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Baoshan Iron & Steel Co., Ltd. (Baosteel), PR China, has placed an order with SMS Meer GmbH, Germany, for a 24-inch HFI (high frequency induction) pipe welding line.

The pipe mill is designed for an annual production of 300,000 tonnes and will be installed in Baoshan, P.R. China. Erection and commissioning are scheduled for mid-2005.

The mill will be used to produce pipe in diameters from 219 up to 630 mm, wall thicknesses up to 20 mm and a maximum pipe length of 18.3 m.

The mill will produce API linepipes in material grades X80 and higher and casings in material grades up to N80. In addition, the mill is designed for hollow structural rounds as well as 500 x 500 mm maximum squares and 600 x 400 mm maximum rectangular hollow sections.

The mill essentially comprises the following components:

• Strip preparation section with cross welder.
• Spiral strip accumulator.
• Strip edge milling machine.
• Ultrasonic strip testing unit.
• URD^® forming, squeeze and sizing stands for maximum rolling forces.
• Computerized lineal forming section.
• 1,800 kW HF induction welding generator.
• Inside scarfer with hydraulic bead chopper.
• Ultrasonic seam testing unit.
• Ultrasonic ID trim monitoring system.
• Double seam annealing system with intermediate water quenching unit.
• 2-blade milling cut-off unit.
• Computer-controlled roll setting and process data system.
• Quick-change system with inline and offline roll quick changing system.

SMS Meer recently installed a 24-inch HFI pipe welding line with API finishing section to Corinth Pipeworks SA (CPW), Greece. A further 24-inch HFI pipe welding line with finishing section is currently being delivered to SAFA, Iran, and an additional 24-inch HFI pipe welding line with API finishing section is undergoing production for ADPICO, Abu Dhabi.

SMS Meer GmbH forms part of the Tube, Long Product and Forging Technology Business Area of the SMS group. The SMS group is internationally active in plant construction and mechanical engineering relating to the processing of steel, non-ferrous metals and plastics. The group is divided into the Business Areas of Metallurgical Plant and Rolling Mill Technology, Tube, Long Product and Forging Technology and Plastics Technology. In the year 2003 around 9,500 employees worldwide generated a turnover of around EUR 2.20 billion.

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