TPT May 2023

The international magazine for the tube & pipe industries

ISSN: 0953-2366

MAY 2023

VOL 36 NO 3

US$33

www.asmag-group.com

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INDEX Editorial

Aduro Clean Technologies Inc.....................................................61 Artrom Steel Tubes......................................................................64 Asahi/America Inc........................................................................59 BLM Group UK.............................................................................26 Bournemouth University...............................................................49 BPF Pipes Group.........................................................................60 Bültmann GmbH..........................................................................30 CMB Hydraulic Cylinders.............................................................40 Combilift....................................................................................... 24 Condoroil Chemicals....................................................................30 Corinth Pipeworks........................................................................58 Danfoss Power Solutions.......................................................22, 62 Danieli Corus...............................................................................59 DieTronic Srl................................................................................34 ENRX............................................................................................. 8 ESAB. .......................................................................................... 34 FABTECH. ................................................................................... 28 FD Machinery...............................................................................40 Fronius International GmbH.........................................................39 Inductotherm Heating and Welding..............................................18 ISEND.......................................................................................... 50 KASTO Maschinenbau GmbH.....................................................38 Kemppi......................................................................................... 43 Langbow. ....................................................................................... 8 LaserLinc. .................................................................................... 45

Manchester Metrology Ltd...........................................................51 McElroy..................................................................................16, 63 Nargesa. ........................................................................................ 8 Nordson Measurement & Control Solutions.................................46 Offshore Water Management Ltd.................................................65 Pixargus GmbH............................................................................48 Poppe + Potthoff....................................................................20, 58 Sharpe Products..........................................................................14 Sikora AG.....................................................................................36 SMS group...................................................................................28 Swiss Steel Group.......................................................................61 T&H Lemont Inc.....................................................................10, 24 Tata Steel UK...............................................................................59 TechnipFMC................................................................................. 59 Thermatool................................................................................... 16 Tube & Steel Istanbul...................................................................62 Tube China 2023............................................................................7 UK Construction Week.................................................................65 Unison Ltd....................................................................................12 Valve World Expo 2024................................................................67 WITT Gas.....................................................................................66 Xiris Automation Inc.....................................................................46 XYZ Machine Tools......................................................................33 Yamazaki Mazak UK....................................................................15

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MAY 2023

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CONTENTS 2 Editorial index 6 Industry news 7 Diary of tube events 30 Technology news 44 Inspection, testing & quality control 52 Interview Bülent Yobaş, Azak Tool Technologies 68 Advertisers index

Editor

Rory McBride

Design & production Lisa Wright

Sales & marketing

Jason Smith UK, ROW, USA, Canada, S. America, Germany, Italy,

Austria, Switzerland 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

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

57

May issue • Business & market news

www.read-tpi.com

The trade magazine for tube and pipe products

May 2023

• Valves, tubes and actuators are increasingly key components in the growing hydrogen process chain

ARTICLES

70

Energy efficiency and high frequency tube and pipe welding By Olexandra Tupalo, manager, Thermatool Labs

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

74

The growing role of digitisation in the tube manufacturing process By Luca Ferraguti, product manager, Fives OTO

The Professional Publishers Association Member

When you have finished with this magazine please recycle it

The May Issue Welcome to the latest issue of

May/June 2023 Vol 36 No 3

Tube & Pipe Technology magazine. In this issue we have two technical articles that offer in-depth insights into important areas facing everyone in the tube industry: boosting energy efficiency and the ever growing role of digitisation.

Rory McBride – Editor in chief

You can read more from experts Olexandra Tupalo of Thermatool Labs (page 70) and Luca Ferraguti from FIVES OTO (page 74). The tube products section, starting on page 57, has another feature on a vital area of modern technology – it looks at the role of tubes and valves in the hydrogen process chain. Congratulations to two companies celebrating their 50 th anniversaries this year in the shape of Sikora AG and Unison. Both pride themselves on being inventive and innovative and looking after both their clients and the people that work for them. A deceptively simple yet effective formula. I have no doubt that the next 50 years will be just as successful. Read more starting on page 6. In the forthcoming issue of TPT magazine we have features on: cutting technology, sawing & saw blades; advances in tube coating, pickling & galvanising; and tube software & control systems. The Tube Products INTERNATIONAL focus is on OCTG, gas & pipeline products; and construction & structural tubes. The editorial deadline for the July issue of TPT is 20 June. If you would like to submit an article, or have any questions, you can contact me at: rory@intras.co.uk I hope you enjoy the magazine.

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The international magazine for the tube & pipe industries

On the cover . . . For the past 30 years, companies in the tube and profile manufacturing industry have been relying on customised and individual solutions from ASMAG GmbH, which is based in Scharnstein, Austria.

