TPT July 2021

The international magazine for the tube & pipe industries

JULY 2021

VOL 34 NO 4

US$33

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I NDE X Editorial

ABB.......................................................................................38 Bornay Group..........................................................................6 Bültmann...............................................................................23 Butting...................................................................................42 Combilift................................................................................18 Côntrole Mesure Systèmes...................................................24 Corinth Pipeworks SA...........................................................50 Dalian Field...........................................................................34 Danieli...................................................................................12 DEPA Commercial. ...............................................................50 DEPA International Projects..................................................50 DieTronic Srl. ........................................................................29 Eaton.....................................................................................47 Forever Machinery Company................................................22 Guild International...................................................................6 Paul Horn GmbH...................................................................26 Hottinger Brüel & Kjær..........................................................32 Huntingdon Fusion Techniques.......................................37, 52 IMS Messsysteme GmbH.....................................................45 Inelco Grinders......................................................................36 Lantek...................................................................................21 Leica Geosystems. ...............................................................35

Lincoln Electric......................................................................41 Messe Düsseldorf.................................................................16 Milltek Sport GmbH.................................................................8 George A Mitchell Company. ................................................10 NDC Technologies. .........................................................13, 31 PEASA..................................................................................12 Pemamek................................................................................8 PJSC ChelPipe.....................................................................46 Rocklin Manufacturing. .........................................................42 Severstal...............................................................................45 Sharpe Products...................................................................15 Sikora................................................................................7, 36 Solvay...................................................................................48 Thermatool........................................................................6, 12 TMK. .....................................................................................46 Topy Industries......................................................................12 transfluid. ..............................................................................33 TRUMPF...............................................................................21 Unison...............................................................................8, 25 voestalpine Tubulars GmbH & Co KG. .................................45 Xiris.......................................................................................24

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JULY 2021

Don’t settle for less cuts than what you should be getting. Don’t be fooled by cheap imitation cut-off blades from other suppliers that underperform and can ruin your production runs. For over 75 years, Steelcraft Tool Company has revolutionized cut-off blades for the tube and pipe industry. Count on Steelcraft Tool Company for the best products, with the best service, at the best value.

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CONT ENT S

Editor in chief

Rory McBride

Editorial assistant

Helen Gaskell

Design & production Lisa Wright

Sales & marketing

Steve Martin Sales & marketing steve@intras.co.uk Tel: +44 1926 834688 Jason Smith Sales & marketing (Italy) jason@intras.co.uk Tel: +44 1926 834684 Linda Li 中国大陆，台湾， 香港以及远东地区销售代表 linda@intras.co.uk Tel: +44 1926 834685

2 Editorial index 6 Industry news 7 Diary of tube events 22 Technology news 64 Adver tisers index

Advertising co-ordinator

Liz Hughes

Subscriptions

Louise Jennings

Accounts manager

Louise Jennings

Founder

John C Hogg

All rights reserved – © Intras Ltd ISSN 0953-2366

Published by Intras Ltd PO Box 6828, Warwick, CV34 9SP, UK Tel: +44 1926 334137 • Fax: +44 1926 314755 Email: tpt@intras.co.uk • Website: www.read-tpt.com Intras USA Danbury Corporate Center, 107 Mill Plain Road, Danbury CT 06811, USA Tel: +1 203 794 0444 • Email: doug@intras.co.uk This publication and its full contents of layout, text, images, and graphics is copyright protected. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording or any other storage or retrieval system without the publisher’s written permission. The publisher, owners, agents, printers, editors and contributors cannot be held responsible for and hereby exclude all liability whatsoever for errors, omissions or the accuracy and claims printed or inferred in the editorial or advertisements published in this, previous or subsequent editions or for any damages, costs or losses caused thereby. Tube & Pipe Technology reserves the right to edit, reword and subedit all editorial submissions in accordance with editorial policy. Tube & Pipe Technology expressed graphically or by text is a registered name and style trademark of Intras Ltd, UK. All matters relating to this disclaimer are governed by the laws of England. US Copies only: Tube & Pipe Technology (ISSN No: 0953-2366, USPS No: 023-507) is published six times a year: January, March, May, July, September and November by Intras Ltd and distributed in the USA by Asendia USA, 701 Ashland Ave, Folcroft PA. Periodicals postage paid at Philadelphia, PA and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: send address changes to Tube & Pipe Technology, 701 Ashland Ave, Folcroft PA 19032.

Tube Products INTERNATIONAL www.read-tpi.com

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July issue • Business & market news • The fundamentals of arc welding metallurgy

ISSN: 1755-7216

www.read-tpi.com

The trade magazine for tube and pipe products

July 2021

More than pipes BUTTING is one of the leading processors of stainless steels. Our core competences are in forming and welding techniques and in materials engineering. Take advantage of our know-how and contact us. www.butting.com

ARTICLES

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Case study: advanced robotic modular packaging solution for tubular products By Fives Group, France A fluid approach to digitalisation: helping tube and pipe manufacturers benefit from Industry 4.0 By Quaker Houghton, USA

Tube & Pipe Technology magazine is available in print and online. Go to www.read-tpt.com for more information.

