Category Archives: Steel Line Pipe

Company News, Steel Line Pipe

McKeesport ERW Pipe Mill Upgrades

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Dura-Bond Pipe McKeesport has made numerous investments into it’s pipe making operations.  The new seam annealing and Phased Array UT equipment has been installed and commissioned in September of 2019.

PWHT (post weld heat treating) of ERW pipe is now  facilitated by four 500 kW Seam Annealers manufactured by Thermatool.  Precise and uniform heating of the weld seam coupled with patented Seam-Scan™ technology ensures quality and consistent results.  PLC controls in conjunction with an infra-red camera allow the inductors to pivot +-15 DEG from top dead center of the weld to accurately track the weld seam.

 

20 IN Coil is Annealed at McKeesport
Thermatool annealers combine a multitude of controlability and product interfaces to provide a consistent post heat weld treament.  Operaters have a number of precise reports and information readily displayed on the control console.

 

 

Seam Scan Tracks the HFW Centerline
Seam-Scan monitors the scarfed ERW Weld before entering the first annealer.  Utilizing an infra-red camera, Thermatool software is able to trace
the centerline of the weld prompting the seam annealers to move laterally maintaining the centerline of the weld.  This ensures a consistent, even postheat.

 

 

Smart Annealer Screen
Smart Anneal allows the operator complete control of all four annealing stands.  Output control is adjusted using one central interface and adjusts to meet changing mill speeds.  Using Closed Loop Temperature Control Systems, this automatically adjusts power to each annealer to maintain heating duing each stage.

 

 

Seam Annealer Control Stand and Line

 

Phased Array UT

 

Following the tremendous advancements Phased Array UT weld inspection brought to Steetlon, Dura-Bond Pipe McKeesport followed suit with an Olympus system comissioned in September of 2019.

UT Weld Inspection on ERW pipe end
The Olympus AUT system utilizes phased array technology to inspect the weld area and ends of our ERW pipe. For the end inspection, a linear phased array probe is positioned parallel to the pipe axis and will inspect while rotating, covering the radial surface area of each end entirely. For the weld area inspection, curved phased array probes are used to inspect the weld seam for linear defects.
UT Line Dura-Bond Pipe McKeesport
For weld tracking, a very unique method is utilized. A linear phased array probe (0 degree) is used to perform a dimensional scan of the weld area, and will center the on the deviation in wall thickness (created by the ID scarfing tool during the welding process), thus producing an extremely accurate and precise inspection. In addition to weld tracking, this particular probe will also inspect the heat-affected-zone for laminar defects.

 

 

UT Control Booth Pulpit Dura-Bond Pipe McKeesport
Company News, Steel Line Pipe

Dura-Bond Pipe McKeesport Receives API 5L Monogram License

Dura-Bond Pipe, is pleased to announce that we have received our API 5L Monogram License to manufacture HFW Pipe in diameters from 8-5/8” to 20” in lengths up to 80’ long.  Dura-Bond acquired the idled assets from United States Steel in late 2016 and is fully operational after a one year effort to bring the mill back up and earn our license.  Building on our reputation for quality large OD DSAW pipe that we produce in Steelton, PA in diameters from 24” to 42”, the McKeesport HFW mill will now allow us to offer our customers a wider range of sizes and provide a steady supply of pipe for our new FBE plant in Duquesne, PA.

Steel Line Pipe

Dura-Bond Pipe Reaches Milestone

Dura-Bond Piple LLC has reached a new company milestone. We produced one million feet of 42″ diameter x .600″ wall X70 for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline. This is about 25,000 pieces for a total of 132,000 tons (enough steel to build multiple aircraft carriers) and we still have much more to make.  A special thank you from Dura-Bond to all employees working on this project.  Dura-Bond would also like to thank Atlantic Coast Pipeline for it’s continued confidence in Dura-Bond for it’s outstanding reputation to produce quality Large Diameter LSAW pipe. 

Steel Line Pipe

Dura-Bond to Restart USS McKeesport Tubular

Dura-Bond Industries has purchased the former USS McKeesport Tubular operations.  The former ERW mill was idled in 2014 eliminating around 260 positions.

This asset will be a great addition to Dura-Bond’s pipe making abilities.  Now able to service the smaller diameter line pipe market in addition to larger 24-44″ diameter pipe making in Steelton, PA, with coating facilities nearby.

U.S. Steel idled the McKeesport mill because of the downturn in the oil and gas industry and a crush of cheap imports from overseas producers. More than half of the oil and gas pipe used domestically is imported.

“There is renewed optimism in the country for domestic manufacturing.” Jason Norris, President.

Steel Line Pipe

Atlantic Coast Pipeline Feature

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Atlantic Coast Pipeline LLC, which has proposed a 550-mile natural gas pipeline to bring much-needed energy to Virginia and North Carolina, today announced an agreement totaling more than $400 million with Dura-Bond Industries to produce steel pipe for the project.

Dura-Bond, which ACP LLC selected after an extensive bidding process, is scheduled to produce the pipe at its Steelton, Pa., mill beginning late 2015 through March 2017. Dura-Bond plans to hire about 150 employees at the mill to run a second shift of union workforce to meet the schedule.

“We are excited to work with Dura-Bond, one of the nation’s premier suppliers of gas transmission pipeline,” said Diane Leopold, president of Dominion Energy. “Dura-Bond has an outstanding reputation in the industry and has been a long-term supplier of pipe and pipe coating for Dominion’s gas transmission business, dating back to the 1970s.