MAY 2023

VOL 36 NO 3

US$33

ISSN: 0953-2366

43

Whether you need equipment for extrusion, pointing, drawing, straightening, cutting and chamfering, finishing, stacking and bundling or material handling – engineers for special purpose machinery and plant equipment will question, scrutinise, investigate, research, develop and design for as long it takes to ensure the smallest detail fits and the best solutions have been found for the customer. A new system should not just provide customers with a flexible, faster and more economical production solution. It should also bring with it specific competitive advantages. Our customers know that this is not just a promise, but actual corporate policy. The organisation and structure of ASMAG is customer oriented and adapted to customer needs. A project manager will assist each customer and is responsible for all processes from the beginning of a project to start-up at the customer's site. A qualified engineering team and an experienced production team assure that exactly the equipment desired is delivered to the customer. It is the goal of ASMAG to achieve that. www.asmag-group.com

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INDUSTRY

Measuring technology specialist Sikora celebrates its 50 th anniversary

On 1 November, 1973, with the foundation of Harald Sikora’s one-man business, the company’s success story began, driven by a multitude of technological advances. An inductive measuring method for power cables that measures the position of the cable, the so-called sag, made the company well-known in the high-voltage cable industry. Laser technology, which uses line sensors to enable non-contact diameter measurement

SIKORA is looking back on its proud company history as it celebrates its 50 th anniversary this year. Since 1973, the company has been developing and producing innovative measuring and control technology to increase its customers’ productivity. Good ideas, and a pioneering approach, have been the historical focus of the company. In 1972, Harald Sikora, a 36-year-old living in Bremen, Germany, invented a non-contact measuring device for the continuous measurement of cable insulation, wall thickness and concentricity during manufacturing. This technology, that later established itself as a global standard, became the basis for a start-up. From the very beginning, the pursuit of excellence was part of the young electrical engineer’s guiding principle: “There is nothing that cannot be done better. And that works best with clever ideas, passion and an ear for the customer.” Sikora launched a measuring device for the measurement of insulation, wall thickness and concentricity during cable production, called the Wandexe, in the 1970s

The modern company headquarters of Sikora AG in Bremen, Germany

The first Sikora company building

of wires and cables in the production process, also conquered the market. The company grew and, in 1979, it changed its name to Sikora Industrieelektronik GmbH. In the 1990s, Sikora added many more products to its portfolio. Among them were X-ray devices for measuring the wall thickness of three-layer medium, high and extra-high voltage cables during the cable production. These devices display the measuring results in fractions of a second and enable the operator to immediately make any needed adjustments. Even today, X-ray measuring devices from

Sikora are part of the industry standard for CV lines. Worldwide, approximately 1,800 devices are installed and ensure reliable quality control. Sikora meets the global demand for measuring devices from 1991 on and has established a worldwide sales network, with the first representative offices in the USA and China. The success of the X-ray measuring system for CV lines was the basis for the development of an advanced, new series of X-ray measuring devices.

They were designed for the measurement of wall thicknesses in core and sheathing lines, which had not previously been possible.

Since the 2000s, Sikora has also been active in other industries with the X-RAY 6000 Pro X-ray measuring system in tube, pipe and hose production

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MAY 2023

DIARY OF EVENTS

2023 9-11 May Made In Steel Milan, Italy www.madeinsteel.it 10-13 May Lamiera Milan, Italy www.lamiera.net 18-20 May Guangzhou Guangzhou, China www.julang.com.cn 14-16 June Tube China Shanghai, China www.tubechina.net 11-14 September FABTECH Chicago, IL, USA www.fabtechexpo.com 18-23 September EMO-Hannover Hanover, Germany www.emo.hannover.de

GmbH & CoKG and the Sikora AG. For the first time, Sikora launched a system for the inspection and sorting of plastic pellets, marking the entry into the plastics industry. In the tube, pipe and hose market, a millimetre wave-based measuring system for plastic pipes was introduced. The company continued to grow and opened a new 4-story building in Bremen in 2019 for production, R&D and other employees to have spacious and creative working environments. “I am very proud and humbled by how the company has developed over the 50 years,” said Harald Sikora. “Then as now, the secret of Sikora’s success is characterised by innovations that always keep the customer one step ahead in the market; our passion for the products and the consistent focus of all activities are on the customers.” “We look with pride at our past, at 50 years of measuring technology at Sikora,” said Dr Christian Frank, CEO at Sikora. “The 50 years are an absolute success story written by our employees. I have great respect for this team achievement and am very proud to be a part of it.” He added: “We thank our customers for the trust over the last five decades and look forward to the further cooperation in the next 50 years. We, the Sikora team, still have a lot of plans.”

