Selecting Stainless Steel Welded Pipe Manufacturers Complying Quality Excellence

The stainless steel welded pipe presents a cheaper alternative compared to the seamless ones. Although they lack in the high load resistance and stress handling like the seamless pipes, yet they are still useful in several industrial applications. You need to find a manufacturer using the best standards of quality in the entire development process. Confirm that they use the automatic welding process to develop the pipes from steel coils. This advanced process largely cancels the vulnerability of the welded pipes across the seams. Consider finding a unit where highly experienced professionals supervise every stage of the development process. Ask for sample pipes from the manufacturer to evaluate the quality.

Also develops seamless pipes

A pro industry tip is to find a welded pipe manufacturer who also develops seamless pipes. This ensures that the service is aware of all the aspects of the industry, instead of providing only one kind of product. Also, the stainless steel seamless pipe suppliers always have to ensure the maintenance of a standard testing facility. If possible, consider visiting the unit and the testing facility in person. See whether they can supply long pipes according to your specifications. Even when you need a pipe 12 meter long, see whether the company can provide you with it.

Finishing and quality testing

You must also enquire whether the stainless steel welded pipe manufacturers can remove the welding seam from inside and outside. Removing the seam significantly improves the quality of the products. Manufacturers usually use a scarfing blade to serve this purpose. Sometimes, the engineers can also heat treat the welded seam to reduce its visibility and fortify its strength. The welded pipes are especially useful in processes that require high corrosion resistance, handling the flow of hazardous chemicals. Make sure that the supplier undertakes different qualifying tests like the eddy current test, the hydrostatic test, radiography, dimension test, Ultra sonic test etc.

You need to confirm that the supplier adheres to the best international standards in the developments of these products. Look for global standard quality certifications like the AD-2000 Merkblatt/W0, the ISO 9001: 2008, and the PED-97/ 23/ EC. Always ask for facsimiles of these certificates without relying on verbal promise. Check that the certificates are all current and not beyond their expiry dates. See whether the quality testing facility has the latest equipments in handling all kinds of tests. Besides the testing processes mentioned above, also look for parameters like the implementation of dye penetrate testing, long length straightness test, air under water test, and the optical pyrometer test.

Mr. Rudra is the quality testing director at a leading Indian stainless steel welded pipe manufacturer.