TPT September 2011

I ndustry N ews

Arc Machines consolidates UK activities

THE global leader in automated orbital welding technology for the oil and gas industry, Arc Machines Inc (AMI), has recently consolidated all its UK activities, including customer support, operator training, equipment maintenance and repair and spares supply, in a unique, purpose built facility in Daventry, Northamptonshire, The new, 7,000ft 2 building will be the only one of its kind in the UK to accommodate the complete AMI product range along with a state-of-the-art demonstration area, full maintenance and service support, a comprehensive spare parts inventory plus a dedicated operator training facility. The relocation and centralisation of its UK operations reinforces AMI’s position as a leader in automated orbital welding for oil and gas applications and provides the industry with a single source of the latest technologies with on-site operator training to support the timeframes and stringent technical requirements of the oil and gas and petrochemical industry. AMI has been setting the standards for automated orbital welding technology since it was first established in 1976. The company now has the largest product range on the market and a reputation

for the highest manufacturing standards, technical strength, customer service and quality of materials. For the oil and gas industry, orbital welding is increasingly demonstrating the potential for significantly reducing construction time and costs, by reducing weld rejection rates and thus improving productivity. Many more companies now rely on automated orbital welding to meet tight deadlines and achieve the required quality. The accuracy and consistently high quality welds achieved by the AMI weld heads, power sources and control systems provide the quality and reliability essential to this industry. During a critical shutdown at a Pembrokeshire refinery a UK engineering company had to re-tube six heat exchangers. Utilising tube-to-tubesheet welding equipment from AMI, over 8,000 tube sheet welds were completed to a strict deadline of just ten days to the required standards which significantly exceeded anything achievable by manual welding. At the new premises, AMI will be able to demonstrate the full range of its products from the industry standard, Model 15 large diameter pipe weld head to the compact

Model 81 small diameter weld head. Alongside these will be an extensive portfolio of weld heads, including pipe, fusion, tube sheet, internal diameter and ID spiral cladding weld heads. Also on display will be Models 205, 207, 227, 307 and 415 power supplies which have the capability of storing weld schedules in a microprocessor based control system, with the option of real- time data acquisition, in order to maintain weld integrity with precise tolerances over hundreds of repetitive welds or when an identical weld is required at a later date. AMI regional director, Michael Allman, said: “Arc Machines has been at the forefront of orbital welding for the oil and gas industry for a long time and we are determined to maintain that position.” The new facility at Daventry gives AMI the room to demonstrate its determination to provide a better service to both existing and new clients, as well as the opportunity to expand to meet the growing demand for orbital welding in critical applications. Arc Machines – UK Email: mike.allman@arcmachines.co.uk Website: www.arcmachines.com

RAFTER Equipment Corporation will participate in the Tube & Pipe Association’s (TPA) upcoming FabCast training series. The company’s VP of sales and marketing, Mark Prasek, will co-present Part 1 of the 3-part series on 15 June entitled Introduction to tube mill equipment and functionality. The series is intended to introduce through the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association (FMA). The fees are based on each location, so multiple attendees from the same location can attend at no additional charge. Tube & Pipe Association – USA Website: www.fmanet.org/training/fabcasts.cfm Rafter to take part in TPA FabCast Series newer mill operators to the various parts and basic functions of the typical tube mill line. This includes an overview of the line from front to back, identification of major line components by their common names, and give insight into why certain components are used over others. The series will be presented live and online

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S eptember 2011

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