With the next generation of X-ray measuring systems for the high-voltage cable production, Sikora gained a market share of approximately 90 per cent worldwide in the power cable segment. In 2000, the first subsidiary opened in the USA, followed by China and Italy. Over the next few years, numerous other international locations opened. This success was echoed in the 2002 decision to transform Sikora Industrieelektronik GMBH into the stock corporation Sikora AG. Since 2004, Sikora has applied the experience gained in the cable industry to the hose, pipe and tube market. X-ray and laser technologies became standard here as well. In 2009, the entry into the glass fibre market with innovative measuring devices for quality control in the drawing tower began. In addition to the focus on quality, material efficiency and sustainability have become critical over the years. Economic in addition to ecological advantages gain importance in quality control. Sikora measuring devices assist manufacturers in these endeavours by reducing material and scrap. The extended product portfolio and the increase in employees were influential in the 2011 decision to construct a new building for R&D and service at the headquarters. At the same time, in line with the succession plan, the company was divided into two business segments: the Sikora Holding

24-27 May Tube & Steel Istanbul Istanbul, Turkey www.tubeandsteelistanbulfair.com

Sikora AG www.sikora.net Tube and pipe industry event returns to Shanghai FROM 14 to 16 June 2023, the leading regional trade fair for tubes and pipes, Tube China, will be held in Shanghai. On display will be machinery and equipment for tube manufacturing, processing technologies, raw materials, tubes and accessories, pipeline and OCTG technology. The organisers, Messe Düsseldorf Shanghai and MC CCPIT, are increasingly focusing on trend themes such as green transformation and AI-based applications. Current solutions from the field of metallurgy are presented at Metallurgy China, which is held in parallel.

20-22 September Tube Southeast Asia Bangkok, Thailand www.tube-southeastasia.com

3-5 October Tubotech 2023 São Paulo, Brazil www.tubotech.com/br

2024 15-19 April

Tube Düsseldorf Düsseldorf, Germany www.tube.de

Tube China 2023 www.tubechina.net

All shows are correct at the time of going to print, but are subject to change. Please check to ensure the event is going ahead

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INDUSTRY

ENRX: combining expertise in advanced induction technology

“We are a ‘new’ company with more than 70 years of experience in induction heating,” said Bjørn Eldar Petersen, CEO of ENRX. “Last year was record breaking for EFD Induction. We passed our forecasted order intake for the full year in October. We now have a new brand, ENRX, and many products in the pipeline. The future looks bright for us.” Mobility is the other focus area for ENRX, and IPT Technology has been a pioneer in this field. The world of mobility is going wireless, and ENRX pushes the evolution further by removing the need for cables. Inductive charging of buses, cars, ferries and trucks is convenient for users and requires virtually no maintenance. The same technology can be used in factories and warehouses to charge mobile equipment, robots and vehicles. Another offer from ENRX is contactless power supply, where power is transferred instantly to tracks used for everything from conveyor belts to amusement rides. “Inductive wireless charging and contactless power supply are technologies for the future,” said Magnus Vold, CCO of ENRX. “In the new world that is emerging, everything is based on automation, digitalisation and electrification. With our portfolio of inductive charging and power supply systems, the only limit to what can be done is

INDUSTRIAL induction heating expert EFD Induction, and inductive charging and power supply innovator IPT Technology, have now formed ENRX. The new company is represented in more than 80 countries and holds over 1,200 patents for induction technology. ENRX is determined to speed up the journey to cleaner and greener manufacturing and mobility. The manufacturing industry is shifting toward eco-friendly and more efficient industrial heating systems. As induction heating is accurate, controllable, fast and repeatable, the technology is suited to smart factories driven by an Industry 4.0 approach. Industrial induction heating also promotes safe and healthy workplaces, and the technology has been proven for decades.

CEO of ENRX: Bjørn Eldar Petersen

ENRX aims to speed up the journey to a sustainable world through smart energy transfer. By offering technology for inductive heating, charging and power supply with low or no carbon footprint, ENRX provides value to companies worldwide in manufacturing and mobility. The vision for the company is: “When people look back, they will find that we were years ahead.” “We believe that the right energy can take you anywhere,” said Inggard Torvik, CTO of ENRX. “Both in terms of what we do for our customers and how we interact with them. We know that change is always likely to meet some resistance, but there is simply no turning back within manufacturing and mobility. Instead, companies and organisations that act now are likely to be much stronger in the near future. We are ready when they are.” ENRX formally launched on 27 March, 2023. It has 1,100 employees and the headquarters are situated in Skien, Norway.

ENRX www.enrx.com

The familiar Weldac tube welder now features a fresh green colour and new logo

imagination.”

Langbow announces Prada Nargesa SL partnership

new products to its existing offering. Together with Nargesa, Langbow aims to be a total solution for customer metal working requirements. From ring rollers to press brakes, the Nargesa catalogue caters for all metalworking requirements. A spokesman for Langbow said: “We look forward to providing all our customers with an expanded range of excellent products, which we aim to show on our website soon.”

