using seamless steel pipes can enhance material utilisation, streamline the manufacturing process and reduce excessive use of material and processing time. According to the cross- sectional area shape, seamless pipes can be divided into circular tubes and special pipes to suit different applications. Prominent application areas include:

• Manufacturing oil & gas lines • Chemical processing plants • Nuclear power plants • Hydraulics

• Water purification plants • Sensitive measuring units • High temperature and pressure units

Trends in the seamless steel pipes industry Carbon steel seamless pipes are gaining manufactures’ and customers’ attention, owing to their durability, cost- effectiveness, and recyclability. Carbon steel comprises a higher concentration of carbon content in total composition, around 2 per cent. These pipes are being widely adopted in chemicals, oil & gas and power generation sectors. However, manufacturers are facing challenges in some regions due to stringent regulations on carbon emissions during the manufacturing process. As a result, seamless steel suppliers are investing in research and development to create and adopt low-emission manufacturing plants for production. Further, China, Japan, and Europe are emerging as lucrative pockets in the seamless steel pipes industry. In China, the abundance of raw material and economically viable products, along with the presence of regional manufacturers, is actively propelling the production of seamless steel pipes. Besides this, Chinese manufacturers are well-equipped with automated manufacturing processes and strong material handling systems. As per Fact.MR’s analysis, the seamless steel pipes market in China is projected to grow at a 7 per cent CAGR through 2031.

Fact.MR – India www.factmr.com

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