Timken Expands Long-Length Steel Tubing Size Capability
06/08/2007 - Timken has gained new sales after expanding its capabilities to produce long-length steel tubing to meet Houston-based Dril-Quip’s request for hot-rolled, quenched, and tempered seamless tubing in lengths up to 37 feet.
The Timken Co. announced that it has gained new sales after expanding its capabilities to produce long-length steel tubing to meet a customer's request.
Houston-based Dril-Quip Inc., one of the world’s leading manufacturers of highly engineered offshore drilling and production equipment, has placed orders totaling approximately $2 million after encouraging Timken to expand its product offering and produce hot-rolled, quenched, and tempered seamless tubing up to 37 feet long.
Dril-Quip turned to Timken in search of a U.S. manufacturer to provide long-length tube for its deepwater riser systems. For this application, Dril-Quip requested the tubing for the choke and kill lines, used in deepwater and ultra-deepwater riser systems that connect the drilling rig to the ocean floor. The riser system will be used to drill in up to 10,000 feet, or nearly two miles, of water. The long-length seamless tubing minimizes the number of connections, which helps to reduce construction costs.
In response to the request, Timken’s Gambrinus steel plant in Canton underwent equipment and manufacturing modifications to expand the maximum length of tube produced. The modifications increased tubing length from 31 to 37 feet, quenched and tempered. The changes expanded Timken’s tube offering from Range 2 (25 to 34 feet) to some of the Range 3 (34 to 48 feet lengths), as the industry commonly classifies steel tubes.
“This is a prime example of the company’s focus on improving our customers’ performance through collaboration and manufacturing expertise," said Ken Heil, Principal Steel Sales Engineer for Timken. The first order for 29,000 feet of tubing was shipped in late 2006. It was heat-treated to survive the harsh deepwater environment.
Timken’s expansion in tube length has led to additional orders with Dril-Quip and created the opportunity for other new business in the United States and abroad.
Dril-Quip Inc. is a leading manufacturer of highly engineered offshore drilling and production equipment that is well-suited for use in deepwater, harsh environment and severe service applications.
Timken supplies innovative friction management and power transmission products and services. Timken’s 25,000 employees at operations in 26 countries generated sales of $5.0 billion in 2006.