LANGBOW has announced a new machinery partnership with Prada Nargesa SL. The new alliance aims to further expand Langbow’s reach into the metal machinery market and improve Nargesa’s presence in the UK. Langbow will be acting on behalf of Nargesa in England, Scotland & Wales as the exclusive dealer. Prada Nargesa has a rich history in producing high quality metal working machines, and Langbow said it is excited to add the

Langbow will be acting on behalf of Nargesa in England, Scotland and Wales as the exclusive dealer

Langbow www.langbow.com Nargesa www.nargesa.com

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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

INDUSTRY

T&H Lemont ships the second of two TIG mills T&H LEMONT Inc recently shipped the second of two tube mills to a long-term customer that produces stainless steel pipe. The pipe goes into products it makes for applications such as commercial HVAC, industrial refrigeration, power generation and industrial processing. The durable, robust pipe from its mills supports the company’s reputation for manufacturing equipment that is built to last. These two identical mills, T&H Lemont model number WU11M-12, produce pipe diameters from 3 / 8 to 1.050". The wall thickness range is from 0.020 to 0.065". The mill is designed to run at a maximum of 50ft per minute. The investment includes entry equipment for continuous operation. A double uncoiler, a shear and end welding unit, and an accumulator provide a buffer so production does not stop. It has a six-roll, water-cooled weld box and an inert gas system to protect and cool the weld. Furthermore, a camera-based weld seam tracking unit provides lateral and vertical positioning of the tricathode welding carriage. Each welding torch also has an independent adjustment and the system uses arc voltage control (AVC) for welding parameter stability.

The two identical mills produce pipe diameters from 3 / 8 to 1.050"

The flying cutoff system is a hybrid. It uses a carriage drive system from a T&H Lemont model FCO-125 cutoff system and a rotary cutting head specified by the customer. Operator conveniences include single-point adjustments on the vertical roll stands, lubrication points on the operator side of the mill, and a welding control system installed within view of the weld box, allowing the operator to observe the welding process while making adjustments on the fly.

T&H Lemont Inc www.thlemont.com

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MAY 2023

INDUSTRY

Unison celebrates 50 years of tube bending innovation as it looks to continue growth

UNISON Ltd, the UK-based inventor of all-electric tube manipulation, celebrated its 50 th anniversary in April 2023. To mark reaching a half century, the business is planning a birthday party at its Scarborough HQ on 24 May 2023, when several of its latest tube bending technologies will be on display, alongside fibre laser metal cutting machines from its sister company, Nukon Lasers UK. Customers, colleagues, friends and neighbours of Unison will all be invited to the event, as will members of Made in Yorkshire, a trade group of which Unison is a council member. For an invitation to the 50th party, email: sales@unisonltd.com Unison was established in 1973 as a control systems specialist and provided its expertise to a number of tube bending machinery firms, including Addison Machine Tools. Convinced there was a better way of bending tube than by noisy, messy hydraulic operation, where accuracy and repeatability were often affected by fluctuating oil temperature, Unison set out to create the world’s first all-electric tube bending machine. Prototypes were built, a patent was taken out and, in 1994, the company unveiled the world’s first all-electric 3-axis tube bender. Operated by electronic linear actuators and, therefore, unaffected by changing hydraulic oil temperature, this pioneering machine redefined the world of tube manipulation. By 1998, Unison had launched the first all-electric robot benders. Twin-head, multi-stack and 5-axis machines followed, along with the world’s largest all-electric tube bender for the shipbuilding industry. Reflecting on those early days when the world’s first all electric tube bending machine was in development, Unison’s joint managing director, Alan Pickering said: “I remember my dad giving me the challenge of bringing his crazy idea to life. We were pushing the servo technology of the day to the limits. But we succeeded, and right-first-time tube bending was born. “It took a number of forward-thinking customers to put their faith in our technology,” added Alan Pickering. “However, the big breakthrough came when Airbus ordered their first all electric tube bender from us. The machine paid for itself in 16 weeks, in reduced scrap alone. Competition from the bigger From left to right: Alan Pickering. Jamie Dobson, Steve Chambers, Chris Bond, Elliot Lumsden, Chris Helm, Nick Bullamore and Julian Kidger

