TPT January 2007

Technology Update

Patent issued for tubular instrument panel beam manufacturing process

George A Mitchell Company, USA, has been issued a US patent for an innovative process developed for the manufacture of automobile instrument panel beams. The manufacturing process is carried out by two different forming procedures: tube push pointing and tube drawing. A forming cell, specifically designed for a major automotive components supplier, includes a 50,000lb three die push pointer and a special tube drawing unit.

The drawing unit uses the same tooling components found in a normal draw bench, along with additional features that make it unique in the industry. Both machines are controlled by an Allen Bradley PLC and an operator panel. The new forming process is designed to replace the normal procedure of joining two tubes of different cross sections. Subsequent manufacturing operations, such as welding the two tubes together, are reduced, and the single tube of varying cross sections possesses an enhanced natural frequency and structural integrity compared to the two-piece construction. The first forming cell to use the process was installed in North America in the summer of 2006. Mitchell is also involved in the manufacture of machinery to cold form power steering

› Mitchell’s forming cell for instrument panel beam tubes

cylinder tubes for the automobile industry and machinery to produce variable wall tubes used in making SUV and truck axles. The company is also developing cold forming processes for the manufacture of utility poles up to 70' in length. George A Mitchell Company – USA Fax : +1 330 758 7263 Email : sales@mitchellmachinery.com Website : www.mitchellmachinery.com

Extension of pipe pressure testing capacities

Süddeutsches Kunststoff-Zentrum (SKZ), Germany, has increased its capacities for long-term pressure

operated in connection with 13 creep test basins and 11 heating furnaces. Up to five

pipe specimens can be connected to each test pressure station for long-term pressure tests. is therefore able to test up to 1,700 pipe sections simul- taneously, and at various temperatures. The recruitment of additional, highly- qualified R&D staff has enabled the company to perform further services, such as ascertaining regression curves for new polymeric pipe materials, in order The company

testing of pipes by 50 per cent, enabling the company to reduce the processing times in the initial type testing and quality assurance of pipe systems. Long-term pressure tests on pipe systems under internal hydro- static pressure are one of the core fields in initial type testing, quality assurance and research and development in the pipe area. SKZ commissioned a new testing

› A specimen prepared for testing at the creep test basin

laboratory of approximately 7,000m 2 in March 2005, and in 2006 it acquired and put into operation additional creep test basins, heating furnaces and test pressure monitoring stations. Since October 2006, the company has had 340 long-term test pressure monitoring stations at its disposal, which can be

to determine the long-term performance of pipes and to make service life predictions.

Süddeutsches Kunststoff-Zentrum (SKZ) – Germany

Fax : +49 931 4104 277 Email : j.wuest@skz.de Website : www.skz.de

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J ANUARY /F EBRUARY 2007