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The Professional Publishers Association Member

When you have finished with this magazine please recycle it

The July Issue Welcome to the latest issue of Tube & Pipe Technology magazine.

July/August 2021 Vol 34 No 4

Artificial intelligence, data, Industry 4.0 and robotics are playing an ever increasing role in tube and pipe production plants around the world – as you can read in the article on page 60 from Quaker Houghton. Even during the 12 years I have worked in the tube industry the speed of the transformation has been astonishing. If anything the pandemic appears to have accelerated this process, with limits placed on the number of human workers in production areas and the now fundamental need for remote monitoring of production and safety. Of course we are still far from tapping into the full potential of these advances both in our industry and in other areas. It is when they eventually work fluidly together that we will see even more giant leaps forward. For example a recent report I read stated that the masses of data collected by the 3,000 satellites in orbit around the Earth has been completely under used so far, due to the incredible workload involved in actually mining this data. Advances in AI will allow us to complete tasks such as keeping track of even minor pipeline or power plant disruptions, which can of course inflict harm on the environment and cause disruption to the economy. AI can help by continuously analysing data from space and supplying gas and oil pipeline operators with information that they can use to instantly contain accidents – and even predict them in the first place. Potential problems can be detected to minimise harmful effects and preventive action can be taken. Rory McBride – Editor in chief

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I hope that you enjoy the magazine.

The international magazine for the tube & pipe industries

On the cover . . . Thermatool Corp, an Inductotherm Group Company, is a worldwide leader in high frequency solid-state induction welding, delivering solutions with proven performance dedicated to the tube and pipe industry. Our purpose is to lead the tube and pipe market in quality HF welding, cutting, heating, and heat-treating equipment by providing flexible and innovative systems designed to produce superior, cost-effective products for tube and pipe producers. From API to spirally wound fin tube to engineered structural

JULY 2021

VOL 34 NO 4

US$33

For State of the Art HF Welding Control and Performance, choose Thermatool HAZControl ® Technology

33

23

DOWNLOAD our latest article, The Path to a Better Thermatool Weld , at thermatool.com/weld.

thermatool.com inductothermhw.co.uk

Visit us at

MD1036 Rev A - Thermatool State of the Art.indd 1

Booth# D45738

6/24/2021 5:20:03 PM

sections, Thermatool’s innovations consistently push the limits on design and implementation of HF welded products. These improvements have enabled Thermatool to demonstrate efficiency and high weld quality within the HF welding process. Thermatool Corp is a global supplier with local manufacturing, service and research centres that support its broad customer base. Thermatool is built on the quality of its engineering and the strength of its service. The Inductotherm Group is structured to reach across the globe and to provide localised manufacturing, engineering, service, and support in every region of the world through 40 full-service companies providing 50 individual product lines.

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Guild International to supply laser welder to stainless steel tube producer

GUILD International, an expert in coil processing equipment for the steel, tube and pipe, and stamping industries, has been chosen to supply a fibre laser welder for a new direct rolling, annealing and pickling line being built for a large steel producer. This fully automatic welder quickly produces seamless welds with zero over thickness using

the latest in fibre laser technology, and includes an induction annealer and planisher. The new laser welder will be installed at a top tier stainless steel producer based in India. When completed at the end of 2022, the new processing line will have an annual capacity of approximately 700,000 metric tons of

cold-rolled, 200, 300 and 400 series stainless steel. Guild International has been chosen to supply a fibre laser welder for a new direct rolling, annealing and pickling line

Guild International www.guildint.com

Thermatool Solid State CFI Welder selected by major Spanish tube and pipe producer

INDUCTOTHERM Heating and Welding has announced its most recent sale of a Thermatool CFI High Frequency Welder to the Bornay Group, a major tube manufacturer in Spain. Bornay specialises in precision tubes and stainless-steel tubes for a variety of sectors including automotive, metallic furniture and agriculture sectors. The Bornay Group has been present in the steel tube manufacturing sector since 1965 and is one of the leading Thermatool’s welding equipment can weld carbon and stainless steel, brass, copper and aluminium

Spanish producers, not only in terms of volume, but also in terms of its techno- logical and environmental commitment. One of the key pillars on which its commitment to sustainability is based is the optimisation of processes and the continuous modernisation of machinery. For this reason, Bornay takes special care in the selection of its equipment suppliers. With induction commonly known as an energy efficient process of welding

tube, the CFI High Frequency Welder provides reassurance and confidence as it is field tested and a proven, reliable solid state tube and pipe welder. Inductotherm Heating and Welding (the European manufacturers of Thermatool, Radyne and Banyard brands) provides the widest range of HF welders on the market, with thousands of installations globally. With decades of process knowledge, coupled with dedicated aftersales support and training facilities, Bornay felt assured they had found the best company to support their individual needs. Thermatool’s welding equipment can weld carbon and stainless steel, brass, copper, and aluminium, as well as exotic alloys, such as boron steel and HSLA, AHSS and TRIP steels.