players was inevitable, but we kept our heads down and kept on pushing forward.” Today, Unison Ltd is the UK’s leading manufacturer of tube bending machines, has facilities in the UK and USA, and offers the world’s largest range of ultra-precise, all-electric tube and pipe bending technologies for diameters ranging from 4mm to 275mm. Available in single-stack, multi-stack and right/left versions, Unison ‘Breeze’ machines are delivered to more than 20 countries globally, and to sectors as wide-ranging as motorsport, marine, oil & gas, aerospace and architecture. The Unison family of companies includes automation specialists, Ingenium Integration Ltd and Nukon Lasers UK. “From the outset, our goal was clear: to make achieving accurate, repeatable tube bending simple and straightforward, all supported by outstanding levels of customer care,” added Mr Pickering. “That’s why every Unison Breeze machine offers fast, intuitive setup, rapid tooling changes, exceptional power, rigid mechanical design, and all-electric control for right-first time results, or immediately after bending a trial part – and why we are renowned for the quality of our after sales support.” That same ethos is also why all Unison Breeze machines are equipped with the company’s own dedicated Unibend CNC control, and why Unison continually invests in developing leading-edge support software – such as its Opt2Sim tube bending simulation suite and its recently updated, free-to-use tube bending application app. Available for desktop, tablet or mobile, the app is so sophisticated it will even show users the tooling type, mandrel style, size and material, as well as bend torque and machine size required for a particular bend or a series of bends. Mr Pickering said: This has been made possible by having fantastic people on our team, and amazing customers around the world who, every day, put their trust in our uncompromising technologies. This is why, each year, we recruit and nurture a number of technical apprentices, and why we offer extensive development opportunities for our employees – all to ensure they’re the best they can be. Here’s to the next 50 years.”

Unison Ltd www.unisonltd.com

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INDUSTRY

US-based manufacturer to install additional tube laser cutting and bending systems

added Lindley Searles, regional sales manager, BLM Group. In addition to the two new tube laser cutting systems, Sharpe Products is installing a new BLM Group Elect 52 (Ø2") tube bending machine to augment its existing custom tube bending services. Sharpe Products provides custom pipe and tube bending, laser cutting and

“This machine technology will allow us to stay ahead of customer demand for precision tube laser cutting services and to maintain the short lead times we are known for in the industry,” said Paul Krickeberg, president & CEO, Sharpe Products. “We look forward to supporting the installation of two new LT7 laser cutting systems at Sharpe Products,”

SHARPE Products is adding two new BLM Group LT7 4kW laser cutting systems to its Milwaukee, USA-based facility. This machinery will replace the company’s existing 1kW and 3kW equipment, helping to standardise laser cutting operations while increasing production output and flexibility. Both new systems will be installed in the second quarter of 2023.

end forming – up to 6" OD – for commercial and industrial companies throughout North America. Sharpe Products www.sharpeproducts.com

The BLM LY7-HMI interior and operator station

Know-how in the field of tube processing

■ Boehlerit offers an unrivalled diversity of products and the full range of cutting and machining solutions for the production of tubes ■ Other industries also draw on our decades of experience and know-how in very special machining processes, for example in the case of plate edge machining

www.boehlerit.com

INDUSTRY

THE MAC ® EDGE

Mazak creates new north-south sales structure to support UK customer base YAMAZAKI Mazak is implementing a new UK sales structure to support the growing market demand for British-built machinery and bring the team even closer to its customer base. The structure, which includes the promotion of several highly experienced employees, will comprise of dedicated sales teams for the north and south of England under two newly appointed general sales managers. Brian Edmondson becomes the new general sales manager for the north of England with Alan Reeve taking the equivalent role in the south. Both will report into UK sales director Jason Butler. The new structure is being implemented in advance of the impending retirement of long-serving UK general sales manager, Tony Creamer, a well-known figure in the machine tool industry with 19 years’ service at Mazak. Mr Creamer will retire at the end of April 2023. In the north of England, Mr Edmondson will be supported by Karl Hargreaves, Mark Ireland, Joe Trozzo and Stephen Bower, with newly appointed Liam Slack in an area sales engineer role. In the south of England, Mr Reeve will be supported by Neil Coggins, Tim Ponter and John McNally, with Steve Livett being promoted to area sales manager. Jason Butler, UK sales director at Yamazaki Mazak, said: “We have an exceptionally loyal, long-serving and knowledgeable salesforce that is committed to the highest standards of customer service and is being rewarded with new opportunities and promotions. Brian and Alan are being given enhanced roles in a new structure that will increase our customer focus in the north and south of England. “The objective is to bring our sales team even closer to our customers, improve the frequency of customer visits and ensure the highest quality of service. Most importantly, we have a great story to tell with the introduction of our new UK-built machines – such as the CV5-500 5-axis machining centre and VCE-600 vertical machining centre – that have a competitive price point capable of bringing the benefits of our technology to non Mazak machine users.” He added: “It is also important to pay tribute to the contribution that Tony Creamer has made to the success of Yamazaki Mazak in the UK over nearly 20 years. In a variety of roles, most recently as general sales manager for the whole of the UK, he has developed a strong customer base that reflects Tony’s own loyalty to Mazak. We wish him all the best in his retirement.”

