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Pipe Support News

News from Quality Control
PT&P’s QC Manager, has lead several testing efforts including three at cryogenic temperatures. Two of these tested coils in springs, the other tested an anchor for cryogenic pipelines. Tests on aluminum travel stops proved successful and these are a new PT&P standard. Other new standard procedures cover bonding processes.

Qc Manager Testing An Expansion Joint
QC Manager Testing an Expansion Joint

The picture at left shows PT&P’s QC Manager as he is preparing to test the pressure capability of a 4″-150 lb. rated metal expansion joint unit. The unit is sealed and gauged as air is introduced through a fitting on the top blind flange. As a pump supplies air, the gauges indicate how much pressure the unit is experiencing.

Big Pipe Spools

Pipe Spools
Pipe Spools

This photo shows a few of the spools loaded on a truck going to the port of Houston. These were fabricated by SWECO for a major Houston E&C firm for their project in Trinidad.

Big Pig Launcher

Pig Launcher
Pig Launcher

Shown in this photograph is a pipeline pig launcher-receiver fabricated by the SWECO FAB Division of Piping Technology. Our client supplied this one to a British Petroleum project in Columbia. These special “pressure vessels” are a SWECO specialty.

Replacing a Spring Coil With Stainless Steel Bellows

Spring coils are so pervasive in design of pipe supports that our collective paradigm limits our ability to consider alternatives. The photograph below shows an example of a pipe support designed for the special environment of an off-shore platform which uses a stainless steel metal bellows instead of a spring coil.

Stainless Steel Bellows Used As Spring Coil
Stainless Steel Bellows Used as Spring Coil

This customer was concerned about the corrosive environment and the salt water which will occasionally flow over the pipe support. The rolled plate on the left will be welded to a structural pipe on the platform. A riser clamp (not shown) will be attached on the right. The stainless steel bellows was designed with the proper spring rate and movement.

In need of a spring coil? Let us price one for you today!

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WHK Historical Research Completes PT&P's History

Dr. William Kellar of WHK was the Project Historian for a team which prepared archives and a book covering the first twenty years, 1978-1997, history of PT&P. Dr. Joseph Pratt of the University of Houston served as Project Editor. Kellar conducted extensive interviews with current and former customers and employees and lead the effort of sorting through the many documents, photographs and stories about experiences many of us shared. PT&P will publish the book in 1998. A big “thank you” to Bill and all who contributed to this project. Happy reading to all!

PT&P Collaborates on PDS Software

Piping Technology & Products is collaborating with other sponsors to create a pipe support module for an industry leading plant design software package, PDS. The concept for the pipe support module was developed by another company, and PT&P became involved in August 1997.

Programming has been added which will enable users of PDS to easily integrate PT&P pipe supports and hardware components with their PDS models. To prepare for the project, PT&P has participated in 4 weeks of training at Intergraph’s site in Huntsville, AL learning the PDS system and the EDEN programming language.

PT&P Establishes a Plus Agreement

The photo (below) shows PT&P’s Engineering Manager, Anthony Palisch, accepting a plaque while Randy Bailey (left) and Durga Agrawal (right) look on.

Accepting A Plaque
Accepting a Plaque

The plaque states “In an effort to demonstrate the unified pursuit of quality and cost reduction through a long term relationship, this agreement is established with Piping Technology and Products. The mutual goal… is to achieve a high standard of excellence in both product and service to our clients through innovative work processes and shared cooperative effort.” Piping Technology was the first vendor selected for this recognition.

PT&P Acquires U.S. Bellows, Inc.

In July of 1997, Piping Technology & Products, Inc. acquired U.S. Bellows, Inc. from Ketema Process Equipment in California. As a part of the purchase, PT&P acquired all U.S. Bellows manufacturing equipment, all design and technical software, and the company’s historical files. During the month of July, PT&P personnel worked hard to move the manufacturing equipment from California to Houston. As a part of the transition, former U.S. Bellows engineers conducted a one-week training session at PT&P’s facility in Houston.

U.S. Bellows, Inc. has been servicing the industry since the 1960s and has a long history as a reliable expansion joint manufacturer. U.S. Bellows, Inc. will now operate as a division of Piping Technology & Products from our facility in Houston. U.S. Bellows will continue to offer the same expertise in expansion joint design, production, and customer service that has always been the PT&P trademark.

PT&P acquired R.M. Engineered Products metal expansion joint business in 1995 and relocated that equipment to our 15 acre manufacturing facility in Houston, Texas. The R.M. Engineered Products equipment and the newly acquired U.S. Bellows operating machinery combine to make U.S. Bellows and Piping Technology & Products among the most capable expansion joint/metallic bellows manufacturers in the world.

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