V&M Deutschland GmbH (Düsseldorf, Germany):

Kümmerling R., Dr. Eng., Director Rolling Technology, rolf.kuemmerling@vmtubes.de

Kneiβler A., Dr. Eng., Project manager Forging

Vallourec & Mannesmann Tubes operates four GFM 4-hammer radial forging machines, two of which are used alongside the standard hot working processes for the manufacture of mediumand thick-walled pipes. For V&M Tubes, this means it has to master the new process as thoroughly and quickly as possible while keeping development times for new products and process variants as short as possible. The present article describes how V&M Tubes is achieving this and highlights the opportunities opened up by forging. Meantime, V&M Tubes is using radial forging technology at four locations. The process has been successfully further developed together with the plant manufacturer GFM and was patented in 2009. Premium Forged Pipe (PFP) is a worldwide registered trademark and is marketed under this name by V&M Tubes. The advantages of this technology mean that the mills in Aulnoye-Aymeries (France) and Changzhou (China) only need a piercing unit and an elongator. Despite this, the flexibility of the radial forging process facilitates a large range of products, including those made of high-alloy steels. In addition, it is now possible to manufacture special heavy-walled pipes with stepped internal and external contours that would just not be producible with any other seamless tube-making process. FEM simulation has been utilized since 2007 as an aid to assessing and evaluating force and work requirements as well as tool life and product quality. In connection with its strategy for stepping up its research and development activities, V&M Tubes has extended the equipment at the Rolling Laboratory in Riesa to include a pilot plant for radial forging. This allows V&M Tubes to concentrate its efforts for successfully mastering the challenges of the market.

1. Kneiβler, A.; Wieser, R.; Kümmerling, R.: Premium forged pipes on a GFM forging machine, Proc. 18th IFM 2011, Pittsburgh, USA, 2011.
2. Hojas, H.: Long and continuous forging machines — development and field applications, Metals Techn. (1979) No. 12, pp. 449/56.
3. Wieser, R.; Koppensteiner, R.: BHM 146 (2001) No. 7, p. 295/300.
4. Wieser, R.: The flexible radial forging line, Tyrolit Steelworks Symposium, Alpbach, Austria, 1 April 2011.
5. V & M Deutschland GmbH: Method for production of a seamless hot-finished steel tube, European Patent EP 1 814 679 B1, 2005.