September 06, 2008

ChTPZ orders large dia meter pipe mill

It is reported that ChTPZ Group’s JSC Chelyabinsk has placed an order with SMS Meer, for the supply of machines and equipment for a new large diameter pipe mill employing the JCOE® process developed by SMS Meer. It is scheduled to go into operation at the Chelyabinsk site in the Southern Urals in Russia in 2009.

With an annual capacity of 600,000 tonnes, the new mill will be the largest that SMS Meer has built to date in Russia. It will be used to produce longitudinal SAW steel pipes with diameters from 508mm to 1,422mm and wall thicknesses up to 45mm in lengths of maximum 18.3 meter and material grades up to K80.

As general contractor, SMS Meer is to supply all the machines and equipment for the new large diameter pipe mill. The pipe mill will be equipped with two JCO® pipe forming presses, one 18.3 meter and one 12.2 meter press. In addition to the two JCO® pipe forming presses, a plate edge milling machine, plate edge crimping press, two tack welding machines, two mechanical expanders, a hydrostatic pipe tester, facing and chamfering machines as well as the equipment for non destructive testing.

Furthermore, SMS Meer is responsible for the punctual delivery of all the components and for the comprehensive quality control. The scope of supply also includes a Level 2 automation system as the link between the computer system to be supplied by the customer and the equipment of the 1st automation level.

During the JCOE® process, the plate milled and crimped at the edges is gradually guided over its whole length onto the forming tool of the JCO® pipe forming press by means of manipulators. This results in an open seam pipe with parallel longitudinal edges offering optimum preconditions for pipe welding.