TMK Ipsco Breaks Ground on R&D Center
05/03/2011 - TMK Ipsco has broken ground on a new 51,000 square-foot Research & Development Center in Houston, Tex., that will house its innovation initiatives, including new product design and development, experimental and validation testing, and advanced metallurgical research.
Global pipe manufacturer TMK Ipsco has broken ground on a new 51,000 square-foot Research & Development Center in Houston, Tex., that will house the company’s innovation initiatives, including new product design and development, experimental and validation testing, and advanced metallurgical research.
The facility, which is scheduled to open in the fall of 2011, will serve TMK Ipsco as well as the global operations of its parent company, Moscow-based OAO TMK.
“The work we do here will lead to advancements in the production of pipe and pipe connections, which are becoming increasingly important as oil and gas companies continue to expand into difficult, unconventional drilling environments. Other products are on the drawing board as well,” said Piotr Galitzine, Chairman of TMK Ipsco.
TMK Ipsco notes that the Research & Development Center will bring in-house much of the analysis, modeling, and testing work that is currently performed by outside providers. The building will feature a high bay testing area, a variety of support laboratories, 27,000 square feet of office space, and a two-and-a-half story glass entry atrium at the center point.
Two high-tech connection testers rated at 4 million lb and 2 million lb of tension, respectively, will be among the key pieces of equipment installed at the new research center. Other key equipment will include a scanning electron microscope (SEM), a collapse tester, tensile and fatigue testers, and a corrosion testing lab, among others. Work will also involve simulation, modeling, and analysis work in the areas of alloy design, welding, mechanical forming, connection integrity, and nondestructive testing.
In addition to connections testing, TMK Ipsco’s Research & Development center will work to improve the quality of steelmaking itself, engaging in a range of metallurgical research involving both carbon- and micro-alloyed steel.
“This is a very exciting endeavor for TMK Ipsco,” said Prasenjit Adhikari, the company’s Chief Technology Officer. “The Research & Development Center puts our company at the cutting edge of technology. Not only will we have some of the world’s best equipment and processes here, but we’ll have some of the world’s top professionals in the fields of engineering, science, manufacturing, and metallurgy.”
