SERCO


PRODUCTS & EQUIPMENT Flange facing machines Definition and use of a flange facing machine


A Flange Facing Machine also called Portable Lathe is made to mechanically polish a disk, collar or ring connected to a pipe in order to form a link with other piping elements (valves, other pipes, etc.) or to block off a part of the piping. This machining operation is done by successive strips to ensure face flatness and regularity.


A company needs a Flange Facing Machine when flanges are deformed or corroded due to flows inside a network (water, steam, oil & gas, etc.) and even damaged from outside due to vibrations or bad handlings. Quality of a flange facing is fundamental because sealing and pressure resistance depend on it.


A flange facing machine for which industries? Flange Facing Machines are needed wherever you can find a flange or a valve, including the following fields:


● Nuclear Industries ● Fossil Industries : Oil & Gas (drilling platforms, refineries, offshore, onshore, spool base, etc.)


● Petrochemical Industry (manufacturing plants of various chemicals) ● High Purity ● Diesel Engines


● Shipyards ● Tube Processing ● Defense ● And generally speaking all industries where mechanical device whose function is to control the flow of fluids in piping systems are present.


How often is it necessary to repair a flange There is not a common answer.


Indeed, a flange is subject to many preexisting or evolving threats due to: ● Effect of corrosion ● Normal and, sometimes, abnormal stresses about bending, pressure, vibrations, etc. ● Low quality materials ● Defective fabrication and defective preparation before welding ● Unadvisable addition of welded attachements or details to stressed sections ● Weld of incorrect shape ● Welds containing internal defects or associated with residual stresses ● Unsatisfactory application of allied processes


Cracks of a flange


In consequence, periodic examinations of their facilities by our customers, and also by building technical control offices, which can be legally required, enable to point out defective flanges and lead to a specific need of repair for each of them.


Risks when flange obsolescence is too old


Waiting too long to repair pittings, scratches, cracks and other failures can cause serious accidents in case of flanges breaks. Moreover, a business interruption means a lack of turnover and, finally, harm a company. That is why it is so important not to neglect a flange repair.


14 IMT February 2019 www.internationalmetaltube.com


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24