HSE Promotes Petrochemical Industry Safety and Product Integrity

October 30th, 2011

Health & Safety holds as prominent a place in our offices as it does on our factory floor. We understand the vital role the HSE (Health and Safety Executive) play in the maintenance and implementation of Health & Safety measures throughout the U.K, which is why we not only take onboard their recommendations and legal requirements, but also implement our own tailored Health & Safety conventions.

Manufacture and Storage
Our product manufacture facility currently covers around 23,000 sq. ft.  And we see that as 23,000 sq. ft where everything from the smallest stud bolts to the largest seamless pipe MUST be accounted for and stored safety and in line with HSE regulations.

Environmental Challenges
Although we don’t manufacture and work within the hostile environments our products are often designed for, we implement both legally required and additional product testing to make sure all our stud bolts, flanges and various other components perform with 100% reliability under pressure. In the cases of seamless pipe products we habitually put into practice supplementary testing such as liquid penetrant inspection and hydrogen induced cracking.

HSE Recommendations
The HSE is quick to point out that the simplest of component failures can result in millions of pounds worth of damage and potentially fatal accidents. Ongoing legislature and HSE campaigns push for complete component reliability, comprehensive product testing and the shunning of a “cutting corners in favour of lower costs” attitude throughout the petrochemical industry. We’re fully onboard with these recommendations and look forward to continuing our work producing top quality components.

Your one stop shop for pipe fittings

October 18th, 2011

We know that independent tradesmen and small business owners alike need all the good luck they can get these days, with the financial climate difficult and banks unwilling to lend to even the most successful small businessmen. However, there is still money to be made by those who understand the market, especially in practical trades for which there’ll always be a market, such as plumbing.

These days, all independent traders know that review sites and published ratings mean that even legitimate and skilled tradesmen can have their reputation tarnished by a single bad review or disgruntled customer. Building good reviews by being efficient and organised is therefore key to retaining a loyal customer base. According to the experts, the trick is to be prompt and professional, and never keep the customer waiting.

At ChemiPetro, we’re dedicated to helping our clients make their clients happy. One click with us can take your new bag of couplings or socket weld equipment right from our warehouse to your doorstep by tomorrow morning. That’s what we mean when we call ourselves a “one stop shop”; we’ve got everything pipe fittings, at an affordable price, and you can order it instantly. We’ve even got the industry expertise to give you good advice, and our people are trained to give you the very best customer service whenever you use us, however big or small your order. We keep you happy, meaning you can keep the customer happy, by never keeping them waiting.

Saving small business owners money

October 15th, 2011

New figures show that a quarter of small businesses will fail in their first year. These tricky financial times are hardest of all on small enterprises that are just starting up, many of whom are inexperienced, and juggling big business loans with learning to be their own boss. Those that survive do so by keeping it simple, going back to the nuts and bolts of their business- in the case of plumbing, quite literally- and then saving money wherever they can.

We never cut corners, which is why our pipe fittings are industry grade and as solid as they come, meaning they’ll never let you down. We trade online, meaning you can scroll through our catalogue for what you want, and find it, regardless of whether you call it seamless tube or seamless steel tubing. We’ve got an enormous in-stock range, which means we’ll try our best never to keep you waiting. That means you won’t have to keep your customers waiting, and in this day and age getting a reputation for being efficient can only do you and your business good.

So if you’ve got big ideas for your business, do what you can to keep it safe with these simple tips. Save money and time whenever you can, buy in bulk, buy online, and don’t wait for pipe fittings. Instead, choose a retailer willing to get them to you as soon as possible. Every little really does help when it comes to saving money for the future of your business.

What Is Duplex And Super Duplex?

September 27th, 2011

Duplex and Super Duplex are terms you will often see used in reference to steel pipes and pipe fittings. But what do these terms actually mean, and how can you know if you need products made from these materials?

