Manufacturing Process
From our hands, to yours: an overview of the production process.
The art of detail
We have been a manufacturer of butt weld fittings for more than 35 years and we do it with extreme dedication.
Our work is the combination of high technology, cutting-edge equipment, high-performance materials, structured and certified processes, constantly updated work procedures… But what really makes the difference is the competence and experience of our people.
Making a fitting involves the continuous search for precision, a desire for perfection down to the smallest detail, it requires a thorough knowledge of the material and the ability to think with vision, anticipating and preventing any critical issues.
The same attention to detail permeates every phase of all our activities:
from the timely handling of materials to inventory management, from sophisticated production planning to the final delivery of the complete package.
It is an art, a perfect mechanism made possible only when the unique value of people is at the heart of every process.
Know-how and technology
While it is true that even today much of the production of fittings takes place thanks to the expert eye and craftsmanship of our operators, over the years, Tecninox has invested in its fleet of machines, in the continuous search for technological innovation.
This perpetual journey has led us, for example, to the creation of a robotic island, with no less than 2 latest-generation robots, which allow us to produce 100 times the number of elbows that we produce on average in a single day, automating the process, ensuring quick times and reducing waste.
Cutting
The production process begins with the receipt and control of raw materials.
Tecninox production starts from the pipe, to cut and process it until it is transformed into a fitting.
In this phase the first blanks are produced from which elbows, tees, reducers, sleeves and caps will be obtained.
Forming
The heart of the manufacturing process of fittings is forming, a phase in which the typical shape of the fitting is obtained from the piece of pipe.
At Tecninox we mainly use the cold forming method, i.e. for mechanical deformation (e.g. elbows, caps and reducers) or for hydroforming (e.g. Tees).
In the first case, the pipe is inserted into a press that pushes it onto a spindle until it bends to the required angle; in the second case, however, the piece takes shape through the force of water at very high pressure.
Heat treatment
Heat treatment is an essential step to ensure the performance of the final product.
At this stage, the fittings are placed in a special oven that reaches high temperatures in order to give the material specific mechanical characteristics for the application for which they are intended.
The duration of the heat treatment varies according to the material, size and specific characteristics sought, meeting the technical requirements of the most restrictive industry standards (e.g. Norsok M-650 Ed.4).
It is the most satisfying time, when the metal glows and lights the workshop with its vibrant red.
The oven processing must necessarily be followed by cooling cycles to stabilise the characteristics of the material.
In fact, our products are installed on various types of systems considered critical (power generation, gas distribution, petrochemical, food and beverage, etc.): they must, therefore, withstand extreme conditions in terms of pressure, temperature and corrosion.
Finishing
The final steps of the process involve the so-called finishing operations.
These include chamfering, which creates the shiny edge that will be welded together with the other elements of the system for which the piece is intended, removing the excess material by milling.
Pickling is a necessary step to remove impurities and to protect the material. It takes place by soaking the fittings in special baskets in chemical baths, which give it the special patina that allows it to become “stainless”, slowing down the deterioration due to contact with oxygen.
The products are then marked with information on the sizing (diameter and schedule), the material code, the technical-regulatory reference, the casting and the quality controls performed.
Raccortubi specialises in noble materials: austenitic stainless steel, Duplex, Super Duplex, 6mo, Nickel and Titanium alloys.
Quality control
Quality is one of the main values of Raccortubi: we are committed to providing only the best to our customers.
Quality control takes place in line, in several phases of the production process, through documentary checks, destructive laboratory tests, instrumental tests (e.g. PMI) and visual-dimensional tests.
It is possible to request additional tests, which we perform at certified third-party laboratories.
At the end of the processing, the operator proceeds to the final test before delivering the product to the shipping department.
The products are then marked with information on the sizing (diameter and schedule), the material code, the technical-regulatory reference, the casting and the quality controls performed.
Raccortubi specialises in noble materials: austenitic stainless steel, Duplex, Super Duplex, 6mo, Nickel and Titanium alloys.
Shipping
The last stages involve preparation of the goods.
The fittings are checked and packed according to the customer’s requests (in
boxes/crates/pallets etc.), accompanied by the relevant documentation and shipped to the
destination. If the order was issued for stock replenishment, the goods are stored in the main logistics centre, in the province of Milan.