ITZ Commissions New Gap Closing Press from SMS Meer
06/02/2014 - Izhorsky Trubny Zavod (ITZ), based in Kolpino near St. Petersburg, Russia, has commissioned a new 25-MN GCP® gap closing press supplied by SMS Meer.
The machine was integrated into the existing 18-m JCOE® large-diameter pipe mill which SMS Meer supplied in 2006. It took just three months to erect and commission the new press.
With this new gap closing press the company, part of the Severstal Group, is able for the first time to produce pipes with small diameters and large wall thicknesses.
ITZ uses the plant to produce high-quality pipes for the long-distance overland lines typically used in Russia. Challenging offshore sizes can also now be produced on this new gap closing press.
The heavy plate is first formed quickly and precisely in an adapted process in the JCO® pipe forming press. The remaining gap is then reduced to a minimum in just a few steps using the new gap closing press (GCP®), a prerequisite for tack-welding to be carried out safely and reliably.
Control of the forming process is handled by the "SHAPE" software developed by SMS Meer. The result is high-quality pipes with close tolerances for demanding applications.
With this new gap closing press the company, part of the Severstal Group, is able for the first time to produce pipes with small diameters and large wall thicknesses.
ITZ uses the plant to produce high-quality pipes for the long-distance overland lines typically used in Russia. Challenging offshore sizes can also now be produced on this new gap closing press.
The heavy plate is first formed quickly and precisely in an adapted process in the JCO® pipe forming press. The remaining gap is then reduced to a minimum in just a few steps using the new gap closing press (GCP®), a prerequisite for tack-welding to be carried out safely and reliably.
Control of the forming process is handled by the "SHAPE" software developed by SMS Meer. The result is high-quality pipes with close tolerances for demanding applications.
