TPT July 2022

The international magazine for the tube & pipe industries

ISSN 0953-2366

JULY 2022

VOL 35 NO 4

US$33

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I NDE X Editorial

ABB.........................................................46 Advanced Drainage Systems Inc............48 AWL. .......................................................32 Buehler ITW Test and Measurement. .....18 Bültmann GmbH. ....................................35 Bystronic.................................................30 Çolakoğlu ................................................22 Collahuasi...............................................49 Coltraco Ultrasonics................................53 Combilift..................................................12 Copier Machinery....................................33 Corinth Pipeworks...................................49 Danfoss...................................................20 Danfoss Power Solutions........................51 Danieli.....................................................25 Davis-Standard.......................................48 DieTronic.................................................36 Erne Fittings............................................49 ESAB. .....................................................46 EuroBLECH 2022. ..................................12 Express Engineering...............................14 FANUC......................................................8

FD Machinery............................................8 Fives Group. ...........................................16 FOBA Laser. ...........................................16 Genebre..................................................50 Graebener Maschinentechnik.................32 Huntingdon Fusion Techniques...............56 Innerspec Technologies..........................45 JSW Steel...............................................25 Kjellberg Elektro-Maschinen GmbH........20 Lamprell Energy Ltd................................24 Mair Research...........................................6 Mastercam UK........................................16 McElroy...................................................20 Messe Düsseldorf GmbH........................27 George A Mitchell Company. ..................30 Morse Hydraulics....................................42 NDC Technologies. .................................24 NS Máquinas. .........................................28 Nucor Corporation...................................16 Nucor Steel...............................................6 Operation Clean Sweep..........................48 Parker Hannifin .................................42, 54

Pemamek................................................24 Phoenix Inspection Systems Ltd.............38 PIECSA...................................................38 Pipeline Technique..................................50 Plastics Industry Association...................48 Primetals Technologies...........................22 Quaker Houghton....................................44 Rotork. ....................................................52 Sikora AG..........................................10, 44 Simona AG..............................................22 SMS group................................................6 T&H Lemont........................................7, 36 Technip Energies. ...................................50 Thermatool..............................................40 Tru-Cut Saw Inc......................................38 UCIMU....................................................14 Uniflex Hydraulik GmbH ..........................40 Unison Tube LLC....................................42 Witt-Gasetechnik.....................................52 Xiris Automation Inc................................18 Zumbach Electronic................................43

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Add: Cross of Xinzhao Road and Shiji Road, Shijiazhuang Economic and Technological Development Zone, Hebei, China Website: www.kdsz.cc E-mail: info@hebeisz.com Tel: +86 311-85028506 MAJOR PRODUCT: HIGH STRENGTH AND PRECISION STRAIGHT-SEAM WELDED PIPE MILL LINE WELDED SQUARE AND RECTANGULAR PIPE DIRECT-FORMING MILL LINE HIGH SPEED AND HIGH PRECISION SLITTING LINE

CONT ENT S

Editor

Rory McBride

Editorial assistant

Helen Gaskell

Design & production Lisa Wright

Sales & marketing

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 28 Technology news 64 Adver tisers index

Advertising co-ordinator

Liz Hughes

Subscriptions

Louise Jennings

Accounts manager

Louise Jennings

Founder

John C Hogg

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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.

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July issue • Business & market news • Effective gas purging needed to avoid porosity during tube welding By Dr Michael J Fletcher, Huntingdon Fusion Techniques

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July 2022

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Early detection of internal inclusions and shell defects using magnetic flux leakage – market-ready inclusion detection system (IDS) for cold-rolled strip steel By Sonja Koch, Dipl. Engineer, IMS Messsysteme GmbH

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When you have finished with this magazine please recycle it

The July Issue Welcome to the latest issue of Tube & Pipe Technology magazine. It was a pleasure to see so many friendly faces from the industry once again at the recent Tube Düsseldorf. There was a palpable sense of optimism and relief as we again spent time face-to-face in the bright sunshine of the early summer.

July/August 2022 Vol 35 No 4

Rory McBride – Editor in chief

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A fresh benefit I observed this year was that even people from the same organisations – who perhaps had been working from home for long periods, or had only started their jobs during the pandemic – were able to use Tube to get to know one another. Maybe these events are more vital than ever in that respect too, with the change in the nature of where many of us work? While it is of course fantastic for everyone to meet up with old and new friends alike, people are there at Tube 2022 for a serious reason – business. Based on my straw poll of exhibitors, and visitors, it appears many decision makers were there looking to make purchases. I heard of several companies signing some of the biggest deals in their history on the back of the 2022 event, or smaller deals that would still have taken many months to negotiate remotely. Several people commented that the leads they had generated were also far more concrete than at past events. It is likely that, with the various travel restrictions globally, only those who really needed to be there were there. While it is always good to see people attending to simply broaden their technological horizons, Tube Düsseldorf 2022 really was firmly about getting back to doing business – buying machines and buying tubes. Long may it continue.

