TPT November 2018

T E CHNOLOG Y

Westermans brings key welding oppor tunities to tube and pipe sector

services, from welding and engineering to machining and fabrication. Some of the most challenging industrial sectors appear regularly on Responsive Engineering’s customer list, from oil and gas, defence and aerospace to power generation and sub-sea engineering. The company works with a wide choice of materials including steels, aluminium and super- alloys, meeting a long list of national and international standards within an integrated management system. “This diversity means we have to sup- ply tailored solutions to specific customer needs, so the ability to demonstrate alternative applications is fundamental,” said Ken Simpson, senior welding engineer at Responsive Engineering, “and, because Westermans can supply a vast range of equipment, we can meet this need very cost-effectively.” Recent installations supplied by Westermans include a Bode column and boom manipulator with an ESAB submerged arc welding system and a Lincoln STT MIG welder. Westermans has built on its UK and European sales by making the service available to an international market. Orbital welding equipment, which typically provides tube-to-tube fusion welding, is highlighted by Westermans as one of the main types of unit supplied. Matching supply to customer needs is dependent on Westermans’ ability to identify and procure used equipment. The organisation maintains a continuous awareness of system availability, through worldwide sources, and acknowledges the importance of offering competitive prices to its suppliers, whether the purchase is outright or within a part-exchange arrangement. “We continually look to promote this side of our business and regularly offer incentives and promotional benefits to potential suppliers,” added Ms Spillane. Westermans International Ltd – UK Email: welding@westermans.com Website: www.westermans.com

The tube and pipe sector is a prime example of a field in which this principle can be demonstrated. The company points to examples where the supply of equipment of all sizes and applications can be seen. In one case, Westermans helped specialist gas system installer Sentinel Gas Systems to enhance its services to a range of industries with the supply of two AMI 207 orbital welding units, enabling the organisation to optimise both its on-site service and its clean room facility. “We meet a series of application needs in industries as diverse as automotive, pharmaceutical and research and, in all cases, we design systems that can handle gas supplies up to 300 bar – often of a hazardous or toxic nature,” said Stephen Kane, sales director at Sentinel Gas Systems. “In many cases this calls for tube welding of the highest quality, which has pointed us towards the AMI units and the services available from Westermans International.” On a larger physical scale, Responsive Engineering is another example of a company in the industry that is benefitting from Westermans’ approach and track record. The company provides a one-stop facility that offers a list of

THE importance of quality welding in a vast range of fabrication processes needs little emphasis and is an important aspect of manufacturing in which Westermans International Ltd has provided proven and effective solutions worldwide for almost 60 years. It is also an area in which the needs of tube and pipe manufacturing and installation companies have a particular interest. Claire Spillane, company secretary at Westermans’ head office and factory in Leicestershire, UK, explained why the company’s approach can open up opportunities for customers: “Our well- established role in this sector centres on the supply – both on a purchase and hire basis – of expertly refurbished equipment that can provide welding and allied solutions at a fraction of the cost of new investment. We hold as wide a range of systems as possible permanently in stock – typically some 400 units – all of which are refurbished to meet exact customer requirements. It is this commitment and approach that enables us to provide a rapid response service which often allows our customers to benefit from a level of technology that would invariably require far larger expenditure if new equipment is sourced.”

Westermans supplied equipment to Responsive Engineering

AMI 207 orbital welding unit at Sentinel

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NOVEMBER 2018