TPT March 2022

I NDUS T RY

GEMA Apparatenbouw’s 3D pipe cutting acquisition opens up new oppor tunities NETHERLANDS-BASED machine

are trained and experienced with the machine and its set-up.” The machine improved efficiency in the production process and the internal operations on-site have decreased. The pipes from the supplier now come straight to the stock near the 3D pipe cutting machine in the shop, where they can immediately undergo 3D cutting. “The internal route through the factory has become a lot shorter now that we perform length measurement, 3D cutting and bevelling on the Müller Opladen machine,” Mr Mulder explained. “After this, we immediately transfer the pipes to the welding hall where the assembly is welded. We used to have to handle a pipe four times before welding it. Now, when a pipe comes from the pipe supplier, it is only twice we have it in our hands. This is a significant difference in time, especially if you consider it on a project basis. Another big advantage is that we have fewer leftover lengths, because the CAD/ CAM software has a nesting function that can be used to indicate how to minimise the number of leftover lengths in a project.” “In the end, it was a MO 900/6 Compact machine and we are delighted with it. The machine does highly precise 3D cutting with its 6-axis design.” The 3D cutting machine has enabled GEMA Apparatenbouw to tap new markets and it is now doing cutting work for third parties. “We offer a cutting service for the 3D cutting of steel pipes up to 36" diameter and up to lengths of 12m,” continued Mr Mulder. “Our 3D pipe cutting machine is capable of both oxy-fuel and plasma cutting. This means that we can use our machine to cut carbon steel, stainless steel and alloys. “We can read in the customer’s CAD files for 3D cutting and then cut them with the correct dimensions and shapes. We focus on short throughput times with good and reasonable pricing.”

needed to adapt to market needs. The cutting of tubes for the loading arms always used to be outsourced, but now it is done in-house. “Because we now have our own 3D pipe profiling machine on-site for cutting, we can fine-tune our internal planning and exercise better control over delivery times,” added Mr Mulder. “And this in turn is important for our customers. We are now much more in control of our own processes and are no longer dependent on outside parties. In addition, we are now generating more work for our plant and thus for our production staff.” GEMA has been producing loading arms for 30 years, but wanted to keep innovating because the market is changing. Mr Mulder continued: “The 3D pipe profiling machine makes us more flexible in handling different applications. We used to saw everything ourselves and did the welding, while all the 3D cutting was outsourced. We then decided to do this in-house to have more control over the whole process.” Cutting with the Müller machine allows GEMA to make many different types of 3D cuts to use in its pipe-to- pipe connections. The machine also cuts a good bevel as preparation for the welding process and using the CAD/ CAM software package allows GEMA to read in CAD files and edit or check them where necessary. When the drawing is ready for cutting, it can be sent straight to the machine. Mr Mulder explained: “Our work planner receives the drawing package from our customer with STEP files of the complete loading arm we have to manufacture. He first analyses these drawings from pipe to pipe connections to check the joints before cutting. “Then he can read the STEP files into the CAD/CAM software, which sends them to the machine. Because the CAD/ CAM software 3DPP is very useful in making it easy to upload different kinds of CAD drawings. All functions for the performance of our work are included in this software. If you need to work in a really detailed and precise manner with more complex 3D cuts, the 3DPP software really offers benefits.” “We are surprised how fast the machine works now that the operators

manufacturer GEMA Apparatenbouw has reported successful results after a recent purchase of a pipe profiling machine from German manufacturer Müller Opladen. The company said that the 3D cutting machinehasopenedupnewpossibilities, increased production speed, enabled more control, reduced costs and it has generated more business in its own production department. “We can now target new markets because we can offer a wide range of 3D cuts in the field of round pipe profiling,” said production manager, Peter Mulder. GEMA Apparatenbouw specialises in making loading arms for the petrochemical industry. These are used for loading mainly liquid products on ships, trains or trucks and used to be mainly petroleum products. However, as demand is now shifting to loading arms for the loading of gas and low- temperature liquefied gas, the company

Müller Opladen www.mueller-opladen.de

GEMA Apparatenbouw www.gemaapparatenbouw.nl

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MARCH 2022