Duplex and super duplex are manufactured steel materials with a complex of other alloys. Duplex consists of a combination of austenite and ferrite.
The beauty of Duplex is that it offers twice the strength of other steel, making for much stronger and durable pipes. Because of the added strength, they can often also be lighter in weight because the steel does not need to be as thick to still provide a sturdy product.

Pipes made from Duplex are more resistant to corrosion, pitting, and cracking. They are lower in nickel and molybdenum content than other steel pipes, often making them less expensive than other steel pipes.

The difference between Duplex and Super Duplex is that Super Duplex offers even more added strength due to extra chromium, molybdenum, and nitrogen content. This also means even more protection from pitting and crevice corrosion.

To put it briefly, Super duplex is simply a stronger, sturdier form of Duplex. Where you would use Duplex you can generally also use Super Duplex.

If you are thinking of using pipes and fittings made from one of these materials, but you aren’t sure which would better suit the job, feel free to get in touch. We are happy to assist you.

You can fcontact us by email at: sales@chemipetro.co.uk, or ring us on: 01384 239441 to speak to a member of staff.

Sourcing the Right Parts

September 20th, 2011

When it comes to any type of plumbing or pipe installation, it is incredibly important to have the right parts available to do the job. Installing the wrong pipes, fittings or flanges will not only cause immediate problems, but also create more significant issues further down the line. However, it is not always easy to get the “right” parts, especially when the ones you need aren’t standard seamless stainless steel pipe fittings.

Thankfully, there is a solution.

Here at Chemipetro, we are the premier manufacturer and stockist of the widest ranges of pipe fittings, fasteners, flanges and associated products in the UK. In addition, we also provide custom-made pipes that can be used for practically any type of application. Indeed, our many years of experience have provided us with an unrivalled expertise in creating precision-made items for custom requirements. In fact, there really is no piping product that we cannot cater for, so it doesn’t matter what type, shape or size you want your piping to be, we can take care of it for you. In addition, our range of standard parts includes pipes and products made from a variety of materials such as stainless steels and titanium.

You really will not find a better place to source all of your pipes, pipe fittings, fasteners and associated parts. To learn more, and to view our excellent products in greater detail, either take some time to browse our web pages further or contact one of our highly-trained customer service agents, today.

Types of Flange

September 20th, 2011

A flange is a device used for connecting two pipe fittings together, a pipe to a valve (or tee), or a pipe to a choke. There are various different types of flanges available:

Slip-on flange
This type of flange is bored to a somewhat larger size than the exterior diameter of the pipe. This allows the pipe to simply slip into the flange and be welded (inside and out) to prevent leaks.

Socket weld flange
Although similar to a slip-on flange, a socket weld flange requires a counter bore that is a little larger than the pipe’s exterior diameter.

Orifice flange
An orifice flange is generally used to meter the flow of a piped liquid or gas. In addition, jack screws are also required to broaden the flange so that an orifice plate situated between two flanges can be changed.

Weld neck flange
This type of flange is drilled in such a way that the thickness of the walls is made to match the dimensions of the pipe. A weld neck flange is most commonly used in high pressure and extreme temperature applications.

Blind flange
A blind flange has no bore and is typically used to close the ends of piping systems as it allows for easy access to a line once it has been sealed. Blind flanges can be made to accommodate a pipe of nominal size which has been reduced.

To find out more about flanges, fasteners and pipe fittings, explore our web pages further.

Introduction to Duplex Stainless Steel

September 20th, 2011

Duplex stainless steel was developed in the early 1990’s by metallurgists who were conducting research on combining metals for welding applications in the electric power industry. The metallurgists’ research found that the combination of austenite and ferrite in the same material created a new material that was incredibly resistant to the effects of corrosion. This new material was named “duplex” to reflect the fact that it was made up of a two phase micro-structure consisting mainly of ferritic and austenitic stainless steel.