Bornay Group www.grupobornay.com Thermatool www.thermatool.com

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D I ARY of Tube Events

6-9 September 2021 TOLexpo (Lyon, France) International Exhibition 13-16 September 2021 FABTECH (Chicago, USA) International Exhibition 16-18 September 2021 Guangzhou (Guangzhou, China) International Exhibition 4-9 October 2021 EMO (Milan, Italy) International Exhibition

Harry Prunk leaves the Sikora board after 45 years THE Supervisory Board of Sikora AG has announced that Harry Prunk left the Sikora Board this year after more than 45 years of successful work. The company said that he had shaped the development of the company and contributed significantly to the success of the brand. Harry Prunk started his career at Sikora in 1975 after finishing his studies in electronics as the third employee with company founder Harald Sikora. Eleven years later he was appointed managing director of Sikora Industrieelektronik GmbH. In 1981, he founded the first subsidiary for Sikora, Sikora International Corp in California, USA. Since 1996 he has been a shareholder of the company. “We thank Harry Prunk for more than four decades full of outstanding achievements for our company, for the close cooperation with customers in the wire and cable, hose and tube as well as plastics industry and for his persistent commitment in building up the Sikora subsidiaries and representatives”, said Prof Dr Thomas Sikora, chairman of the Supervisory Board of Sikora AG. “The many years of wonderful and trustful cooperation will remain unforgotten.” Since the transformation of the company into Sikora AG in 2002, Harry Prunk has been a member of the management board, which he chaired from 2011 to 2015. In his function, Mr Prunk was responsible for the areas sales, marketing and service and was particularly involved in the internationalisation of Sikora.

www.tolexpo.com

www.fabtechexpo.com

www.tubechina-gz.com

www.emo-milan.com

5-7 October 2021 Tubotech (São Paulo, Brazil) International Exhibition www.tubotech-online.com

5-7 October Made In Steel (Milan, Italy) International Exhibition

www.madeinsteel.it

30 November – 2 December 2021 Shanghai International Tube Industry Expo (Shanghai, China) International Exhibition

www.tubeexpo.cc

10-13 January 2022 STEELFAB (Sharjah, UAE) International Exhibition

Sikora www.sikora.net

www.steelfabme.com

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Pemamek German subsidiary to help grow tube welding customer base in country

TO reinforce its local presence, and bring its welding services closer to its customers, Pemamek has opened a daughter company in Germany. The official subsidiary, Pemamek GmbH, will be led by the newly hired sales director, Oliver Decker. The subsidiary, active since April 2021, is strategically located in the center of Germany, in Bad Arolsen. “We are currently in a strong growth phase and by opening a daughter com- pany to a potential market area, we can support our future growth. Being locally present and close to our customer in selected areas is also a part of our

long-term business strategy,” said Juha Mäkitalo, the CEO of Pemamek Ltd. “We already have a strong global presence in certain sectors, such as shipbuilding. Now, with the new opening, we aim to grow our market share in other segment,” Mr Mäkitalo continues, “We’re excited to have Oliver [Decker] joining the ranks of Pemamek, as he has a long experience in machine sales and profound knowledge from the German markets.” According to the new sales director of Pemamek GmbH, Oliver Decker, PEMA solutions have great potential

in the markets, thanks to their modern automation technology and high quality. “I am looking forward to improving Pemamek’s position in the German markets and developing the customer base. There is a lot of unused potential for PEMA products and solutions, so I’m sure that by being local, we can make an even bigger impact,” said Mr Decker. Pemamek will also continue maintaining and developing its local partner network and agents in Germany.

Pemamek www.pemamek.com Exhaust manufacturer selects Unison tube bending machine for the Nürburgring

A BRITISH-built Unison Breeze all- electric tube bending machine will soon be assisting Milltek Sport Ltd in exhaust prototyping and development work at Germany’s Nürburgring racetrack.

Derbyshire-based Milltek invested in its first Unison Breeze machine, a 76mm (maximum tube diameter) capability single-stack model, almost ten years ago in order to achieve the superior accuracy, repeatability, control and reliability that Unison’s all-electric CNC machines are renowned for. A second Unison Breeze machine, an 80mm multi-stack tube bender, then followed in 2017. This latest Unison Breeze machine to be purchased by Milltek – an 80mm single-stack model – will be located at Milltek Sport GmbH, the company’s

recently opened €1.5mn development and testing centre in Nürburg. It will be used for exhaust system research and development, small production runs for some of the world’s leading high- performance cars, and custom tube manipulation work for several race teams. With its roots embedded in the demands of the aerospace sector, the 80mm Breeze offers rapid setup, fast tooling changes, exceptional power, rigid mechanical design, and all-electric control for right-first-time repeatability. These are all attributes that Unison believes make the 80mm Breeze the ultimate tube-manipulation machine for businesses specialising in small batch production runs. As Milltek only uses highly robust T304L stainless steel for its exhaust products, the all-electric Breeze’s ability to successfully complete tight bends in thin wall tube down to 1D radius, as required for many of today’s high performance exhaust systems, was also a key factor in the decision to purchase.

