Manufacturing

American Steel Pipe recognizes that what separates us from other Line Pipe manufacturers is our on-time delivery of a quality product in premium condition. Careful steps are taken to ensure perfect results through a streamlined, efficient, and controlled manufacturing process based on precision at every step.

American Steel Pipe produces electric resistance welded (ERW) pipe in a size range of 10-3/4" through 24" and in API 5L grades B through X-80. Our larger 24" mill offers production capabilities of 16" through 24" outside diameter (OD) with a wall thickness capability up to .625". The 20" mill produces steel pipe from 10-3/4" to 20" OD with wall thickness capability up to .500".

Product Highlights Include:

API Line Pipe

• Sizes 10-3/4" through 24" OD
• .188" wall through .625" wall
• Grade B through X-80
• Quadruple Random Length Capability

Pipe Piling

• Sizes 10-3/4" through 24" OD
• Lengths up to 120'

Abrasive Resistant

• Sizes 10-3/4" through 24" OD
• Minimum Brinell hardness of 210
• 50' or 100' uniform lengths

Special Pipe Specifications:

• Customer proprietary specifications
• CO₂
• Offshore
• Sour Service
• Canadian Standards Association (CSA)
• American Water Works Association (AWWA)
• American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
• American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
• American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM)

ISO Certified Quality
American Steel Pipe earned its ISO 9002 certification in May 1995. According to the International Organization for Standardization: "The ISO 9000 series of standards represents the essential requirements that every enterprise must address to ensure consistent production and timely delivery of goods and services to the marketplace."

American Steel Pipe is proud to be recognized by this body as a compliant, certified company, reassuring our customers of our quality, integrity, and sound business standards.

Tracking - Pipes with Pedigrees
The American Steel Pipe tracking system provides complete traceability from the steel vendor throughout pipe manufacturing, shipping, and coating. Before the pipe leaves the mill, a bar code is attached. This bar code uniquely identifies each piece of pipe and enables our customers to access information relating to the production of that length of pipe, including:

• the run number and heat of steel from which the pipe originated
• the coil number from that heat and the pipe's sequence within that coil
• test results
• customer purchase order
• specific dimensions
• grade
• other manufacturing data

1. ACIPCO Coil Number 2. ACIPCO Run Number 3. Pipe Number within each Coil 4. Heat Number from Steel Manufacturer 5. AMERICAN STEEL PIPE 6. API License Number 7. ACIPCO Item Number 8. Weight per Foot 9. Pipe Outside Diameter 10. Pipe Wall Thickness 11. Pipe Grade 12. ERW Pipe 13. Date Pipe was Manufactured 14. Stress Relieved 15. Hydrostatic Test Pressure 16. Charpy Test 17. Drop Weight Tear Test 18. CUSTOMER Purchase Order 19. CUSTOMER Line Number 20. Pipe Length 21. Pipe Weight 22. Specification Number 23. Third Party Inspection

Production Process
American Steel Pipe utilizes a series of quality-controlled checkpoints and inspections that ensure an end product that meets specifications and exceeds your expectations. It all begins with the best in raw material.

STEP 1 -- PURCHASING Quality control is embedded into all steps of our production process, beginning with the purchase of raw material. We use only high-quality, continuous-cast, fully killed, control-rolled, fine-grain, low-carbon steel. This coiled skelp is supplied by a number of dependable, reputable suppliers who have been associated with American Steel Pipe for years. Skelp inventory is stored in a computer database and each coil is marked and checked based on database identification.
STEP 2 -- LOADING A 5,500-lb C-hook carries the skelp coil for loading onto the entry saddles.
STEP 3 -- EDGING Skelp edges are sheared to pre-specified widths and the lead end of each coil is squared for threading into the mill.
STEP 4 -- FORMING We are one of only a handful of mills in the world using a modern, edge-forming system for controlled skelp shaping. This technology provides the latest innovations in forming, including pre-form stands, cage and internal forming, and fin pass stands to allow for a more precise cylinder. This substantially improves the effectiveness and strength of the weld.
STEP 5 -- WELDING A 600 kW welder is utilized as operators examine and adjust weld parameters, including temperature and inside diameter and outside diameter trim removal through computerized monitors.
STEP 6 -- WELD SEAM ANNEALING Seam annealers provide heat to the weld area. A minimum temperature of 1600°F is measured by a bi-color optical pyrometer and recorded throughout operation.
STEP 7 -- SIZING/CUTTING Three sizing stands and one straightening stand are utilized to ensure that our pipe conforms to or exceeds API 5L specifications and additional standards specified by customers. Rotary cutters are used to cut pipe to length.
STEP 8 -- PRELIMINARY INSPECTING Each pipe is visually inspected, marked, and entered into the tracking system. One pipe per coil is transferred to an inspection station for mill feedback and ultrasonic testing prior to being routed back into normal processing.
STEP 9 -- HYDRO-CLEANTM PROCESSING Following the furnace stage, the pipe passes through a high-pressure steam ring to remove any remaining contaminants or residue and improve coating adhesion.
STEP 10 -- BEVELING Each pipe can be beveled at both ends for field welding to the customer's specification.
STEP 11 -- INSPECTING Pipe can then be routed through numerous tests including a hydrotest, an ultrasonic weld inspection, bevel check, micrometer check, straightness evaluation, and ring gauge. Other tests are conducted on selected pipe or upon a customer's request.
STEP 12 -- MEASURING/CODING Each pipe is weighed, measured, stenciled, and bar coded for complete identification. Pipe dimensions are compared with database order information before they are sent to shipping.

Manufacturing Process

To see a full-size image of the manufacturing process, please click on the image below: