Reducing Metal Consumption During Pipe Production on Electric-Welded Pipe Mills

An automated system has been introduced on model 73-219 and model 20-102 electric-welded pipe mills (EWPMs) to determine the thickness of the pipe wall. The system makes it possible to use thinner skelp and reduce metal consumption by 35–50 kg/ton theoretical pipe weight. A draw bending machine for skelp was then introduced on EWPM 73-219, which further reduced metal consumption by 7 kg/ton theoretical pipe weight. Reconstruction of this machine and the planned introduction of a better method of controlling the skelp’s deformation during draw bending on EWPM 73-219 will make it possible to decrease metal use by another 20–25 kg/ton theoretical pipe weight. The planned introduction of an automated system to control the flying cutoff shears used to cut pipes lengthwise on EWPM 73-219 (in 2015) and EWPM 20-102 (in 2016) will lower metal consumption by additional amounts of 55 and 27 kg/ton theoretical and physical pipe weight, respectively.