This latest Unison Breeze machine to be purchased by Milltek – an 80mm single- stack model – will be located at Milltek Sport GmbH

Milltek Sport GmbH www.millteksport.de Unison www.unisonltd.com

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George A Mitchell Company to supply specialist push pointer for cold drawing steel tubes

GEORGE A Mitchell Company, based in Ohio, US, has been contracted to supply a 33,000lb Five Die Rotary Hydraulic Push Pointer for a US manufacturer of cold drawn steel tubes. Mitchell has produced over 60 Rotary Die Head Push Pointers of various capacities over the last 58 years of business. A Rotary Die Head Push Pointer is used when more than three

dies are needed to accomplish a specific schedule of point reductions prior to the cold drawing operation. They are usually used for aluminium or copper material. It is highly unusual for steel tube to require more than three reductions, but the customer has certain unique high D/t ratio products that requires up to five reductions. The rotation of the indexing die head is carried out via the use of a servo motor and drive system. The servo system allows infinite rotational adjustment and near perfect angular accuracy. The original device Mitchell used for Rotary Die Heads was a rotary cam indexing mechanism driven by a hydraulic motor. These devices have proven to be very expensive and costly to maintain. In other special applications, the servo motor system allows

for varying angular positions, whereas the rotary cam indexing devices used previously could only achieve equal angular positions. One major safety advantage of the servo motor system is, during a die change, the Rotary Die Head can be rotated without requiring the hydraulic pumping unit to be running, which facilitates a very fast and safe method for die change. Mitchell also recently delivered a 33,000lb, Five Die Rotary Hydraulic Push Pointer used for copper tubes; a 50,000lb Five Die Rotary Hydraulic Push Pointer for copper tubes; a 150,000lb Four Die Rotary Hydraulic Push Pointer for aluminum tubes; and a 150,000lb, Six Die Rotary Hydraulic Rod Push Pointer for solid superconductor rod.

33,000lb Five Die Rotary Hydraulic Push Pointer serial number PP-734

George A Mitchell Company www.mitchellmachinery.com

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PEASA continues Thermatool par tnership in automotive and construction tube industries

PEASA has selected Thermatool equipment for PEASA’s HF welding, heating, cutting and galvanising processes

PEASA, a conduit mill in Mexico, has announced that it has formally continued its partnership with Thermatool by selecting Thermatool equipment for PEASA’s HF welding, heating, cutting and galvanising processes. PEASA is a producer of specialised automotive tubing and conduit for North America and has worked with Thermatool for more than forty years. It continues to rely on Thermatool as the best partner for helping it to improve efficiencies. “We are very satisfied to work with Thermatool as a partner,” said Mauricio Autrique Ruiz at PEASA. “With Thermatool equipment, we have been able to develop many different tubes in different grades for the highly demanding automotive industry. Lately we have installed equipment for modern high strength steels and a low relation diameter-wall thickness (RD6), and the Thermatool HF Welder supports our needs to produce this.”

This past year, PEASA selected Thermatool to install a second line, which includes an HF Solid State Welder with HAZControl™ Technology and a VIP Power Supply with a Full Body Induction Heater. In addition, PEASA selected Thermatool Corp’s Alpha High Speed Flying Shear for the equipment’s combination of speed and accuracy for its latest high-speed conduit mill. Thermatool’s HAZControl™ Tech- nology will allow PEASA to produce high quality HF welds through recipe creation using power, frequency, vee length and mill speed for precise weld heat input specification requirements for consistent, repeatable, and efficient production runs. Developing databases of production parameters for a variety of steel chemistries and final specifications helps the producer to ensure maximum mill output while reducing scrap percentages. PEASA continues to rely on the technology and reliability of Thermatool

equipment that it has used for several decades. “Thermatool Corp is committed to PEASA and all of its customers to help them maximise their production and profitability for the life of the equipment,” said Kris Livermore, a Thermatool director. “PEASA has been working with Thermatool Solid State Technology for the past two decades and they continue to grow their diverse tube divisions with the highest quality specialised automotive tubing and conduit available in North America.” With proven performance using patented technologies, Thermatool has a global network of more than 40 service technicians who are on call at all times to assist customers.

