OMK's Trubodetal Plant Patents Unique Stamping Technology
09/06/2013 - Trubodetal JSC (Chelyabinsk, part of United Metallurgical Company, CJSC OMK) has been issued a patent for a unique technology for stamping T-bends to be used under high pressure.
The plant started developing a new technology to manufacture pipeline fittings in 2011 after Gazprom informed it of the need to master new products for a record high pressure — 28.45 MPa — for equipping the Russkaya compressor station on the South Stream pipeline. The innovative method involves the use of special steel grades and unique stamping and heat treatment methods. The first batch of prototype products was manufactured in August 2012. Based on a review performed in 2012–2013, the Russian Federal Service for Intellectual Property registered a patent for the unique stamping technology and assigned it invention status.
In April 2013, Gazprom’s commission for new product acceptance adopted specifications to produce fittings for the main pipeline’s on-land section and compressor station according to this technology.
Trubodetal’s managing director Igor Voronin said, “The production of stamped and welded T-bends to be used under high pressure enables us to participate in a tender held by Gazprom to construct the South Stream pipeline’s Russkaya station and join the world’s leading fittings manufacturers. Today we are the only company in Russia that can offer domestic and foreign customers a wide range of pipeline fittings, including our own innovative developments with unique features.”
