System monitors vibrations during seamless pipe piercing

OG Technologies Inc. has introduced the In-line Piercing Process Monitoring (iPPM™) system. It monitors vibrations during the piercing operation for seamless pipes. The vibration signal carries information about the interaction among the pipe billet, the tapered rolls, and the piercing head and provides the basis for the detection of early warnings of tool wear, tool failure, and wall thickness variations.

The noncontact system is based on the company's proprietary imaging technology for monitoring the piercing process in seamless pipe operations. Data can be used to enable process control, resulting in improved production efficiency, reduced rejection rate, and promoted seamless pipe quality.