Thermatool www.thermatool.com

PEASA www.peasa.com

Danieli heavy-duty straightener in operation at Topy Industries

TOPY Industries Limited, based in Japan, has been operating a new off- line straightener for long products, which it installed at its Toyohashi plant along with it is a spooler line, previously supplied by Danieli in 2018. With a weight of 60 tons the new machine operates separately from the rolling line, straightening profiles

and sections including equal, unequal and inverted angles, grating beams, deformed flats and mast rails. According to Topy’s specific request, the machine was designed in order to allow roll- change sequences in just 30 minutes. The 60-ton straightener, which had been manufactured at the Danieli quality workshops in China, was shipped as a

single piece to Topy’s private dock. Proj- ect erection and commissioning phase were carried out with a reduced number of Danieli supervisors on-site and with the help of Danieli remote support. Danieli . www.danieli.com Topy Industries . www.topy.co.jp

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NDC Technologies appoints Dipesh Sharma as director of sales to accelerate growth in the impor tant rest of Asia region

NDC TECHNOLOGIES, a provider of intelligent, connected measurement and control solutions, has announced the appointment of Dipesh Sharma to his new role as director of sales for Rest of Asia (RoA). This transition fuels the company’s strategic growth plan and builds upon a strong footprint of established sales and market share in this region. Mr Sharma will lead the go-to- market strategies that bolster NDC Technologies’ continued growth in RoA. He will be responsible for implement- ing and managing the sales activities, identifying new market opportunities for the company’s comprehensive product offering and defining the actions required to bring a new dynamic to NDC

Technologies’ business in this region. The Rest of Asia region that he will be working in includes the large Indian subcontinent, Taiwan, South Korea, Southeast Asian countries, Australia and New Zealand markets. Mr Sharma has held both sales and service roles within NDC Technologies and was instrumental in setting up the direct service support team in the RoA region. Before moving into his most recent position as director of customer service for Rest of Asia and Middle East, and general manager for India in 2020, Dipesh was the service manager for APAC.

Mr Sharma will lead the go-to-market strategies that bolster NDC Technologies’ continued growth in RoA

NDC Technologies www.ndc.com

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7th-11th, December, 2020 Dusseldorf, Germany J25, Hall6 23rd-26th September 202 Shanghai, China E1E08

7th-11th December 2020 Düsseldorf, Germany J25, Hall 6

Welding End Facer & Threading Machine

Uncoiler

Forming & Sizing Mill

Slitter Line

Shear & Welder

Auto Packing Line

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Sharpe Products newcomers to oversee tube bending and tube laser project quality

SHARPE Products, based in Wisconsin, US, has appointed a new quality manager and a project engineer. Katie Losiniecki has been hired by Sharpe Products as its quality manager. Her main responsibilities include oversight and implementation of ISO 9001:2015 standards and managing the overall quality programs for the company. Prior to joining Sharpe Products, Miss Losiniecki spent ten years with Dynatect Manufacturing, most recently in the role of quality engineer. In this role, she was actively involved with the company’s ISO, quality and continuous improvement programs and had responsibility for day-to-day customer inquiries related to products and/or manufacturing. Miss Losiniecki also holds an Associ- ate Degree in Quality Management from

Waukesha County Technical College, in Wisconsin. Working with her, Patrick Coenen has joined Sharpe Products as a project engineer. In this role, he manages custom tube bending and tube lasering projects from start to finish, working with all areas of manufacturing to determine costs, scope of work and delivery lead times.

He studied engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. During that time, he worked in their co-op program at Bucyrus International (now Caterpil- lar), which helped lay the foundation for a career in manufacturing engineering.

Sharpe Products www.sharpeproducts.com

Mr Coenen has signifi - cant experience in tube and sheet metal fabri- cation, stamping and welding. Prior to joining Sharpe Products, he held operations and manufac- turing engineering roles with Wisconsin Steel and Tube Corporation, Kapco Metal Stamping and U-Line Corporation.

Katie Losiniecki, quality manager

Patrick Coenen, project engineer

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Daniel Ryfisch appointed project director of wire, tube and flow technologies fairs

MESSE Düsseldorf has announced that it has reorganised its team in charge of its biggest portfolio of wire, tube and flow technologies, responsible for around 15 trade fairs in six countries. It has been announced that Daniel Ryfisch will serve as project director for the global trade fairs wire, Tube and Valve World Expo and their international satellites in China, Thailand, Brazil, Russia and India. This means he is responsible for both the strategic orientation of the trade fair themes and the expansion of the exhibition business abroad.
He continues reporting to global portfolio director Friedrich-Georg Kehrer, who will change his focus towards developing new business lines in the fields of wire, tube and flow technologies. Mr Ryfisch takes the role with a wealth of experience in international and national trade fair business.