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The international magazine for the tube & pipe industries

On the cover . . . Universal offers one of the largest inventories of new and used tube mills, roll formers, entry equipment, cut-offs, welders and more. The company also builds new controls and drive systems and can provide on-site support including start-up and commissioning. Since 1985 Universal has specialised in creating custom tube, pipe

JULY 2022

VOL 35 NO 4

US$33

ISSN 0953-2366

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and roll forming lines using new, used and reconditioned machinery. The ability to mix and match pieces to build a custom line provides buyers with more budget-friendly options. When it is time to upgrade your current machinery to gain greater efficiency Universal is here for you, located in Northwest Ohio, US. New machinery by Universal & ERWTech is reliable, economical and fully supported. Complete lines are available with new entry system, rolling mill, high-frequency tube mill and welder, high-speed flying saw and packing system. Call Universal to talk about your future projects or current needs.

I NDUS T RY Mair Research supplies high output 4" ASTM tube welding line to US customer

The tube welding line offers a completely automated entry line equipped with a robot for coil strap cutting and strip introduction excluding any presence of the operator, fully automatic mill adjustment, quick change operation by means of motorised trolleys. The finishing line is composed of: tube sample testing chamfering machine, ID scarf flushout, high productivity Hydrotester, grooving machine, coating station, automatic bundling machine and strapping and the line is designed to bundle directly all square and rectangular tubing (mechanical tubing). In terms of conduit or sprinkler tubing, tubes will undergo chamfering, ID flushout, hydrotesting and grooving on both ends. The Hydrotester is a high productivity, rotative type machine and designed to cope with the mill speed and grooving operation is selectable by the operator. The line is completely controlled by a digital system able to trace and follow any single tube. Based on this, the line is able to change order and make the right setup of any single component “on the fly” (washing, chamfering, packaging) without stopping the tube production.

manufacturing and supply of tube and bar finishing lines, commissioned the equipment in 2021 with the main feature of this line being the high output of 20 tubes/min, which the Mair equipment must guarantee to follow with no bottlenecks. Particular attention is given to tube handling in order to avoid denting and scratching on the tube surface.

TUBE cutting machine manufacturer Mair Research has supplied a customer in the US with a 4" ASTM tube welding line together with its customised finishing line for the production of Conduit and Sprinkler tubes alongside more conventional tubing. The company, which has more than 40 years of experience in the design,

The tube welding line offers a completely automated entry line equipped with a robot for coil strap cutting and strip introduction

Mair Research www.mair-research.com

SMS group to supply melt shop to Nucor Steel NUCOR Steel has awarded SMS group the contract to supply a complete melt shop for a new facility to be built in West Virginia, US. SMS bottom anode system, two mechanical vacuum pumping systems and a unique equipment layout designed to minimise crane movements. its portfolio in the automotive market. The vast experience in supplying liquid steel intended for such grades was a determining factor in the selection of SMS group. Project completion is anticipated by 2024.

The electrics and automation supply includes an advanced Level two system. All equipment is supplied “digital ready”, for incorporation into a data-driven system. The facility is intended to enable Nucor to expand

The scope includes two 190 metric ton direct current electric arc furnaces (DC EAF), two twin ladle furnaces, and two vacuum tank car degasser facilities. The mechanical supply includes several safety-related auxiliaries, the proprietary

Nucor Steel

www.nucor.com

SMS group

www.sms-group.com

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D I ARY OF EVENT S

2022

20-22 September Guangzhou Guangzhou, China www.julang.com 26-29 September Tube China Shanghai, China www.tubechina.net

T&H Lemont makes shipment of custom-made welding and straightening units

5-7 October Tube Southeast Asia Bangkok, Thailand www.tube-southeastasia.com 25-27 October Tubotech São Paulo, Brazil www.tubotech-online.com

blades do not enter a cold weld bead. Having two scarfing units allows the operator to retract one and advance the other without stopping the line if the first one becomes dulled or chipped. The weld box and the dual scarfing unit are mounted on a subplate with gibs that allow the customer to move the units upstream or downstream, independently or in tandem, for optimal positioning relative to the mill’s welding unit. The straightener unit is an eight-roll Turk’s head, which has fully motorised adjustments in both the X and Y axes. The straightener is preceded by several side roll stands that assist the final shaping of the product. The new side stands are designed to work in conjunction with the existing OEM’s driven shaping stands.

