Beyond Specifications

Transforming steel coil into tube and pipe products involves forming, welding, shaping, and cutting according to ASTM standards and above for the customized products our clients demand. At EXLTUBE, our two production lines use Electric Resistance Welding (ERW) which starts with slitting steel coils to exact strip width. Each steel strip is formed continuously around its longitudinal axis to produce a round tube. This is done by moving the strip through a progressive set of rolls which apply pressure to form the steel.

The strip edges are heated by high frequency induction welders to create a continuous longitudinal weld without the addition of filler metal. The weld seam is cooled and the external scarf is removed. The tube is then sized to the exact round required. For square or rectangular sections, the round tube is processed through a series of shaping rolls and then fed through a turkshead which cold-forms it into its final shape.

Transitioning tube to pipe starts with a single piece of tube entering our automated beveling system before being tested to A53 Grade B specifications or beyond, based on customer needs. Once each piece passes the integrity tests within the hydrotester, which has a 10,000 PSI testing capability, it enters the coating booth. A rust prohibitive coating is applied that is environmentally friendly, water-based, and low-fume for welding before the piece is sent through a cooling section prior to bundling.

For pipe products or tubes which require a smooth internal chamber, the internal weld seam or flash is removed. EXLTUBE is one of the only mills that has the capability to flash remove square and rectangular tubing.