Orbital cutting and bevelling machines for high-purity piping from international weld preparation products supplier EH Wachs are now available in South Africa from industrial equipment supplier Dowson & Dobson Industrial, a division of Actum Industrial, to serve the unique needs of the oil and gas industry.

Actum director Kevin Klaff explains that a precise, right-angled and burr-free cut and a perfectly bevelled pipe end are the basic requirements for a high-quality welded pipe produced with automated welding technology. In order to ensure this result, EH Wachs’ portable weld preparation machine tools and orbital welding systems use a cold cutting machining method, which is increasingly specified wherever hydrocarbons are present to eliminate the risks associated with hot torch cutting and grinding.

The cold cutting process also prevents the creation of a heat affected zone, which can result when extremely high temperatures, such as those produced by plasma or acetylene torches, negatively alter the molecular structure of the pipe material and weaken the joint and surrounding area.

“In an industry where downtime is measured in thousands or hundreds of thousands of dollars a day, our products have earned a reputation as equipment that can be relied on to get the job done right and on time, first time and every time,” says EH Wachs.

One of the EH Wachs’s ranges on offer from Actum is the GF 4 saw, which cuts and bevels high-alloy stainless steel, low- and unalloyed steel, plastics, casting materials and nonferrous metals precisely and in seconds, using a planetary cutting method. This method ensures that powerful clamping is effected with two position clamping jaws while the workpiece is cut, which reduces chatter and enables the machining of shorter lengths of pipe, without any deformation of the material.

Users, moreover, have the ability to choose between completely manual operation, or manual operations with manual feed module or automatic feed module, to reduce operator fatigue. The latter option also optimises the cutting result, increases the tool life and reduces the operator impact, resulting in maximum safety and productivity and optimum preparation for the automated welding process.

Additional Benefits “The GF series sets new standard in orbital pipe machining. Numerous innovative functions combined with an ergonomic design create significant advantages for users in the industrial prefabrication of pipelines systems,” says Klaff.

In addition, anthracite-coated components provide improved sliding properties and protection against corrosion, while stainless steel clamping attachments ensure protection against contact corrosion. A locking security mechanism prevents unauthorised use of the saw, guarding against safety risks and theft, while an ergonomically-designed motor handle facilitates a more comfortable operating position, which also enables easy cutting of elbow joints.

Integrated laser-precision line ensures the accurate determination of the cutoff point and the G4’s extended speed range of 65 rpm to 215 rpm is, moreover, ideal for the cutting of high-performance materials. A multifunctional tool is also included with the equipment, catering to all adjustments that may need to be made, and a swivel cable with a quick-disconnect coupler enables quick, easy power cable replacement. A new chip guard protects against flying chips and comes with a measuring port.

EH Wachs is the premier manufacturer of portable cold cutting and bevelling machine tools, inside diameter and outside diameter mounted flange facing products, handheld valve operators and related tooling and accessories. Its products are used extensively in oil and petrochemicals refining, terminals, oilfields, tank farms, loading facilities, heat exchanger fabrication and repair and wherever pipe, valves, tees or flanges are used. All products are designed and built to high-quality standards under the ISO 9001 Quality Management System.