According to SMS group, the supplier on the project, the certificate was awarded following a successful equipment test in February. The new line has a capacity of 160,000 tons annually and will process seamless high-strength pipe for mechanical applications and for oil and gas exploration.  

“During final acceptance testing, some very outstanding results were achieved. In particular, it was possible to quench a pipe of steel grade 4140 of 50 mm wall thickness, reaching 90% of martensite without generating any cracks in the pipe, as the ultrasonic test confirmed,” SMS said in a statement. 

The line is capable of treating tube with outside diameters of between 60 and 254 mm and wall thicknesses of between 5 and 60 mm. The line features an integrated hot straightening machine, eliminating the internal tension created during cold straightening, according to TMK officials.