T&H LEMONT has announced that it has shipped two sets of custom-made welding and straightening units to one of its roll forming customers. The new equipment, part of the customer’s expansion programme, is on its way to two locations. One set is going to an existing facility in the Midwest and the other is on its way to a new location in Southwestern US. Designed and built by T&H Lemont, the weld box, a five-roll unit, has two vertical side rolls, two canted top rolls and a bottom roll. One of the side rolls and the bottom roll have custom contours that support the profile’s custom shape. It is followed by a dual outside-diameter scarfing unit that has automated advance and retract. The pneumatically powered automated advance and retract function works in conjunction with the mill’s start and stop activity, ensuring that the scarfing

25-28 October EuroBLECH Hanover, Germany www.euroblech.com 23-25 November Tube India Mumbai, India www.tube-india.com 8-10 November FABTECH Atlanta, Georgia, USA www.fabtechexpo.com

T&H Lemont www.thlemont.com

29 November-1 December Valve World Expo Düsseldorf, Germany www.valveworldexpo.com 2023 9-12 January

STEELFAB Sharjah, UAE www.steelfabme.com 9-11 May Made In Steel Milan, Italy www.madeinsteel.it

Forming stands and eight-roll Turk’s head straightener with motorised adjustment

As with all shows, and with the continuing coronavirus pandemic, please check to ensure the event is going ahead

I NDUS T RY

FD Machinery celebrates two major tube mill orders

round-square forming process, the CNC-CFS has the advantages of power saving, low roll consumed, low material cost and high precision. FD Machinery has also taken an order from a large company in Greece. The order is for a ERW production line with robot roll changer from FD’s range of robot roll changer technology. It will be applied to this mill and the product specifications are: Ø25-139.7mm/t1.0 6mm. The technology, with automatic roll replacing robot and automatic roll stand replacing robot, as well as automatic adjustment technology, has a high adjustment accuracy and low dependence on operating experience. The automatic entry section including

FD MACHINERY has announced that it has received an order for a CNC-CFS tube mill from a company in Michigan, US. The order, which is for delivery by the end of 2022, is for FD Machinery’s most advanced fifth generation CNC CFS technology, which will be applied to this mill with the specification: 50.8-152.4mm/t2.79-6.35mm. The directly square forming technology takes 10-30 minutes to complete the specifications, changing automatically after the input of the product data. The mill does not require roll replacing or commissioning and does not rely on operating experience and provides almost no waste. Compared with the

packing, dewatering, weighing, mark printing and bundle stacking are all automated. Both mills, assembled with double cart flying saw technology, can increase the average speed more than 50 per cent while keeping the regular service life of the saw blade. The directly square forming technology takes 10-30 minutes to complete the specifications strapping,

FD Machinery www.fdmachinery.com

FANUC enjoys successful MACH return with innovative on-stand demonstrations

create the Cyber-Mate. Incorporating FANUC’s CRX collaborative robot with a non-contact, laser-guided, smart camera, it uses adaptive technology to automatically adjust the welding head to improve weld quality and reduce production costs for automated welding applications. Housed in a compact, movable trolley featuring a handy tabletop, it enables users to start welding from the day of delivery, FANUC’s Paul Coombes added: “Cyber-Mate’s strength is in its ease of deployment. Using tabletop clamps, users can quickly run off a batch of parts, change the jig, and repurpose the trolley for other welding tasks.” FANUC UK managing director, Tom Bouchier commented: “It was great to be back at MACH again after a two-year hiatus, and to see the industry pulling together. We were pleasantly surprised by the footfall and the quality of the enquiries we received this time was much higher than at previous shows. It’s clear that UK firms are really waking up to the power of automation.”

used ISO computer numerical control programming language, to control movement, while the robot has always used its own language. With QSSR, we use G-code to control the robot as well, so there is no learning curve for the operator. This set-up is aimed at machine builders who want to easily offer added robotics functions to their machines.” FANUC was also joined on its stand by several of its system inte- grator partners, including Cyber-Weld who have partnered with FANUC to

ROBOTICS and automation specialist FANUC UK has announced a successful five days at MACH 2022 earlier this year, featuring nine live on-stand machine demonstrations. Held at the Birmingham NEC, UK in April, FANUC’s on-stand displays showcased its welding technology, collaborative robotics and laser processing solutions across the full factory line. Also on display was the Flexlase laser processing machine, produced in conjunction with Cyan Tec, which can cut or weld using a wide range of different laser sources such as laser processing optics, laser power and component fixturing. Another demonstration machine was FANUC’s Quick and Simple Start-up of Robotisation package, which creates a standard interface to facilitate the connection of a robot to a machine tool, simplifying set-up and subsequent operation. Ray Timberlake, FANUC UK sales manager, said: “QSSR uses a two path control, the first controlling the machine and the second controlling the robot. Typically, a machine tool builder will use G-code, the most widely

