Fist Lot of Pipes with Smooth Inner Surface Coating has been Produced at Volzhsky Pipe Plant

Setting up of the line for coating of big diameter pipes with smooth inner surface coatings of 530 up to 1420 mm; wall thickness up to 42 mm is part of the Strategic Investment Program of TMK up to 2010. The equipment was supplied by Bauhuis. The maximum annual production capacity of the line reaches 600 thou tons of pipes. The dispatching of the first lot of pipes with smooth inner surface coating is planned for the first quarter of 2008.

The new line will be operating as part of one technological complex including the already existing production facilities along with new production facilities for straight seamed pipes production which are being set up at the Volzhsky Pipe Plant. The project includes building of a welding mill for production of straight seamed pipes of 508-1420 mm in dia. with outer surface coating line with an annual design capacity reaching 650 thou tons of pipes. The mill will is planned to set up in the IV quarter of 2008.

Engineering and production of pips with smooth inner surface coating are part of the Agreement on scientific and technical cooperation between Gazprom and TMK. At present the experimental lot passes through technological tests to be certified by Gazprom.

“ТМК introduces to the market tubular products of new generation for building of contemporary pipelines. Application of the most up-to-date technologies and equipment for engineering of protective coatings will meet not only existing, but also future requirements of the customers actively pursuing the technical policy of oil and gas companies of reducing energy consumption when conveying hydrocarbon’, K. Semerikov, Director General, TMK said.