TPT May 2023

ARTICLE

Fives

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

OTO Cutoff Manager is field software created with the aim to help the operator to enter the optimum cutting parameters in terms of blade load, so as to achieve the highest line performances for the tube in production while minimising the blade consumption. The main features of OTO Cutoff Manager include recipe management, graphics of the most important working parameters – such as contact arc, chip’s thickness and speed – as well as offering simulation features, providing further information during the cut off set up process. A tube manufacturing company should know exactly the best blade type for each product, or the best blade performances, both in terms of duration and efficiency. This is where the OTO Blade Manager, a dedicated application that works in close integration with OTO Cutoff Manager, is useful. It keeps and manages a complete and detailed database of the blades used in the plant storing the blade features and supplier, adding value by suggesting the best blade for any required production, returning information on unusual wear or breakages and supplying structured data for offline analysis. On the mill side, OTO Mill Manager is dedicated software for automatic setting that is essential for high quality applications, direct forming applications and heavy mills, where manual operator intervention is not recommended or is simply impractical. It allows the operators to automatically, and precisely, set the positions of the mill roll tooling according to each different product without any manual operation. The OTO Mill Manager main features include recipe storage, roll grinding management and collision avoidance. The software module allows managing working recipes that reduce downtime, speeding up changeover operations.

Development stage The digitising production processes evolution, such as with welded tube making, is similar to what went on in the automotive world. At first, it was only about converting analogical indicators to digital ones, and then warnings and suggestions were added to help the driver to act in the most correct way, both in terms of passive driving assistance and maintenance activities. Then the data collection performed, by means of tracking systems, provided producers with a real time indication of the line’s performance. Finally, thanks to artificial intelligence, automation was pushed to predictive maintenance and active driving assistance. Support with setup In the field of welded tube production machines, Fives has long since introduced Level 1 software applications that provide the operator with a variety of information on the line’s set-up parameters, helping the user to quickly find the best configuration for the product to be processed. The industry’s digitisation is an unstoppable process that is spreading even in slower moving and evolving sectors such as welded pipe manufacturing. Fives, a sector leader due to decades of experience in the production of equipment for welded tube making, has always invested in digital technologies development, firmly believing in the benefit of automation. This is increasingly important nowadays, as companies are more and more focused on quality, efficiency and safety. In addition, given the amount of fine tuning and personal experience needed to get the required output into running a tube mill, the user friendliness of automation is an added value that can make the difference when choosing new technology as investments are planned. This is all the more the case when having to deal with the generational turnover. Due to the above factors, it is mandatory that equipment is increasingly equipped with intelligent software modules that can support operators in their daily work, guaranteeing companies a first constant quality of the final product and process repeatability.

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MAY 2023