FANUC’s stand at MACH featured nine live demonstration models

FANUC www.fanuc.eu

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I NDUS T RY

Sikora chosen by FAZ-Institut as one of Germany’s innovation leaders 2022

knowledge areas. Not only the number of patents filed in the last ten years are evaluated, but also their relevance. In this way, index points were given for the companies analysed. These take into account whether the invention influences other inventions and how often a patent cites another patent family. The less often this is the case, the more innovative the patent is perceived. Sikora received the award in the category “Measuring, Testing”. Every year, Sikora invests around 10 per cent of its turnover in research and development of new measuring and control technology as well as inspection, analysis and sorting systems for quality control during the production of wires and cables, hoses, tubes, pipes and sheets, optical fibres or plastics.

As a leading company for measuring and control technology, Sikora is among the winners of the study. The survey evaluates patent families from over 500 technology and

SIKORA AG has been awarded “Germany’s innovation leader 2022” by the FAZ-Institut. The worldwide patent applications of companies operating in Germany were analysed for the study.

Sikora is a supplier of measuring and control technology, among others for quality control of cables

Sikora www.sikora.net

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NEWFFXMILL LL NAKATA Flexible forming mill know-how design with common-use forming rolls has now become more lightweight and compact in size, which provides many benefits for revamp project, and further, thanks to newly adapted side extractable design of the stands, much easier access to the roll is realized, which supports our customer’s maintenance work significantly. Here, we’re proud to introduce our

NE

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• Maintenance is easier thanks to side extractable structure >> Top rolI and bottom roll units can be pulled out along the rail at operator’s side for quick maintenance and easy access to the rolls • Supports loT and Smart Mill technologies >> Various data are collected for automatic control and monitoring of operation status

• Further space saving design realized which provides more chances for retrofit project >> Thanks to compact, rigid design, space saving design is realized • Strong thrust force ensured >> Multiple PR stands are located between each BD stand

For more details, please visit our homepage or give us a call

Q:) NAKATAMFG. CO., LTD. 3-7-6 Tagawa, Yodogawa-ku, Osaka, 532-0027, JAPAN tel : +81-6-6303-1900 e-mail: sa1es02@nakata-mfg.co.jp www.nakata-mfg.com Q:) N ATAMFG. CO., LTD. 3-7-6 Tagawa, Yodogawa-ku, Osaka, 532-0027, JAPAN tel : +81-6-6303-1900 e-mail: sa1es02@nakata-mfg.co.jp .nakata-mfg.com A . ., . 3-7-6 Tagawa, Yo oga , Osa a, 532-0027, JAPAN tel : +81-6- - 0 e-m il: sa1es02@nakata-mfg.co.jp www. k a-mfg.com

I NDUS T RY

Combilift announces its new Combi-MR4 with dynamic 360° steering capability

COMBILIFT has released its latest product – a four-wheel electric powered multidirectional reach-truck, which incorporates Combilift’s new Dynamic 360°™ steering. The Combi-MR4 provides rotation on each wheel, enabling directional change of the truck while on the move. The system allows this agile forklift to work in forward, sideward and crab steer mode, for swift operation and manoeuvrability. Timber and Building Supplies (TABS) in Holland requested a 4,500kg model Combi-MR4 unit and now has MR4 trucks at several locations in the Netherlands and is about to take delivery of its 15 th and 16 th trucks, which will work at its distribution centres in Zaandam and Bleiswijk. Combilift CEO Martin McVicar said: “TABS is delighted with the ongoing successful implementation of its Combi MR4s and the improved levels of efficiency thanks to the overall design and features such as low platform THE 26 th edition of the international sheet metal working technology exhibition, EuroBLECH 2022, will take place from 25 to 28 October 2022 in Hanover, Germany. Following the easing of Covid-19 restrictions, show organiser have confirmed that the trade event for sheet metal processing will go ahead as planned. The current exhibitor list stands at 1,257 companies from 39 nations, covering a total net exhibition space of over 88,000m 2 . “There is a sense of excitement – it has been four years since our last live show so EuroBLECH 2022 is widely perceived as a much-needed technological update for the sheet metal processing sector,” said Evelyn Warwick, event director of EuroBLECH. “EuroBLECH has always been the industry’s key marketplace where every- thing and everyone comes together, and

