MACHINERY | PIPE JOINING


Right: Widos highlighted a number of its pipe joining machines and control systems at last year’s K2019 show


d225. Accompanying software allows six different key areas of a weld – K- value, wall offset, width, area, height and angle – to be examined. At the same time, it provides a pass/fail certification for each weld.


Close control At last year’s K2019, German manufac- turer Widos highlighted a number of its pipe joining machines and control systems. The company has extended its range of ma- chines for building sites, adding the Widos 4955 The model – which adds to the earlier 4400 and 6100 models – includes a basic machine, planer, heating element, protection box and hydraulic unit, as well as a bag with necessary tools. Individual components such as hydraulic control unit or reducer inserts can be combined, depending on the size of the machine. The 4955 can handle PE and PP pipe, for outside diameters of 90-355mm. Its advantages include the ability to carry out CNC welding without the use of a base frame. The building site machines are designed for pipeline construction and are suitable for a wide range of applications. Four clamping rings provide the necessary stability for welding long pipelines. By removing the fourth clamping ring, the machines are also adaptable for working in narrow conditions because they can be operated in smaller spaces. Other highlights from the show included the WI-CNC 6.0 and WI- SPS 6.0 control units. Coupled with basic machines for building sites, WI-CNC 6.0 allows for welding of plastic pipes from 50 to 3,500mm. The WI-SPS 6.0 control unit in workshop machines welds plastic pipes from 160 to 2,400mm. At the show, the company demonstrated how these control units offer better monitoring of the welding process. The control unit’s connectivity feature allows for


programming, monitoring and remote control of the welding process as well as the integration in modern production processes. “With the WI-SPS 6.0, we laid the cornerstone for the integration of our machines in automated production lines,” said Christian Suhling, CEO of Widos.


Belling breakthrough Also at K2019, Sica of Italy showcased a new PP pipe belling machine, the Everbell4 200EN. The machine is a new concept in multi-socketing machines, says Sica. It processes up to four pipes at


40 PIPE & PROFILE EXTRUSION | May 2020


a time with only two ovens (reducing energy consumption by around 40%) and a single forming station. It is versatile and productive in regard to different kinds of pipes and material formulations, says the company. The machine has been tested on a customer’s


extrusion line for more than a month. Advantages include its compactness, high speed,


ease of use and precision, says the company. It measures 233 x 89cm, which is narrower than


previous Sica models – and competitor machines – says the company. The machine can handle 1200 sockets/hour for PP pipes in diameters of 32, 40 and 50mm, with 1.8mm wall thickness. The speed is not influenced by the simultaneous processing of different pipe lengths. The model is equipped with a patented system


to assure permanent socket profile for pipes from 32 to 200mm.


Sica says the machine is also very flexible: it handles different pipe diameters with the same arms, and uses socket shaping tools and ring inserting tools from an earlier model. In addition, Baruffaldi of Italy recently devel- oped and demonstrated a new automatic in-line socket welding machine for corrugated pipe. The SRM 200-700/6-CA is designed for PE and PP corrugated pipes of between 200-700mm diam- eter, in standard lengths of 3, 6 or 12m. The technique offers maximum mechanical


strength and no ovalisation, zero production waste and no loss of speed on the extrusion line, says the company. The system was demonstrated at an in-house event in late 2019.


CLICK ON THE LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION: � www.mcelroy.com � www.plasticpipe.org. � www.gfps.com � www.widos.de � www.sica-italy.com � www.baruffaldi.eu


www.pipeandprofile.com


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