After working and studying in the USA and Asia the 39-year old economics graduate started as a trainee with Messe Düsseldorf. From 2008 he held the position of project manager for the

worldwide satellites of the trade fairs wire, Tube and Metec in Russia, India, China and the UAE. Since 2015 Mr Ryfisch has been in charge of wire and Tube on the operational level as deputy director. “Both wire and Tube and Valve World Expo, the trade fair and conference for industrial valves, are the global players in their respective industries and therefore leaders worldwide. As the most relevant impulse generators they provide their industries with strong guidance,” said Mr Ryfisch. Acting as executive director of Unit 1 Bernd Jablonowski will look after the total portfolio of trade fairs wire, tube and flow technologies, metallurgy and foundry technologies, energy storage as well as processing and packaging.

Daniel Ryfisch will serve as project director for trade fairs wire, Tube and Valve World Expo after his recent promotion

Messe Düsseldorf www.messe-duesseldorf.com

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Combilift scoops 10 th major Archie award COMBILIFT, an Irish manufacturer of a wide range of handling solutions, has won its 10th industry award from the Forklift Truck Association for one of its latest products. The 2020 FLTA Awards for Excellence took place virtually, having been postponed from last year due to Covid. The recently introduced Combi-CBE model – a counterbalance design, multi-directional forklift with electric drive on all of its three wheels, was one of the twelve finalists in the Innovation Category. According to the host of this year’s Awards: “This is the category that everyone wants to win, as you get to feel incredibly clever.” The Combi-CBE features internationally patented electric traction, which enables independent control of each of the front and rear drive wheels and guarantees traction control, which negates the need for differential lock when it is operating on wet or slippery surfaces. As the truck drives and steers, the speed and rotational direction of the wheels are controlled independently. Operators benefit from precise acceleration and deceleration control, which significantly reduces long load momentum twisting when travelling sideways. Each electric drive incorporates parking and regenerative dynamic braking for power efficiency and AC drive means that there are no mechanical brushes to maintain or replace. Combining the benefits of very compact dimensions and the ability to handle long loads as well as pallets, the multidirectional Combi-CBE is a universal truck for multiple applications and offers cost effective and efficient operation. It also answers growing market demand for powerful and quieter electric forklifts, which comply with ever more stringent emissions guidelines. The FLTA commented: “A clever and innovative design, Combilift’s entry impressed the panel with its unique, independent front and rear wheel drive, letting it handle long loads in the tightest spaces while minimising tyre wear.” Combilift CEO and Co-Founder Martin McVicar said: “Innovation is a cornerstone of Combilift’s product development and, given the large number of excellent finalists this year, we would like to thank the FLTA jury of industry experts for recognising our achievements.”

Combilift www.combilift.com

Combilift has won its 10 th industry award from the Forklift Truck Association

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Since 1978

40 years of field experience

Tube mill & finishing line producing API 4” to 24” O.D x 20t

pipes, developed with advanced

technology and verified through continuous R&D based on extensive field experience accumulated over 40 years in the tube mill & finishing line.

We provide API, high-strength and high-end tube mill line and an advanced finishing line alongside the latest technology on a turnkey basis. · Tube Mill Line capability of Manufacturing up to 24” · 6-Roll, 7-Roll, and 10-Roll Straightening Line · Max. 2-Head Automatic End Facing & Bevelling M/C · Max. 5-Head, 700bar Hydrostatic Tester · Automatic and Semi-automatic Bundling M/C · Related Equipment and Facilities to Comply with API Standards

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4” ~ 8” O.D, Up to 18mm wall thickness TUBE MILL LINE

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E-mail : sales@bcpre.com

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I NDUS T RY

TRUMPF agrees partnership with

Lantek as it expands its software business TRUMPF has acquired the software house Lantek to focus on software in sheet metal processing that runs fully independently of the machine manufacturer itself. “TRUMPF is opening up to customers’ production ecosystems with this acquisition,” said Thomas Schneider, managing director of machine tool development at TRUMPF. “Our customers’ process is our focus – with Lantek, we comprehensively cover the sheet metal process chain, even with machines from different manufacturers. In this way, we are taking another big step toward efficient and connected sheet metal production and enriching the Smart Factory solution portfolio.” After participating in the development of umati, the open machine data interface, the development of omlox, the open positioning standard, and the cooperation with intralogistics expert Jungheinrich on automated guided vehicles, the cooperation with Lantek is a consistent step towards process optimisation and connectivity for the sheet metal production of the future. “Lantek has been a leading player in sheet metal software for 35 years thanks to its ability to bring the best manufacturing solutions to any cutting machine, and this will continue to be our goal. Our customers benefit from a close exchange in the key technologies of the future AI, data models and holistic process control. This enables us to bundle our competencies and develop software for the future of sheet metal production in an even more open and customer-oriented way in the future,” said Alberto López de Biñaspre, CEO of Lantek. Lantek will continue to operate under its current name. An integration under the TRUMPF brand is not planned and Lantek continues committed to neutrality and independence from all machine tool builders. Both companies have agreed not to disclose the financial details of the transaction.

TRUMPF www.trumpf.com Lantek www.lantek.com

Alberto López de Biñaspre, CEO of Lantek and Thomas Schneider, managing director of machine tool development at TRUMPF

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T E CHNOLOG Y

T E CHNOLOG Y

Innovative design that improves the productivity of SHS and RHS tube mills

AS COUNTRIES around the world prioritise investment in infrastructure, the steel tube industry is witnessing a record amount of large size and heavy gauge structural SHS and RHS being utilised at metropolitan airports, high speed train stations, bridges and stadiums. As demand for a wide variety of high quality structural SHS and RHS grows, there have been calls for enhanced versatility and improved efficiency of the production process. Structural steel SHS and RHS manufacturers have been seeking innovative solutions to cut down tooling cost and machine downtime for tooling changeover or adjustment. After extensive market research and technical viability studies, Shijiazhuang Forever Machinery became the first company in China to successfully incorporate direct forming process in the ERW SHS and RHS production line in 2000. Adopting the multi-point pre- bend technology, this tube mill line was able to achieve changeover by solely adjusting the spacers without having to change the rolls. Insertion type spacers are designed in a way to facilitate changeover without the need to dismantle the shaft assembly or the gantry type machine stand.

Statistics at the tube manufacturers has shown a 70 per cent cost reduction in tooling compared to similar size traditional tube mill they have previously owned and operated. Changeover time was also significantly shortened due to the implementation of insertion type spacers and specially designed rolls. The application and rollout of the direct forming mill in China was a revolutionary change. With its advantages in product- ivity and cost effectiveness, the direct forming mill was especially competitive for manufacturers who produce a large range of SHS and RHS with varying dimensions and gauges. Due to the shortened changeover time, the manufacturers were able to boost the efficiency of their manufacturing process and save hundreds of thousands by investing in direct forming mill. Saving material and labour cost while maintaining a wide range of products has always been the ultimate goal for steel tube and pipe manufacturers. Based on data gathered from various tube manufacturers, the width of the raw materials (steel coil) received by direct forming mill is a proximately 4 to 8 per cent narrower than producing the same size tube on a traditional round- to-square tube mill. This is due to the

unique nature of the direct forming process, which involves much less deformation of raw materials than the round-to-square process. The standard configuration of a direct formingmill comprises 12 forming stands and 4 or 5 sizing stands depending on the specifications of the products. First 4 forming stands make up the preliminary stage of the forming section where each set of rolls performs incremental parts of the bend to allocate material for each side of the SHS or RHS. The next few stands perform further bend to form the preliminary profile of the SHS and RHS. Then the last three stands of the forming section prepare the profile for welding. As structural SHS and RHS gains popularity in modern infrastructure con- struction and the manufacturing industry, the demand for a less labour- intensive and user-friendly tube mill has been surging. To keep up with the growing demand for a more intelligent tube mill, Forever Machinery has never stopped optimising the direct forming process and has been innovating with refined engineering practice to revamp the design. Based upon performance analysis of existing direct forming mill and research into machinery automation, in 2015,

Saving material and labour costs while maintaining a wide range of products has always been the ultimate goal for steel tube and pipe manufacturers

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T E CHNOLOG Y

Forever Machinery re-designed the fin pass section and the sizing section of the direct forming mill and incorporated motorised roll adjustment system into the mill. Tooling (rolls) became an integrated part of the tube mill and changeover could be completed by adjusting the gap between the rolls via electric motors. Not a single roll of the entire tube mill needs to be replaced for changeover. Several patents have been granted to the exclusive design of the upgraded direct forming mill. In 2017, a servo motor was implemented for the first time to the roll adjustment system for the direct forming mill. Combining a PLC-based control system; the level of automation for the production process of structural SHS and RHS has again leapt forward. While not compromising the quality of the forming process, the PLC- based servo motor roll adjustment system seamlessly integrates with the mechanical structure of the tube mill to further improve the changeover time. Controls are either via HMI on site or SCADA from the central control room.

The control system incorporates Siemens PLC and uses RS485 communication cable to achieve digital control of the tooling. Implementing more than 100 servo motors across the direct forming mill, the PLC is able to accurately position each roll using feedback loop in the case of the changeover. Data stored in the control system can be imported every time a certain size product needs to be produced again. On average, a complete changeover can be completed within 35 minutes. Components of the direct forming mill such as forming section, welding section, sizing section, straightening section (Turks Heads) are interconnected by Profibus and Profinet, ensuring a synchronised stable operation of the whole production process. Siemens servo motor control system provides real-time monitoring and display of the status for each servo motor and raises alarm should any of the motors gives a fault signal. Siemens S7-1500 PLC is incorporated to process all the control signals including input

from HMI, which also displays the operation status and production data including speed, KW output and cutting- to-size length. Fine adjustment for each individual roll is also attainable from the onsite HMI or SCADA. By exhibiting information of motor load, real-time roll position and fault alarms, not only do operators and supervisors gain more knowledge of the production data, they are also more likely to identify fault or detrimental factors that reduce efficiency and plan for subsequent trouble-shooting or rectifying procedure in a timelier manner. In general, high level of automation and tooling compatibility help workers escape the risky and intense workload of heavy roll changes, significantly boost productivity and improve work health and safety conditions at a structural tube and pipe production line and make the production process more cost-effective.

