TPi March 2015

business & market news

Superior Tube and Fine Tubes appoint new global director

Mr Hung was platform director, access and advanced energy, for Johnson & Johnson, where he developed market forecasts, business models and new product development priorities for the medical devices market. He previously held the position of global marketing and partnerships manager for Alcoa, identifying growth opportunities and execution strategies for industries including aerospace, oil and gas, and consumer electronics. In addition to a degree in electrical engineering from Rice University, he holds an MBA and SM from MIT. Commenting on his new appointment, Mr Hung said, “Superior Tube and Fine Tubes both have an excellent reputation for their technological capabilities across

Superior Tube and Fine Tubes, both part of the Watermill Group, have appointed Shion Hung to the position of global director of customer programmes and business intelligence. Superior Tube, based in the USA, and Fine Tubes, based in the UK, manufacture precision tubing for critical applications across a range of global markets, including aerospace, nuclear, oil and gas and medical. Based in the USA, Mr Hung will take the lead on building customer insights, analytics and programme functions, which will help to shape the strategic direction of both companies and enhance their execution capability.

Shion Hung

a number of key markets, and I’m very much looking forward to helping them build on that and further extend their global presence.”

Fine Tubes Ltd – UK sales@finetubes.com www.finetubes.com

Superior Tube Company – USA info@superiortube.com www.superiortube.com

Prior to taking up his new role,

Heat exchanger tube testing Magnetic Analysis Corp (MAC) Echomac ® ultrasonic inspection systems are being used by a number of tube manufacturers who supply steel tube for heat exchanger applications. A recent installation at Ratnamani Metals & Tubes Ltd, a major steel tube producer in India, is testing welded stainless steel heat exchanger tube to meet industry standards. and OD/ID measurement, and one for water temperature compensation to enable dimensional measurement. This is the second system of this type that MAC has supplied to the company.

One system incorporates seven ultrasonic channels, while the other includes 14 channels. MAC also supplied a complete inlet table and outlet conveyor. Eddy current test systems are also generally required to inspect any tubing that is to be used for fluid transmission. When using eddy current technology, care must be taken when testing 300 series welded tube. Generally, the 300 series is close to being non-magnetic, while the 400 series is much closer to being magnetic. However, where 300 series tube is being welded, the weld can become ‘delta ferritic’, which creates permeability noise that will interfere with an eddy current test. This problem can be solved by ‘saturating’ the tube by means of a direct current coil, which MAC can supply. When this is done, the permeability becomes relatively uniform and the ‘noise’ is minimised. It is also possible to avoid the permeability noise by testing the product after it has been annealed.

MAC has also supplied several ultrasonic test systems to Schoeller Werk GmbH & Co KG in Germany, to inspect heat exchanger tubing made of stainless steel and titanium alloys. In addition to detecting defects, the company uses these test systems to provide quick feedback to the operators on any changes taking place in the welding process.

The system incorporates an Echomac ultrasonic instrument with an ultrasonic rotary containing eight transducers: two for detecting longitudinal defects, two for transverse, three for wall thickness

Echomac ultrasonic inspection system to inspect stainless steel heat exchanger tube at Ratnamani Metals & Tubes Ltd

Magnetic Analysis Corp – USA info@mac-ndt.com www.mac-ndt.com

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Tube Products International March 2015

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