Berg Steel Pipe Corporation has placed an order with SMS Meer for the supply, installation and commissioning of a new hydrostatic pipe tester for longitudinally welded large diameter pipes. The new tester is to replace an existing tester in the works in Panama City.

BSPC mainly produces line pipes there. With the new tester, the company will be meeting the growing requirements relating to new pipe materials, dimensional ranges and, above all, the stipulations of the international certification authorities. Thanks to the use of completely prefabricated assemblies, installation will take place without any noticeable standstill times.

The new hydrostatic pipe tester is designed for 12.4 meters long large diameter pipes with diameters of 24 to 62 inches and wall thicknesses of 6.35 mm to 38.1 mm. The maximum test pressure is 35 MPa, the clamping force attains 40 MN. The test pressure lies well above the later operating pressure of the pipes.

Mr Matthias Buchter project manager of SMS Meer said that "We have designed the tester in such a way that we can almost fully use the existing foundations at the customer's works. BSPC thus saves considerable costs. Furthermore, the revamping time and, consequently, the production downtimes will be minimized thanks to the use of completely prefabricated and pre-assembled units."

The new plant is designed for a higher throughput than the existing machine. BSPC is thus already equipped to face future capacity expansions in the works.

Completion is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2012.