Forever Machinery Company www.frv.cn www.pipemill.cn

Precision straightening of stainless steel tubes BÜLTMANN 10-roll straightening machines have been successfully used by leading manufacturers of seamless stainless steel tubes in addition to standard steel tube applications. Specially developed for high-precision straightening of precision tubes in various fields of application, the Bültmann machines can also be used effectively in the production of demanding stainless steel tubes. For example, three straightening machines of the RRM series have been invested in at a leading German stainless steel tube manufacturer in recent years. The types RRM 10/025, RRM 10/032 and RRM 10/050 cover tube dimensions of Ø4-50mm, wall thicknesses from 0.3-5mm and lengths of 4-18m. The machines are combined with appropriate charging and discharging systems and in some cases with non-destructive testing equipment, thus offering ideal conditions for the highest precision, maximum throughput and high process reliability.

The Bültmann machines are developed for high- precision straightening of precision tubes

Bültmann www.bueltmann.com

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T E CHNOLOG Y

Xiris releases new tube weld inspection system with class 2 laser incorporated

XIRIS has announced a new version of its WI-2000 weld inspection systems for tube and pipe manufacturing that now incorporates a class 2 laser. The newly designed WI-2200 sensor head uses a laser diode that stays under the 1mW threshold of optical power specified for class 2 designation without compromising sensor performance. Additionally, it includes several im- provements to the housing and optical configurations to increase reliabil- ity while keeping it fully interchangeable with the WI2000. The WI-2200 will have a constant laser output and provide the user with the ability to adjust the camera exposure to control the brightness of the laser line in the acquired image. This approach pro-

vides more linear control over the laser line for better inspection of the weld. The new, completely redesigned laser control circuit has two optical feed- backs for redundancy and is constantly adjusting the laser power to keep the optical power a safe optimal level as the operating environment changes. Class 2 lasers are considered safe for normal operation, having optical output power below 1mW, operating only in the visible range. A class 2 laser is not a skin or materials burn hazard, nor does it harm the human eye. They are used in items such as consumer laser pointers and are safe for commercial and industrial use without laser interlocks, guarding or need for protective eyewear.

This makes installing and using the WI-2200 safer and easier especially as a laser safety officer is no longer required. The WI-2200 is the next generation of Xiris’ weld inspection systems and is suited for all material types of steel, stainless steel, aluminium, titanium and coated materials, it can be integrated on most tube mills that employ open arc welding such as laser, TIG, or plasma power sources, as well as on clean HF and ERW mills. The sensor can be used right after the weld box to detect defects in the welding process, or after scarfing to inspect the quality of the scarfing process.

Xiris www.xiris.com

CMS combines eddy current and ultrasound on complete tube inspection benches

CÔNTROLE Mesure Systèmes has recently delivered two complete inspection benches combining eddy current and ultrasound inspection methods for the inspection of welded rolled steel tubes with diameters ranging from 10-60mm. The eddy current equipment, with encircling coil installed on each bench, allow the performing of grade sorting with sigma phase detection as well as a health check with the detection of surface and sub-surface point type defects. The reference defects used are transverse hole and external longitudinal notch.

The ultrasonic control by rotating head (RotoUTscan) complements these EC controls and allows the user to carry out a material health control with the detection of internal and external defects and also allows the operator to carry out dimensional measurements with a very high accuracy. The reference defects used are internal and external longitudinal and transverse notches with a depth of 5 per cent WT. For dimensional measurement, the system allows the user to carry out measurements such as internal and outside diameter and wall thickness, with accuracies up to 4mm.

serves as a human machine interface to control the sorting of the tubes and their marking. It also ensures the traceability of the production with the creation of inspection reports by products or batches. In order to allow an even more advanced follow-up of the production, a second software called Probus Viewer Analyser has been developed for the re-visualisation of the signals acquired during previous controls. The graphical options included in the software will allow the operator to perform a thorough analysis of each strip chart using zooms or cursors. CôntroleMesure Systèmes is a French company that has been designing and manufacturing non-destructive testing systems for 35 years. Specialising in eddy current and ultrasound, the company combines these two complementary methods in its test benches that can be integrated directly on the production line. It also offers off-line control solutions.

On this bench, the integration of the Probus software, devel- oped by Côntrole Mesure Systèmes, will allow a real follow-up of the production. Probus collects analog sig- nals from the NDT equipment and is able to drive the line’s actuators. The software communicates directly with the control bench automatism, with which it

CMS has recently delivered two tube inspection benches

Côntrole Mesure Systèmes www.cmseddyscan.com

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