The TMK Pipe Metallurgical Co., Russia, has placed an order with SMS Meer GmbH, Germany, for two pipe upsetting plants.

The two almost identical plants are intended for the Taganrog and Sinara pipe works. Each plant consists of a 2800 kN hydraulic upsetting press with a 900 kW induction heating furnace, pipe transport facilities and electrical control system.

The facilities will be capable of producing tubings, drill pipes and casings to API and GOST standards. Pipe diameters will range from 42.2 to 146.1 mm with wall thicknesses up to 12.7 mm and pipe lengths up to 13.0 meters.

The hydraulic upsetting press allows the upsetting force to be adapted to the requirements of the upsetting process and is monitored, thus prolonging the service life of the upsetting dies. Additional features include the clamping system, which has a design that ensures central clamping of the pipe. The clamping force can be individually set and thus adapted to the requirements of the particular upsetting process.

The two-piece upsetting shells are held together during the upsetting process by a closing sleeve. This prevents creation of any gap between the upsetting shells and the formation of upsetting fins. The upsetting forces are reliably transmitted via the upsetting shells into the upsetting crosshead.

The two plants are scheduled for delivery at the end of 2005.

SMS Meer GmbH forms part of the Tube, Long Product and Forging Technology Business Area of the SMS group. SMS GmbH is the holding for a group of companies internationally active in plant construction and mechanical engineering relating to the processing of steel, non-ferrous metals and plastics. The group is divided into the Business Areas of Metallurgical Plant and Rolling Mill Technology, Tube, Long Product and Forging Technology and Plastics Technology. In the year 2004 some 9,500 employees worldwide generated a turnover of about EUR 2.20 billion.