The Combi-MR4 is a multi-directional truck, with a very low platform to maximise storage density within racking

and new customers, during the recent LogiMAT Intralogistics exhibition.” The incentive for the development of the MR4 was to develop a multi directional truck, with a very low platform to maximise storage density within racking. The Combi-MR4 is available in two models, with capacity ranges of 2,500kg – 3,000kg and 3,500kg – 4,500kg respectively, and can operate in aisles as narrow as 2,265mm when guided (based on 1,200mm deep material). To maximise all storage space in racking systems the wheel configuration of two drive wheels at the rear and two sets of smaller dual front wheels provides a platform height as low as 380mm, allowing otherwise redundant areas towards the floor to be used. The versatile Combi-MR4 can handle long loads as well as palletised goods and can load and offload from delivery trucks. The truck also features a high visibility operator cabin, multi-function control joystick, AC-electric power steering and joystick operated hydraulic mast functions. The articulated rear axle, with two rubber drive wheels, provides optimum traction for outdoor use. Combilift utilised its newly developed in-house Dynamic 360°™ steering, which enables operators to manipulate the truck’s positioning and orientation without the need to stop and change driving mode.

height as well as the advanced Dynamic 360°™ steering system. “I have no doubt that this new electric model will grow Combilift’s customer base. We enjoyed showcasing the Combi-MR4 to our existing dealers,

EuroBLECH 2022 returns to live event format this year

HF Col Slit Dire

this year’s edition provides a particularly important booster to kick-start or renew business growth.” For the first time, EuroBLECH will feature a 9 th exhibition hall focusing on joining technology, one of the significant growth markets in the e-mobility and general industrial sectors. Exhibits cover the entire sheet metal working technology chain in the manufacturing of metal prototypes, industrial components and consumer parts. This includes machines, tools and IT solutions for cutting, punching and forming, joining, welding and fastening, surface treatment and finishing, process control and quality assurance, CAD/ CAM/CIM systems, material recycling and other solutions to process metal sheet, tubes, profiles and plastic hybrids.

EuroBLECH 2022 www.euroblech.com

Combilift www.combilift.com

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F OREV R Shijiazhuang Forever Machinery Co., Ltd.

F OREVVER Shijiazhuang Forever Machinery Co., Ltd.

HF Tube/Pipe Mill Line Cold Roll Forming Machine Slitting Line and Cut-to-length Line Directly Forming to Square and Rectangular Tube Mill Line Tube/Pipe Mill Line ld Roll Forming Machine tting Line and Cut-to-length Line ectly Forming t Square and R ctangular Tube Mill Line

www.pipemill.cn

I NDUS T RY

UCIMU Index reveals 2022 machine sales THE index of machine tool orders processed by the Economic Studies Department and Business Culture of UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE has revealed a slight decrease of -3 per cent in the first quarter of 2022, compared with the period January March 2021. The absolute value of the index stood at 164 (base year 100 in 2015). The outcome was due to the reduction in the collection of orders in the domestic market, which was partially counterbalanced by an increase in overseas orders. said: “Business in foreign markets is essential for Italian manufacturers. Therefore, despite the difficulties caused first by the pandemic and then by the war, it is necessary to develop our business overseas, not only to recover the ground lost over the last two years. The current situation should lead Italian machine tool manufacturing enterprises to reconsider the order of priority of markets. other hand, it could reasonably have been generated by the users’ decision to anticipate their purchases in the last quarter to enjoy the incentives 4.0, whose rates established in the last Budget Law (2021) were higher than those of the current one (2022).” “’After all, even if the fall is rather small and the order collection is presently showing very high performances, as proven by the absolute value of the index, manufacturers are starting to worry about a possible cooling down of the propensity to invest due to the uncertainty caused by the war between Russia and Ukraine.”

“Even if it is important to keep on exploring new areas of destination for the ‘Made in Italy’ of the sector, today it is fundamental to be present and develop business in traditional markets, in particular in Europe and the US. This should occur with a view to gaining market shares in the areas that will be more easily concerned with commercial relations in the near future.” “On the domestic front, the slowdown recorded by Italianmanufacturers in their national market was due to two reasons. On one hand, the data are compared with the results of the first quarter 2021, which was extremely positive. On the

In particular, on the foreign front, the collected orders grew by 5.3 per cent compared with the same period of the previous year. The absolute value of the index was 163.2. On the contrary, the index of the orders collected in the domestic market registered a 15.9 per cent fall compared with the same period of the previous year. The absolute value of the index was 164.4. Barbara Colombo, president of UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE,

“The ongoing conflict is already bringing about great harm to the production activities of our enterprises, which must dramatically extend their delivery times of machinery, as they in turn have to wait for supplies of electronic components and materials.”

