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May 3, 2013 Leave a comment
For the latest market and finance news that impact PVF, Energy, Chemical, Food and Water industries you can check out our new page here or go directly to the news feed here.
This weekly news feed will provide insightful information on the economic and market landscapes that impact our industries from the most trusted sources. Find all the information that can allow you to make the most informed business decisions.
April 10, 2013 Leave a comment
It is with our great pleasure to inform you that we, Outokumpu Stainless Tubular Products Ltd., have changed our business name to OSTP Limited.
We do this name change to deliver better service to you, our valued customers and create better recognition in the market for our products and company. There has been no change in our team and we will be providing the same products and fine service on which we have built our reputation in the industry.
We kindly ask you to update your records accordingly and to address all future business correspondence to our new company name. We have also updated our email addresses to reflect the name change and now become ostp.ca. Please also note that all invoices should now be issued using the new company name. Other than the company name and emails, all other details and structures of the company as well as current contracts and other agreements remain unchanged.
Thank you for your patronage, and we look forward to continue doing business with you in the future!
Sincerely,
Lorne Phillips Laura Winters Katie McPherson
General Manager Supply Chain & Service Manger Sales Representative
lorne.phillips@ostp.ca laura.winters@ostp.ca katie.mcpherson@ostp.ca
February 27, 2013 Leave a comment
Welding is a process by which metal or plastic pieces are fastened with pressure and heat. The heat softens the pieces and allows for attachment when enough pressure is present. Welding was first mentioned in the Middle Ages, but did not fully develop until the end of the 19th century, when gas and electric welding equipment replaced the older forge method. Welding has built society into what it is today; practically everything you see has been welded or created by something that has been welded.
There are many different welding specialties; many work in auto or pipe welding while others work in the machinery field. Welding can even be done underwater, and each form is a bit different. Some forms use electricity, while some use gas and the newest methods utilize lasers. The method chosen depends on many factors, with the most important being the material’s form and thickness. Below, you’ll learn about some of the most common welding techniques.
Arc Welding
This is one of the most common forms of welding due to its low cost. It begins with a machine that emits an electric current; the device itself varies from method to method, but it always allows current to move through non-conductive materials. Arc welding is so named because the current is created between the device and the pieces to be welded, resulting in an arced appearance.
Electroslag Welding
This type of welding was first done in the 1950s; it’s generally a quick process used to join large pieces like steel plates, which are generally vertically arranged. The electroslag welding method was so named because of the water-filled copper parts within the welding equipment, which were included to prevent the molten slag from seeping into other areas.
Flux Core
Flux core welding was also invented in the 1950s, as an alternative to stick welding. The process is usually used in situations where speed is needed, and many construction workers use it because of its versatility in situations and in materials.
MIG Welding
MIG stands for Metal Inert Gas, and it’s a welding process that uses gases to protect the weld metal. The gas is there to keep the pieces protected from environmental elements like oxygen, allowing the equipment to be run at a continuous rate. MIG welding doesn’t require a lot of skill, but the machines can only be used indoors because of the gases being used. MIG welding was created in the 1940s, but wasn’t perfected until the 1960s.
Submerged Arc Welding
This process can only be used on materials such as steel, which have a high iron content. Welding equipment here can be either fully or semiautomatic, making the process relatively fast. Despite its advantages, the arc must always be covered in flux in order to shield the metal pieces from the elements. The flux also keeps welding spatter at bay, which makes the job safer for the welder.
Tungsten Inert Gas
Tungsten inert gas, or TIG welding, is much like the MIG welding process. The main difference is that TIG welding uses a tungsten current, while MIG utilizes an electrode made of metal. Because of that difference, TIG welding requires a filler to be placed inside the machine (tungsten doesn’t melt during welding). Tungsten inert gas welding is typically used in situations involving stainless steel.
This article was written by Ben Frisby, working on behalf of Westermans – welding equipment experts.
February 4, 2013 Leave a comment
How do I decide what piping system to use for my chemical processing system? There is surprisingly little information out there to assist in determining what piping material is best suited for different chemical process applications. At the same time, various sources will give you differing answers. For example, a project manager may prefer a certain material due to past use, while a manufacturer may push the material on which he can charge the highest premium. Add suppliers into the mix and determining what piping system you use becomes a very large decision, one that will affect multiple aspects of your business. There are more than likely a number of codes and regulations that will partially dictate what type of piping system you can use for your application. Researching and understanding these regulations should be your first step in determining what system is best for your company. Aside from that though, there are other aspects to take into account. Here we’ll discuss some of those and take a look a few of the most commonly used materials.
There are a number of factors you will want to consider when choosing a type of pipe. Some of these include cost-effectiveness, safety, range of use, and environmental factors. You will want to weigh the importance of each of these factors to you and your company before you begin shopping around. As always, safety should be at the forefront of any decision you make, especially when it involves potentially hazardous media. Environmental factors have become increasingly important as well. This is especially vital if your company is in the public eye, as transparency in environmental practices has become the standard in most westernized industries.
Once you’ve weighed your factors, consider the type of chemical media you will be handling. Have your plant inspected to determine the precise conditions your pipe and media will be exposed to. There are a number of different pipe materials, and some are not appropriate for certain chemicals. Similarly, you may find that for your application there are four or five different piping materials that could be suitable. Let’s look at two of the most commonly used piping materials today:
Stainless Steel – Stainless Steel is an iron-based metal group that is used in countless applications across the world. It gets its name and most famous property from the chromium oxide barrier that protects against corrosion from oxygen and moisture. This thin barrier makes stainless steel resistant to sulfurs, salts, chloride compounds, and a number of other chemicals. This highly resistant metal comes at a premium, though, and installation is more involved than plastics like PVC. Stainless steel is highly recyclable and its refinement is generally non-hazardous. There are over 100 different grades of stainless steel, each with its own unique composition and recommended application.
PVC/CPVC – Polyvinyl chloride and chlorinated polyvinyl chloride have burst forth onto the chemical scene since their fairly recent entrance into the piping market. These thermoplastics vary slightly in property, though they possess many of the same desired qualities: durable, lightweight, and cost effective. CPVC in particular is a widely used material for chemical waste and drainage. Its ability to resist corrosion and other degradation, combined with its convenient installation make it an attractive alternative to materials like polypropylene, lined steel, or polyvinylidene fluoride. CPVC is suitable for handling a variety of chemical media including acids, bases and salts. PVC is also resistant to a number of chemicals, particularly dilute acids and alkalies and aliphatic hydrocarbons. Drawbacks include increased environmental strain due to the plastic manufacturing process, and limits on chemical and thermal resistance.
As you can see, even when taking two different materials into consideration, there are countless factors that may make or break your decision. Even beyond the installation of your piping system, you will need to consider maintenance and upkeep. Do you have dedicated staff that can be responsible for repairs, or will you need to find an outside company to assist you? By having an idea of what factors are most important to your company before you are bombarded with these smaller issues, you will be better equipped to make the best all-around decision. Equally as important, is employing the proper experts and inspectors to be sure your piping system is safe and up to any industry codes that may apply. Having properly trained experts involved in each step of the process will save you time and money in the long run and give you peace of mind knowing you made a sound decision.
