Press release

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The world’s largest pipe-forming press started production

The new Siempelkamp O-forming press during startup

(pressebox) Krefeld, 18.02.2008 - The world’s largest press for the production of pipes produced its first pipe on January 31, 2008. The press, supplied by Siempelkamp, has a press capacity of 72,000 t (79,366 US tons) and bends sheet plates with a length of up to 18 m (59 ft) and a thickness of up to 40 mm (1.6 in).

Siempelkamp, the Krefeld machine builder, supplied this press to the Chinese company Baoshan Iron & Steel Co. Ltd. Shanghai and put it into operation at a new plant. The first pipe produced achieved all required specifications and met the requirements of the customer.

The sheet plates, which are bent into pipes, are up to 40 mm (1.6 in) in thickness. At a width of up to 5 m (16 ft) and a length of 18 m (59 ft) such a plate would take up an area as large as a three-room apartment. The plates weigh up to 25 t (27.5 US tons) which is comparable to the approximate weight of 20 passenger cars.

The finished pipes have a diameter of up to 1.42 m (4.7 ft). 500,000 t (551,155 US tons) of steel plates can be processed on the press each year. If the weight for the heaviest pipe produced is assumed to be 25 t (27.5 US tons), the capacity for one year would correspond to a pipeline length of 360 km (224 miles).

The eight press cylinders, which were cast, assembled and tested by Siempelkamp in Krefeld, form pipes with a pressing force of 72,000 t (79,366 US tons). These cylinders are installed in a 21 m (69 ft) long and 13.5 m (44 ft) high press design.

The total weight of the press amounts to approx. 4,000 t (4,409 US tons). Heavy parts such as frames and press tables were manufactured in China based on Siempelkamp drawings and under Siempelkamp supervision. They meet the contractual requirement for “local content”.

Siempelkamp has built and upgraded presses of comparable sizes many times.
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Background story:
What on paper seems so simple is in reality a process in which the key is to control tremendous forces with the precision of a watchmaker: Following the forming process, the sheet ends to be welded must fit together precisely in the joint in order to ensure the durability of the weld seams.

A plant for the production of pipeline-pipes has an enormous size. The core area, that is the area where the forming process takes place, consists of three different press types: The bending or crimping press bends a sheet at the longitudinal sides. Under the pressure of the plunger inside the U-forming press, the plate takes on a U-shape during the next step. With the help of two side rollers the plate is then bent around the plunger into a so called “U-canning”. In the O-forming press the U-shaped canning is formed into a pipe with the help of an upper and a lower half shell-shaped tool when the press closes. After that, the accurately fitted sheet ends are cleaned and welded. This process is followed by a number of different quality assurance steps.

Contact person:

Mr. Dr.-Ing. Uwe Stein
VIP Kommunikation
Phone: +49 (241) 89468-55
Fax: +49 (241) 89468-44
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