UCIMU www.ucimu.it New investment expands Express Engineering’s tube welding capabilities

operation, providing additional precision engineering cost and time savings. Alongside investment in extra equipment, two new welders have joined to provide increased cladding and butt-welding capacity while Express Engineering’s trainee welding engineer has qualified as a CSWIP 3.1 welding inspector as part of continued professional development. The investment also comes as the company continues to expand the scope of turnkey solutions provided to the global energy sector, particularly as it moves further into the development of new below-the-mudline products. A range of precision-engineered Measurement While Drilling and Logging While Drilling tools have also recently been produced as part of new product development projects for international energy technology companies.

(cladding) all the way to precision pipe welding and fabrication in exotic alloys. We are developing products for all areas of oil & gas, from the inter-surface arena to below-the-mud line operations. “Our extended capabilities will see us not only able to improve the support current oil & gas customers enjoy, but also expand our precision welding services into a wider range of industrial applications such as the nuclear and defence sectors.” Arc Machines Inc narrow gap equipment butt welding has also been added to improve the capability to deposit lower weld volumes on downhole tooling for the offshore sector, increasing productivity and reducing distortion on heavy wall thickness butt-welds. New 20 tonne capacity Fronius endless torch rotation cladding equipment has also boosted capabilities. This will allow complex geometry welding of racetracks and cross or intersecting bores to be completed in one single

UK-BASED oil & gas subsea equipment company Express Engineering has announced a six-figure investment in new precision welding equipment and capabilities as it expands its sector operations to support customers. The move comes as the company completes its relocation to its new 48,000ft 2 assembly and test centre in Gateshead, UK. It also sees the relocation of the welding department to a newly refurbished facility with the addition of a new carbon steel specific welding area with an additional buttering/ cladding station for larger parts up to five tonnes, automatic butt-welding and manual fabrication. Gary Thirlwell, managing director, believes investment in additional precision welding capabilities will provide advantages over other conventional systems as well as applications. He said: “We now offer a full range of specialist welding services, ranging from simple corrosion-resistant overlay

Express Engineering www.express-engineering.co.uk

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Since 1978

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

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FOBA Laser demonstrates marking and engraving exper tise at trade exhibition

context that is both vivid and tangible, and this is best achieved in presence at a trade show.” Using the example of a metal instrument, each of the seven participating companies represented one of the classic steps in the manufacture of a medical product: from the raw material to the packaged item ready for sale. “Since laser marking is one of the last processing steps, a high reliability of the marking system is crucial to prevent costly incorrect markings taking place,” added Mr Söhner. This was provided by FOBA’s camera based marking systems with upstream and downstream optical inspection and high-precision automated marking alignment.

FOBA Laser marking and engraving has taken part in a new presentation format at MedtecLIVE with T4M. For the first

time several partner companies set up a production line in the exhibition hall where FOBA demonstrated laser direct marking as part of the value chain of a medical product. Representing the fifth of a total of seven steps in the production line, FOBA, with its M-Series M2000-P laser marking workstation, provided the UDI compliant marking of the trade fair sample. After the three-stage manufacturing, then cleaning, marking and passivation of the component, visitors finally obtain a machine-packaged product to take away. “This trade show concept is a novelty, not only at the MedtecLIVE with T4M, but also for FOBA and the other participants,” said Christian Söhner, FOBA’s global vertical manager medical. “We want to bring individual machine processing steps into a

FOBA Laser www.fobalaser.com

FOBA Laser marking and engraving

CNC Software establishes Mastercam UK CNC SOFTWARE LLC, the developer of Mastercam, has announced that with the closing of reseller 4D Engineering, the UK region will now be supported by a new business entity, Mastercam UK. operations in 2022. CNC Software president and CEO Meghan West said: “This is an exciting move for us here at Mastercam because it allows us to transition existing business by 4D Engineering into our new entity and also gives us the opportunity to expand and grow in the UK.” Mastercam UK www.mastercam.com Nucor Corporation awards contract to Fives 4D Engineering, headquartered in Cirencester, UK, has announced that after supporting the Mastercam community for 32 years, it would cease Due to the unique nature of this transition, Mastercam Corporate will now provide support and resources for users in the UK under the name Mastercam UK. Mastercam UK will be independently and locally operated as a member of the global Mastercam Reseller network of companies.

“We choose Fives to supply our galvanising lines due to their specialised technical knowledge, dedicated customer focus and commitment to the mission of highly operational equipment,” said John Farris, vice-president and general manager of Nucor Steel West Virginia.

unparalleled technical expertise for high quality coated steel products for automotive applications,” said Guillaume Mehlman, president of steel and glass division at Fives. “Our success in winning this landmark contract was based on the clients’ confidence in our ability to deliver and successful implementation of a new galvanising line in Mississippi, US, ahead of schedule. We demonstrated that we are committed to the mission,” he added.

