TPi November 2016

business & market news

Bend restrictors receive API 17L1 design review certification

important that the combination of design expertise, qualification and compliance are fully supported by years of application experience. The API assessment is a detailed process, which put our design procedures of bend restrictors under stringent analysis. Receiving the certification demonstrates the performance of our bend restrictors, especially for use in challenging and harsh sea environments.” API 17L1 specification defines technical requirements for safe, dimensionally and functionally interchangeable flexible pipe ancillary equipment that is designed and manufactured to uniform standards. These industry standards determine the minimum requirements for the design, material selection, manufacture, documentation, testing, marking and packing of flexible pipe ancillary equipment. Trelleborg’s bend restrictors are used to protect flexible pipelines from over bending and buckling during their installation or operation phase where The system will be integrated into a hot rolling mill, helping to increase the efficiency of the mill and to assure product quality. Štore Steel produces various round and flat steel products for the forging, spring and engineering industries. The company is modernising its in-line measuring systems in order to gain better and faster control over its production process. A significant efficiency increase is expected by shortening start-up time and reducing downtime. The ordered Profilemaster SPS400-S4 is equipped with technology for full profile measurement and surface fault detection. The system is has four high-speed camera/laser modules to

Trelleborg’s offshore operation in the UK has been certified for the design review of its bend restrictors under the American Petroleum Institute’s specification for flexible pipe ancillary equipment (API 17L1 Ed. 1 2013). The certificate was awarded by Lloyd’s Register EMEA, acting as an independent verification agent. All verification was completed by conducting a thorough overview of the product range, design philosophies and extensive safety track record based on over 20 years of service experience. This was evaluated alongside Trelleborg’s material qualifications, manufacturing processes and procedures. In addition, a manufacturing audit and site visit to the company’s metal work supplier was undertaken. Andrew Garside, innovation and technology director within Trelleborg’s offshore operation, commented, “Bend restrictors are required to perform in increasingly challenging offshore environments. For this, it is critically

Bend restrictor assembly

static loads are generated. The system consists of interlocking elements that articulate in three dimensions when they are subject to external loads. At a designed radius, the elements mechanically lock to form a semi-rigid curved structure that will not bend further. Bend restrictors are of split design to allow easy installation of the restrictor after pipe termination. Key features of bend restrictors are that they maintain the manufacturer’s recommended minimum bend radius during the life of the project; provide a suitable load path from tubular to fixed structures; and reduce point loading at the termination to an acceptable level.

Trelleborg – Sweden www.trelleborg.com New profile measuring system for hot rolling mill in Slovenia

capture the full contour of the hot rolled profile. Scanning the product with up to 500 full contours per second, the measuring system provides continuous dimensional measurements as well as surface fault detection. The engineered construction and the conditioning features of theProfilemaster SPS 400-S4 ensure stable and reliable measurements. Commissioning is planned before the end of 2016. For measurement and control in the cold finishing process, Štore Steel also ordered a non-contact measuring and control system from the Zumbach ODAC – USYS product line. Zumbach Electronic AG – Switzerland sales@zumbach.ch www.zumbach.com

Zumbach Electronic has won a contract from Štore Steel doo in Slovenia for a Profilemaster ® SPS 400-S4 in-line profile measuring system, based on laser light section technique and machine vision.

Profilemaster SPS 400-S4 measuring unit

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Tube Products International November 2016

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