Tube-Tubesheet Orbital Welding Equipment Brands? 1

[meltedEng]

Hello,

What is everyone using for their TTS orbital joints?

We've tested Polysoude, AMI(ESAB), Liburdi, and Orbitalium.

My findings:
AMI easiest to use, but since ESAB purchase, they are unserviceable.
Polysoude, the equipment was not easy to use.
Liburdi, the equipment didn't even work. We've customized parts to make them work.
Orbitalium, P16, good spare parts, very difficult to operator, maybe was a good idea in the 90s.

We're welding 2000 tube end welds a week or so. Mostly stainless, Inconel/Incoloy/Hastelloy.

Any other vendors to consider? (We'll be taking a trip to FabTech this year as well).
Any recommendations on how to get complex power sources serviced?

 

[EdStainless]

Yes the AMI situation is a loss.
There are a couple of US suppliers, but I have never used their equipment.
I have seen it shops though.
Axxair out of TX and SEC out of GA (I think).
I don't know where their hardware is built or what their support is like.


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P.E. Metallurgy, consulting work welcomed

 

meltedEng,

I cannot add much to your survey except to corroborate the unfortunate situation with AMI, and Liburdi's trailing position in the market.

While working for a large HX manufacturer in the 90s we were developing a new T/TS process. The short list was AMI and some French maker. The company still uses AMI today (very successfully), while 'French engineering' quickly became the punchline of many in-house jokes.

"Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but they are not entitled to their own facts."

 

[meltedEng]

Thanks guys. Sad to not have advanced alternatives.

Axxair we didn't look deeply into, appears to be exact copy of Liburdi/Orbitalium P16.

p.s. the French company is Polysoude.

 

[XL83NL]

We’ve used Polysoude for years on butt weld orbital welding of tubing. Now switched to Orbitalum. PS is good, but Orbitalum is more to current standards. I’ve seen some impressive internal cladding technologies by PS though, but it seems to depend who your contact rep is. As long as they’re not French, you’re typically better of. No hard feelings but that’s the general consensus with all Engineering related to les blues.
Our suppliers often use PS for tube-tubesheet welding, but Orbitalum is growing into that market I believe.
AMI through ESAB was a dead end. Axxair wasn’t even able to sell their stuff convingly.
We’re in Western Europe.

Huub
- You never get what you expect, you only get what you inspect.

 

[CuMo]

https://www.mausitalia.it/eng/products/tig-orbital-welding

 

[EdStainless]

Axxair only really works on the Gulf Coast.

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P.E. Metallurgy, consulting work welcomed