US STEEL producer Nucor Corporation has awarded Fives a contract for both a vertical and horizontal galvanising line, each capable of 500,000 tons per year. The first line will produce steel coils for automotive applications, while the second will produce steel for the construction market. With an investment of about $2.7bn, Nucor is building a greenfield sheet mill on the Ohio River in West Virginia with operations to begin in the second half of 2024. “Fives was selected thanks to our

Nucor Corporation www.nucor.com Fives Group www.fivesgroup.com

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Buehler welcomes visitors to its open house at new state-of-the-ar t laboratory

specific tasks in quality assurance and materials science. The week gave visitors from industry, research and teaching the opportunity to experience cutting-edge technology for the preparation of metallographic samples and observe the latest generation of hardness testers in practical use. Dr Lutz Werner, business unit manager for EMEA of Buehler ITW Test & Measurement, said: “An added plus for visitors is the fact that the international Control trade fair will take place simultaneously in the nearby Trade Fair Centre. Thus, they can attend both events with hardly any additional travel expense.” Dr Werner added: “Even in view of the general trend towards opening, it is not really clear how and to what extent an international trade fair can take place. For this reason, we have decided to offer our customers a more personal experience in a controlled environment. Our open week was the ideal framework for this and provides ample opportunities as we could discuss demanding tasks there on an individual basis in a manageable setting.” Xiris appoints new distributor for France XIRIS Automation has announced that Innovidea SAS has been appointed as its new distributor of Xiris weld camera products in France. Jean-Louis Lauront, president of Innovidea, is a long-time participant in the French market for scientific and advanced technology cameras. Based in Paris, he will be providing turnkey sales and support for the Xiris weld and thermal camera product lines to end users, research institutions and machine builders for monitoring live welding and metal additive manufacturing processes to detect process and quality issues. Cameron Serles, managing director for Xiris Automation Europe, said: “This appointment reflects our confidence in an excellent partner who has many years of experience selling advanced technology cameras to the welding industry and related markets, combining extensive academic and industrial equipment knowledge. Innovidea shares our values of an elevated level of commitment to ensuring customer satisfaction and continuous improvement of technical knowledge.” Xiris Automation Inc specialises in developing weld monitoring and inspection equipment used for process and quality control across several specialty industries. Buehler ITW Test and Measurement www.buehler.com

BUEHLER has opened its new state-of-the-art laboratory in Europe for the preparation of metallographic samples and hardness testing. The Leinfelden-Echterdingen location in Germany, located next to Stuttgart Airport and Stuttgart Trade Fair Centre, had an open week where it demonstrated its potential for solving

The new location is equipped with state-of-the-art technology for the preparation of metallographic samples and hardness testing

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Xiris Automation Inc www.xiris.com

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McElroy announces new quality director DESIGNER and manufacturer of thermoplastic fusion equipment, McElroy, has announced the quality and performance our products are known for. Barry Johnson fits that bill, and I am excited to have him on board.”

operations team,” said Paul Lui, McElroy vice-president of operations. Mr Johnson said that he is excited to become part of the McElroy team and is looking forward to learning a new product line and approaching problem solving in a new area. He said: “As a Tulsa native, I’ve watched McElroy grow over the decades, and I’m thrilled about joining the McElroy team. As with any company, solving problems and conducting root cause analysis is key to providing quality products to our customers. This is my passion and I look forward to applying my skill set at McElroy.”

appointment of a new quality director. Barry Johnson will replace Steve Burgess, who has announced his retirement after 35 years of service to McElroy. “Steve Burgess has been the leader and steward over our quality culture for many years,” said McElroy president and CEO Chip McElroy. “Given how our product has changed new and evolved, we were looking for a quality professional with experience in large, complex organisations to help us build and improve our systems, as well as implement new processes that will allow us to continue to lead with the

Mr Johnson will lead McElroy’s quality team, identifying opportunities to improve the company’s overall customer experience. Prior to arriving at McElroy, Mr Johnson held positions at several companies including Ford Motor Company, Brunswick and TriMas. Most recently, he served as senior director of quality and continuous improvement at Nordam, an aerospace manufacturing and repair firm. “We are thrilled about Barry joining us. He brings a long history of operations, manufacturing, engineering and quality experience to complement our

McElroy www.mcelroy.com

Kjellberg staff celebrate the company’s 100 th anniversary

customers, partners and friends in many countries. In October 2022, the 100 th anniversary will be celebrated with customers and partners from the European region at the trade fair Euroblech in Hanover. The traditional company has set itself challenging goals for the future in order to remain successful. The agenda of the technology provider with its own research company include for example the challenges that are connected with digitisation. Kjellberg Elektro-Maschinen GmbH www.kjellberg.de