Test Welded Tube With The Robotic Echomac® PA TW System mac-ndt.com/echomac-pa-tw-tester/

mac-ndt.com

Yamazaki Mazak UK www.mazakeu.co.uk

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TPT HALF Ad-MAY 2023.indd 1

4/10/23 6:39 PM

INDUSTRY

Tube company expands with addition of Thermatool welder and flying shear cutoff

“We are committed to producing high-quality tube and pipe for our customers. We do this by continuously improving our processes and investing in equipment that is solid and reliable,” said Gerardo Luevano, general director at Regiopytsa. “With the addition of these machines, we are thrilled to see Regiopytsa improving its process and business,” said Cesar Tejeida, vice-president of sales for Thermatool Products in Mexico. “We are committed to helping all our clients maximise production and profitability.”

help mill operators take advantage of precisely controlled power (kW) and a stable welding frequency (kHz), even with changes in the weld area set up, tube OD, wall thickness and impeder material. The CFI HF Welder provides high speed and power, matching and control during mill starts and stops and throughout each mill run. Alongside the Thermatool HF Welder, the Alpha Flying Shear Cutoff enables Regiopytsa to achieve the fastest cutting speeds, close tolerance cut-lengths and longer blade life. Long shear blade life is the mark of a precision Alpha die set, making Alpha Flying Shears reliable and accurate.

REGIOPYTSA, a leading structural and mechanical tube producer in North America, has again invested in Thermatool equipment. For more than 30 years Regiopytsa has been supporting an expanding customer base with Thermatool welders and Alpha cutoffs operating throughout the organisation. The company has now selected Thermatool to provide another welder and cutoff for its new mill project. The Thermatool CFI High Frequency Welder will deliver high electrical efficiency, reduced scrap, and maximised production yields for Regiopytsa – utilising the reliable solid-state tube and pipe welder. Thermatool equipment can

Thermatool www.thermatool.com

Thermatool CFI HF Welder

Alpha Mach 2 Flying Shear Cutoff

Bluegreen joins McElroy as Scandinavian distributor of tube fusion equipment

“We appreciate productivity and quality,” Mr Tufte said. “McElroy has a proven track record and we admire their business culture. Hence, we are fortunate to be their representatives in Scandinavia and see a big potential in formalising our relationship.” Bluegreen joins an extensive list of McElroy distributors around the globe that supply McElroy’s thermoplastic butt fusion equipment.

said CEO and president Chip McElroy. “Bluegreen exemplifies the qualities we look for in our distributors, including a commitment to furthering the use of HDPE and providing a solid support system for customers. We look forward to growing alongside Bluegreen in the Scandinavian market and continuing to play a crucial role in the fusible pipe industry.” Bluegreen CEO Nils-Johan Tufte said his company was drawn to McElroy due to its continued focus on productivity, safety and quality.

MCELROY, a designer and manufacturer of thermoplastic fusion equipment, has announced the addition of a new distributor to sell and service fusion machinery in Scandinavia. Bluegreen Technologies is a Stathelle, Norway-based company with a focus toward environmentally friendly solutions in aquaculture, environmental technology and traditional infrastructure. This includes industries like fish farming and CO 2 capture and storage. “We’re thrilled to add Bluegreen to the McElroy network of distributors,”

McElroy www.mcelroy.com

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F OREVER Shijiazhuang Forever Machinery Co., Ltd.

F OREVER 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 to Square and Rectangular Tube Mill Line

www.pipemill.cn

INDUSTRY

Inductotherm Heating and Welding continues long-standing relationship with Tata Steel

Tata Steel is one of the world’s most geographically diversified steel producers, with operations in 26 countries and commercial offices in more than 35 countries and is one of the largest steel producers in Europe. Tata Steel is founded on the principle that its activities should always benefit society, in a way that is safe for its workers and respectful to the environment, with special care to the surrounding communities impacted by its operations. Inductotherm Heating & Welding is part of the Inductotherm Group, which offers advanced technology for the engineering, manufacturing and service of thermal processing equipment used in the melting, heating, heat treating, forging, galvanising, coating, cutting and welding of metals. Inductotherm Heating and Welding www.inductothermhw.com

and repeatability in numerous metal processing applications. Inductotherm Heating and Welding is delighted to continue its long-standing relationship with Tata Steel by offering a turnkey solution involving uninstalling the old Radyne convertors and then installing and commissioning the six new Inductotherm 1.8 megawatt convertors with six off HV main transformers, 12 off induction heating coil assemblies, tubes drivers, water cooling systems and PLC controls. The new installation has a smaller footprint than the induction and gas furnaces it will replace, reflecting the development of the technology over time. After supporting the old Radyne units for more than 40 years, the upgraded units will offer Tata Steel a more technically advanced and energy efficient replacement to ensure continued reliable production and aftermarket support.

