On February 1, German plantmaker SMS Meer announced that it has commissioned a 12.75 inch (323 mm) ERW tube welding line for heavy wall thicknesses at Arvedi Tube Acciaio S.p.A. in Cremona, Italy.
The line turns out products such as hollows for cold-drawn cylinders, rear axles for trucks, line pipes, API tubes, round bars and sections, in diameters ranging from 114.3 mm to 323.9 mm. In spite of heavy wall thicknesses (up to 16 mm), a high maximum mill speed of up to 60 m/min is achieved. The mill, which has an annual production capacity of 150,000 metric tons, was commissioned in the last quarter of 2009.
Founded in 1973, Arvedi Tubi Acciaio S.p.A. currently produces approximately 350,000 metric tons of welded tubes per year.