SMS group to supply new production facility for spiral-welded pipes to AMERICAN SpiralWeld Pipe

SMS group (www.sms-group.com) will be responsible for the engineering, supply and supervision of erection and commissioning of a coil preparation stand and a spiral pipe machine with submerged-arc welding (PERFECT arc®). SMS group’s PERFECT arc® technology enables energy savings of up to 30 percent compared to competitor plants.

The new spiral-pipe production facility is scheduled to start producing in 2020. Material grades up to X-70 can be processed. The pipes will mainly be produced as water pipes according to AWWA (American Water Works Association) standards. The new line will be designed to make pipes of more than 16 meters (55 feet) length with an outside diameter ranging from 610 to 3,658 millimeters (24 to 144 inches). The maximum wall thickness will be 25.4 millimeters (1.0 inch).

The mill will operate in the so-called one-step (“online”) process with submerged-arc welding from the inside and outside taking place directly after spiral pipe forming.

Often the productivity of spiral pipe welding systems is restricted by the welding speeds of submerged arc welding. PERFECT arc® power sources allow an increase in productivity of up to 20 percent, while process stability remains constant. The systems operate with IGBT (Insulated-Gate Bipolar Transistor) power electronics with fully digital welding current control. No transformers are required. As a result, the welding machines can attain an efficiency rate of over 90 percent. Compared to older welding techniques, significant energy savings (up to 30 percent) are possible, depending on the operating point.

This new plant will enable AMERICAN SpiralWeld Pipe to expand its production by a very high tonnage of spiral-welded steel pipes for the municipal water and wastewater transmission markets, industrial, hydroelectric and power markets including large diameter fabrication for treatment plants and pump stations.