AFTER more than 40 years of consistent use at its site in Northamptonshire, UK, Tata Steel is upgrading and replacing six of its 1.8MW Radyne Power convertors, initially installed in the 1970s. Over that period the units have been the workhorse of the factory and are an example of the long-lasting quality of the Radyne brand. At the time the project was the largest induction heating installation in Europe, boasting both power and space saving features. The induction generators are an integral part of the steel tube processing site, which produces approximately 250,000 tons a year of thin-walled tube from steel strip for the construction, engineering and energy market sectors. Long known to be environmentally sustainable compared to gas, induction heating was then, and still is, a logical choice for the metallurgy industry. The induction process is well proven in the field and renowned for the precision

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INDUSTRY

Poppe + Potthoff prepares for sustainable future of steel tubes with investments

“Markus Kerkhoff has shown great leadership and a continued commitment to the values that have characterised our company since its inception,” said Dr Christian Potthoff-Sewing, president and co-owner of Poppe + Potthoff Group. “The shareholders are confident that the group will be in good hands with Markus and look forward to the results that the chosen course of recent years will bring.” In the future, the Poppe + Potthoff Group will be led by Mr Kerkhoff as CEO, Christoph Hentzen as CFO and Dr Potthoff-Sewing, who will concentrate on the strategic orientation of the company as managing partner, and strengthen the management team as coordinator of the management.

company is currently undergoing a transformation into a development partner for sustainable technologies. By bringing together group-wide expertise and investments in start-ups, Poppe + Potthoff is creating an ecosystem that supports customers in both sustainability and digitalisation challenges. Markus Kerkhoff has played a key role in driving this transformation since 2020. After joining the group as executive vice-president, the engineering graduate headed the innovation and strategy division as well as the automotive division and the powertrain systems and precision components business units. As of January, 2023, Mr Kerkhoff has assumed the role of CEO of the Poppe + Potthoff Group. In this new role, he will continue to drive the strategy of responding to market changes with innovations and new products.

FOUNDED in 1928 in Westphalia, Germany, Poppe + Potthoff supplies a wide variety of customers in over 50 countries. Having grown from its core strengths in precision steel tubes, common rails and lines for diesel injection systems, the family-owned

Markus Kerkhoff

Poppe + Potthoff www.poppe-potthoff.com

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Since 1978

40 years of field experience

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

pipes, developed w ith adva nc ed

tec hnolog y and v erified th ro ugh c ontinuous R&D based on exte nsiv e field ex perienc e 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

GLOBAL PATENT · i - SPECIAL FORMING SYSTEM · CASETTE TYPE ROLL CHANGING BOX · INSIDE BEAD REMOVING E/Q · V-CUT SHEAR & WELDER · SPECIAL ROLL CHANGING E/Q · NON-CONTACT SEALING METHOD IN HYDRO TESTER

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

5” ~ 12” O.D, Up to 16mm wall thickness TUBE MILL LINE

12” ~ 24” O.D, Up to 20mm wall thickness TUBE MILL LINE

BAEKCHUN PRECISION CO., LTD. 252, beoman-ro, Sosa-gu, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea.

E-mail : sales@bcpre.com

Homepage : www.bcpre.com

Tel : +82 31 313 7151~3

Fax : +82 31 313 2305

INDUSTRY

Danfoss names new president of fluid conveyance division

Solutions,” Ms Sira said. “I look forward to accelerating our strategy and proving that our people and our products, backed by the power of Danfoss, truly are stronger than ever.” “Ines is the type of leader we need to propel fluid conveyance into its next chapter,” Mr Alström added. “Her background is a perfect fit both operationally and culturally, and I have no doubt her contributions will drive growth and innovation.” Ms Sira is taking over for Chris Schadewald, who has served as the interim president of fluid conveyance for the last five months, in addition to his role as vice-president of the rubber hydraulic hose and fittings business unit. Ms Sira joins Danfoss from Wesco Distribution Inc, where she held the position of vice-president and general manager, global safety business. At

DANFOSS Power Solutions, a global supplier of mobile and industrial hydraulics, as well as electric powertrain systems, has appointed Ines Sira as the new president of its fluid conveyance division. Based at the company’s campus in Minnesota, USA, Ms Sira will be a key member of the leadership team and will report directly to Eric Alström, president of Danfoss Power Solutions. Ms Sira has a strong background in business strategy development and operational execution with many years of experience in accelerating growth in developed and emerging markets. Her expertise in merger and acquisition integrations will be an immense benefit to Danfoss. “I couldn’t be more excited for the opportunity to lead the fluid conveyance division, particularly at this stage of its integration into Danfoss Power

Ines Sira

Wesco she was responsible for the strategic direction and operational execution of the business across the company’s three business units, as well as the integration of three acquisitions into an enterprise-level strategy. She also drove initiatives to increase business profitability and end-market penetration. Prior to her role at Wesco, Ms Sira spent 20 years at 3M.

