Ekonor: Solutions for pipe-welding.

Westfalen has been dealing with manufacturing components for pipeline construction for over 20 years.

The entry-level model of the pipe-welding machine.

Can be combined with internal clamping device, cold wire, AVC and oscillation. The user-friendly EKOTRON control is used.

• Pipe length  30 – 6000 mm
• Pipe diameter from 1“ – 8“, on request up to 16 “
• Wall thickness from 1 – 15 mm

The internal clamping device (ISV) allows welding without an air gap and without tacking. The ISV is also used to purge the root of the weld, so there is no prepurging time.

• Pipe length  30 – 6000 mm
• Pipe diameter from 1“ – 16“, on request up to 16 “
• Wall thickness from 1 – 15 mm

This machine uses an internal clamping system, which is inserted into the pipe and fitting to align them and allows for zero-gap welding without the need to tack-weld. Depending on the WPS the bevel will either be a V groove or a J groove, with a 2 mm root face.

The pipe is moved onto the infeed supports using transfer arms mounted on the buffer table. These arms deposit the pipe on the supports, which then move it into the chuck. Once the pipe is clamped in the chuck, the mandrel carriage moves forward to insert the mandrel with the inner clamping device into the pipe.

When the mandrel is in position, the operator uses a foot switch to engage the first clamp. Then the fitting is moved into position, either by hand or, for heavier fittings, by crane. The operator then engages the second clamp, holding the fitting in place, and initiates the welding process.

The root run of the joint will be welded with TIG. Afterwards additional layers of TIG or MAG will be welded, according to the established WPS.

• Pipe length  30 – 6000 mm
• Pipe diameter from 1“ – 16“
• Wall thickness from 1 – 20 mm

The pipe is transferred to the machine from the buffer table using movable transfer arms, which roll the pipe onto the machine’s pipe supports. These pipe supports then align the pipe with the flanges and move the pipe into position inside the first turn-table, while the second turn-table follows until both flanges and the pipe are properly aligned and positioned.

Then the second set of torches moves into position, and all four seams are welded simultaneously.

After welding the torches retract and the pipe is ejected onto a table or conveyor.

For sleeves the process is similar, however the machine only welds the outside seams, not the inside.