30 years of partnership: Tuflesa again contracts SMS group to upgrade its ERW pipe welding line

 

• SMS group will replace four outdated sizing stands and the associated changeover tooling to improve product quality
• The new stands will be delivered fully pre-assembled, wired, and piped
• The upgrade will be completed within a short, planned downtime and enable Tuflesa to introduce new products
• The efficient equipment replacement is scheduled for the 2027 summer shutdown 

Tubos y Flejes SLU, known as Tuflesa and part of the Bornay Group, has commissioned SMS group to modernize the sizing section of its electric resistance welding (ERW) tube line at its production site in Las Torres de Cotillas, near Murcia, Spain. The ERW-RD-240 line was supplied by SMS group in 1998, and Tuflesa has been using it to produce welded pipes for almost 30 years. The upgrade is aimed at securing the plant’s long-term availability and improving product quality. After the modernization of the forming and welding area in 2024, this is the second upgrade project carried out by SMS group on the line. 

Production on Tuflesa’s ERW-RD-240 line is focused on structural products with diameters ranging up to 240 millimeters for rounds and 200x200 millimeters for squares, including challenging, tolerance-critical products for the solar industry. After almost 30 years of operation, the sizing equipment has worn, resulting in a loss of dimensional accuracy. SMS will therefore replace the line’s four existing sizing stands as well as the related changeover equipment. The main drive, base frames, and changeover cars used for the automatic stand exchange will remain in service. The new sizing stands will restore the required accuracy, ensure more reliable compliance with product tolerance targets, and improve line productivity. Reusing these existing and adjacent components enables Tuflesa to reduce the overall scope of the upgrade and associated labor and costs. 

SMS will supply the new sizing stands fully pre-assembled, wired, and piped, thereby facilitating an efficient replacement process during the planned 2027 summer shutdown. In addition to supplying the equipment, SMS will supervise commissioning and assist in the start-up phase to ensure the smooth resumption of production. 

Juan Bornay, Managing Director and owner of Tubos y Flejes SLU, Tuflesa, part of the Bornay Group: “We have enjoyed a successful partnership with SMS group and the Bornay Group for many years. In 2021, we purchased and commissioned a new RD 40 high-frequency tube welding line from SMS group for the production of high-quality round, square, and rectangular tubes. Building on this positive experience, we are now also relying on SMS group’s modernization expertise to upgrade our existing tube-welding equipment. The ERW-RD-240 has been in operation for almost 30 years. The modernization of the sizing section is the second project carried out by SMS on this line, following the forming and welding upgrade completed in 2024.” 

Susanne Zeller, Head of Tube/Pipe & Section Solutions, SMS group: “The modernization of the sizing section is the next important step in our long-standing partnership with Tuflesa. By replacing the aged sizing equipment while retaining selected existing plant components, we are providing a technically optimized and efficient solution. This will help Tuflesa ensure reliable production, restore product quality, and meet future product requirements.” 

The plant in the Alicante region of Spain has been producing welded steel tubes for various industries since 1965