Danfoss Power Solutions www.danfoss.com

WE OFFER: STAINLESS STEEL PIPE & TUBE FORMING MACHINE SLITTING MACHINE POLISHING MACHINE HYDRAULIC TEST MACHINE HEATING TREATMENT FURNACE

ARRIVALs Landing at an exhibition near you…

Tube China

14th-16th June 2023 Shanghai, China

Stand: W4H26

EMO Hannover 18th-23rd September 2023 Hannover, Germany Stand: D42654 FABTECH 11th-14th September 2023 Chicago, Illinois, USA

Stand: TBC

Tube Southeast Asia 20th-22nd September 2023 Bangkok, Thailand

Stand: TBC

LUCKY-WINSUN ENTERPRISE CO., LTD MAIL ADD.: NO. 187, SEC. 1, SANRONG RD. WURI

Tubotech 2023 3rd-5th October 2023 São Paulo, Brazil

DIST., TAICHUNG CITY 41455, TAIWAN TEL: 886-4-2337-4938 / 2336-2553 FAX: 886-4-2338-2380 / 2336-2218 E-mail: lucky.winsun@msa.hinet.net

Stand: TBC

www.read-tpt.com – www.read-tpi.com

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JINPIN Tube&Pipe manufacturing equipments

Jinan Jinpin Roller Mould Co.,ltd CAST JINPIN BY SINCERITY

Major Product:Pipe Roller (from 6mm-752mm round pipe to 8*8mm-600*600mm square pipe)

Add:No.18 La Shan Road,Jinan city,China. Whatsapp/Wechat: 0086 15726179988 / 0086 18866883738 / 0086 18553103738 E-mail: rolls-machinery@chinajinpin.com / sell@chinajinpin.com / joy@chinajinpin.com WhatsApp WhatsApp

www.chinajinpin.com(English) www.jinpintech.cn(Russian)

INDUSTRY

T&H Lemont ships heavy-duty turkshead faceplate

modifications are necessary. The adapter is equipped with quick-change features to enable tube mill personnel to install the new unit quickly. The rotary plate also has two sets of quick-change hardware. One set enables a quick change of the entire unit during a scheduled changeover. The other set is for changing a single roll to perform an emergency repair in the middle of a production run. The design also provides easy access to the adjusting hardware and zerk

T&H LEMONT Inc recently designed, built and shipped a heavy-duty turkshead faceplate, an upgrade with quick-change features for one of the company’s WU40 mills. The unit is a retrofit that uses the customer’s original frame. It provides heavy-duty straightening capacity at a lower cost than replacing the entire straightener. The unit has a rotary plate and an adapter. The adapter affixes the new turkshead’s rotary plate to the existing turkshead frame, so no frame

T&H Lemont designed, built and shipped the heavy-duty turkshead faceplate

fittings so that mill personnel can fine tune the settings and maintain the unit with ease.

T&H Lemont Inc www.thlemont.com

Combilift donates its 75,000 th truck to international charity

requirement for warehousing capacity to accommodate the vast volume of supplies that are stored and ready for delivery to areas in need. The World Distribution Center is based in Missouri, USA and from this location truckloads of relief supplies and food are sent on their way across the USA and further afield around the globe. Combilift supplied its first Aisle Master for this site four years ago, and a further three units were delivered last year. Convoy of Hope’s senior director – distribution Jeff Smethers, said: “A lot of our exponential growth has been down to the Aisle

AS part of Combilift’s celebrations for its 25 th anniversary, the Irish materials handling specialist has announced that it is donating its 75,000 th truck – an Aisle Master articulated forklift – to Convoy of Hope, a non-profit humanitarian and disaster relief organisation. Convoy of Hope works alongside communities and its wide network of volunteers aim to alleviate poverty and hunger and to bring help and hope wherever they are most needed in the world. As this type of aid is always in demand, operational expansion has also seen a corresponding increase in the

Masters as they enable us to get more loads in and out faster. And thanks to Combilift’s free warehouse layout service, and the Aisle Master’s narrow aisle capability, we have achieved the best possible storage density and a very efficient operation.” The announcement was made at a gala dinner in Chicago during the ProMat trade fair. Combilift’s CEO, and co founder, Martin McVicar, said: “The work that Convoy of Hope does is invaluable to relieve suffering around the world and we wanted to make our own contribution by donating our 75,000 th truck to this very worthwhile charity.” Erick Meier, senior vice-president – supply chain at Convoy of Hope, said: ”We are so grateful that Combilift and Martin and the whole team have actually given us one of these trucks for our operations. This is going to help people for years – and ensure that every day someone in the world will receive aid – and that brings hope.” (Left to right) Keff Smethers, Convoy of Hope, Martin McVicar, Combilift and Erick Meier also from Convoy of Hope

The 75,000 th truck on the production line

Combilift www.combilift.com

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