KJELLBERG Elektro-Maschinen GmbH celebrated its 100 th anniversary this year with a surprise individual birthday cake to all staff members along with personal words of thanks. The company started in 1922 with one production site where welding generators for Kjellberg electrodes were produced. One century later, the same production site is a global player. The products and technologies for plasma cutting, welding and mechanical engineering are used throughout the world. Kjellberg Finsterwalde has celebrated its success together with long-standing

Dr Michael Schnick, managing director of Kjellberg-Holding, presents the birthday cake to training coordinator Maya Vlahova Danfoss re-star ts its business in Ukraine

to stay in Ukraine, but families were evacuated by the Danfoss crisis team in February. As the safety level in some parts of Ukraine is improving, employees are starting to move back. Currently, 40 Ukrainians – including eight Danfoss employees, are in Poland.

is key for us to continue supporting our customers in Ukraine. It is not only the right thing to do, but our products are also key components for the critical infrastructure, which needs to be rebuilt. Thanks to Danfoss’s products, residents in some of the most badly damaged areas of Ukraine will again have access to heating and hot domestic water.” Most Ukrainian employees decided

DANFOSS has announced that business activities are being re-started in Ukraine. Since the war in Ukraine broke out, activities have been put to a halt, and the restarted business activities will be focused on restoring critical infrastructure in damaged cities and towns. Adam Jedrzejczak, president, Danfoss East Europe Region, said: “It

Danfoss www.danfoss.com

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Simona acquires PE pipe system company PLASTIC pipes company SimonaAG has acquired 100 per cent of the share capital of Peak Pipe Systems Limited, based in Chesterfield, UK, from Bridgstock Limited, a family-run holding company, also headquartered in Chesterfield. applications while supporting the group in its efforts to achieve its growth targets in the infrastructure and aquaculture markets within the EMEA region. The group’s product portfolio in the UK will also be expanded significantly as a result of the acquisition. renewable energy markets, which we intend to cultivate in a targeted manner with the help of our EMEA business-line organisation launched in 2021,” said Matthias Schönberg, chairman of the board of Simona. Plant supplied by Primetals Technologies sets two steelmaking records in Turkey PRIMETALS Technologies has The acquisition will underpin Simona Group’s strategic realignment, where the aim is to achieve a strong focus on “PEAK opens up growth potential for us in the infrastructure, aquaculture and Simona AG www.simona.de

panel leakage, and furnace refractory problems were avoided because of this. Also, the VOD-system needs to be designed for a very large heat size – usually, these plants operate with heat sizes between 60 to 150 tons of stainless steel. The VOD-system is a tank degassing unit which, compared to a VD-plant, is additionally equipped with an oxygen blowing lance, vacuum pump regulation for oxygen blowing conditions, and other necessary components such as gas cooling, dust filtering and CO-burning systems. Furthermore, advanced process models are required to reach accurate end process parameters such as end chemical analysis and liquid steel temperature. The additional oxygen supply can be used for producing extra low carbon stainless steel grades (forced decarburisation) or for chemical heating of the melt in conjunction with aluminium/ silicon additions (the VD-OB process). Çolakoğlu operates an electric steel plant in Dilovası, located in the western part of Turkey. The main products at this plant are slabs, which are further processed in a hot-rolling mill and billets used for producing reinforcing steel bars and steel rock bolt. The Çolakoğlu electric steelmaking plant was supplied by Primetals Technologies and has been in operation for several years. In late 2020, the plant was modernised and upgraded to become a VOD plant.

this determination. While giving credit to my colleagues who have carried the flag and achieved extraordinary results, I send special thanks to Primetals Technologies for good collaboration and support. Together we create value by recycling stainless scrap, thus creating stainless steel for the Turkish industry – and we will contribute to reducing Turkey’s trade deficit by replacing imports,” said Uğur Dalbeler, CEO of Çolakoğlu. To reach the results like the ones at the VOD plant, the process parameters for the furnace had to be very accurate and well-thought-out to allow tapping at high temperatures. Any clogging issues during tapping, water-cooled

announced that one of its vacuum oxygen decarburisation (VOD) plants achieved a heat size of 298.2 tons marking a record for the steel-making company. In addition, the same plant reached a carbon content of five parts per million (ppm) after decarburisation, which marked another record for VOD plants. The plant, which is operated by Turkish steel producer Çolakoğlu operates the plant, is located in Dilovası about 60km to the southeast of Istanbul. “A pioneer in the Turkish steel industry, Çolakoğlu has the courage to try new things. Our achievement at the VOD plant is the latest proof of

Primetals Technologies www.primetals.com

One of Primetals Technologies’ vacuum oxygen decarburisation (VOD) plants achieved a heat size of 298.2 tons

Çolakoğlu www.colakoglu.com

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