'New developments in Pipe Overlay...'
A range of new developments are now on stream each of which will ensure that Houston delivers more protection, more cost effectively!
New Elbow Overlay Machine Commissioned
A significant breakthrough has recently been achieved in overlaying pipe bends with the design and development of a new Elbow Overlay Machine. Direct comparison tests with identical jobs carried out using manual hardfacing have confirmed major enhancements in efficiency and a significant improvement in overlay finish.
Rounding-Up The Pipe Orders!
Depositing hardfacing alloys onto pipe sections, fabricated from rolled and welded low alloy plate, has inherent problems of shrinkage and can lead to the finished section becoming 'out of round'.
However, thanks to the ingenuity of Lawrence Cervantes, at APG's Houston facility, the Company has developed a very effective device to 'round-up' the ends of the overlaid pipe in a fraction of the time required by conventional methods.
The system, shown opposite, employs a powerful hydraulic ram and inserts to squeeze the pipe against a jig.
Using the correct insert and compressing the pipe quickly brings the end into shape allowing simpler 'fit-up' on site.
New System for Small Diameter Pipes
A new overlay machine for small diameter pipe ranging from 4 inches to 10 inches, is now on-line. The system (shown opposite) is capable of applying overlay alloys using either the 'bulkweld' or the metal cored wire process, on lengths up to 10 feet. The previous
process could only overlay 18 inch lengths of 4 inch pipe and 8 foot lengths of 10 inch pipe. It also required the use of flux with the hardfacing powder, making the process both difficult and costly.
The new Triten machine will reduce cost by:
Quality gains include: