TPi March 2015

products & developments

Pipe-cutting reliability with split-frame technology

Mirage’s MSF8-14, for cutting pipes from 8" to 14"

shipped worldwide to meet rising demand generated by capex and opex projects in new and existing oil and gas infrastructure. “The pipe cutting market- place is a significant slice of the portable machine tool supply chain, yet until now the technology has not moved forward. The majority of machines in use have been based on an operational design which hasn’t evolved in 30 years,”

Rising fabrication and maintenance project activity, including works on wellhead, riser and caisson assemblies, has increased demand from construction yards, operators and duty holders for new pipe cutting technologies. UK-based manufacturer and supplier Mirage Machines has evolved split- frame machine technology with the development of its MSF (Mirage Split-Frame) machine, which it claims improves the efficiency of pipe cutting operations on infrastructure composed of heat-resistant, stainless and Super Duplex metals. Mirage has developed new self- squaring capability for the fully portable MSF, reducing the risk of installation error during operations and significantly shortening the setup process, while maximising the operational run-time of its equipment. RichardSilk, managing director of Mirage Machines, says the MSF technology has applications in every energy- producing region, and is already being

regions, and has focused on being able to supply from stock in the US and Australian markets. Mirage Machines designs and manufactures technologies for applications including drilling and tapping, flange facing, hot tapping and line stopping, line boring, milling and gantry milling, orbital milling, and pipe and casing cutting.

said Mr Silk. “We designed the MSF to bring about the step change the industry needs – reducing the weight of the machine while improving its technical capability, giving operators and service companies a more reliable, durable pipe cutting tool which delivers excellent accuracy, without interruption, at any scale.” Due to global demand, the company has increased the manufacturing capability at its headquarters in the UK to deliver work-ready MSF machines across the

Mirage Machines ltd – UK www.miragemachines.com

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