Succesful and cost-effective
The potential of this new material was clear to see and in a very short time, it was proving to be very successful and cost-effective in a number of different ways. Indeed, not only were the constituent materials relatively inexpensive to source, but manufacturers also needed to use less of them to create their end product. This was because duplex ‘s corrosion resistant properties allowed products such as pipes and flanges to be made much thinner than comparable products made from more traditional materials.

Chemipetro
This revolutionary development in stainless steel has helped to completely transform the manufacturing and production industries. To reflect this, we here at Chemipetro offer a full range of flanges, pipes, fittings and other products made of duplex, as well as other materials. To find out more, and to view our products in greater detail, take some time to explore our web pages further or get in touch with one of our friendly customer service operators, today.

Why Choose Duplex or Super Duplex?

June 3rd, 2011

If you are seeking a particularly strong grade of stainless steel, a recommended material is duplex grade stainless steel.

Duplex is around twice as strong as normal steel, known as ferritic or austenitic, and also has a resistance to corrosion that ranks alongside certain austenitic steels. However, it contains less molybdenum and nickel and is therefore cheaper.

Duplex, because of its light weight and reduced section thicknesses, finds many uses, particularly in the gas and oil industry. It is also popular with companies working in high chloride or marine environments, and is suitable – in a variety called lean duplex – for storing ethanol.

Around 70 years ago, scientists in Scandinavia developed super duplex stainless steels to be used in the sulphite paper business. Super duplex has an extremely high tensile strength, and can beat ordinary steels in corrosion resistance by a long chalk.

Super duplex’s low thermal expansion rates make it suitable for components that undergo heat changes, such as heat exchangers and cooling pipes.

At Chemipetro Ltd, duplex and super duplex are among the materials we use extensively – we are among largest stockholders and manufacturers of flanges, pipe, pipe fittings, fasteners and associated products in duplex, super duplex and high nickel alloys.

As experts in this field, we can advise on the correct products and materials for your project, and also provide everything you need to get the job done. Our website is packed with detailed information, and we pride ourselves on maintaining the most exemplary of standards.

Round the Bend

November 18th, 2010

A pipeline by definition is a way of transporting fluids or gases from point A to point B. Ideally this is done in a straight line. But at some stage it will be necessary for the pipeline to run via point C and when this happens it is necessary to introduce a bend.

At Chemipetro we manufacture a range of pipe flanges and pipe fitting in a range of materials including duplex stainless steel. Part of that particular range of pipe fittings includes pipe bends.

To the non technical person, a bend in a pipe may seem unimportant, as it is just a change in direction. However, to the pipeline designer it is a vital matter to specify the correct type of bend.

We manufacture long and short radius bends as well as transition bends of various sizes, and it is not just a matter of direction that has to be taken into account when selecting the bend.

It takes force to move fluids or gas through a pipe, and this force is usually provided by a pump. The amount of force required is related to several factors but basically it is to overcome the resistance of the pipe itself and any restrictions in the pipeline. One of the biggest restrictions is bends. The tighter the radius of the bend the higher the restriction and therefore the bigger the pump required to overcome it. So, it is important to select the right type of bend for an installation to ensure that it runs as economically as possible.

Quality Assured

July 3rd, 2010

The petrochemical industry is well known for its use of the highest grade materials and equipment. The consequences of failures or mistakes can have a significant impact, not least on the environment. The recent events in The Gulf of Mexico are a timely reminder of this fact. We at Chemipetro understand this and so all of our products use the highest quality materials such as duplex and super duplex stainless steels.

When sourcing a supplier, you should ensure they have a commitment to quality, ideally with full traceability of all their pipe fittings and flanges, from the procurement of the raw materials, through the manufacturing process, to the final dispatch to the customer. Every stage of the production process should be monitored and recorded as part of a quality control process.

This sort of traceability ensures a supplier is able to meet the exacting requirements of their clients to ensure that the highest standards of materials and installation are attained.  In this sort of industry, quality must be taking seriously and by upholding such high standards, the environment can be protected from failures.

At Chemipetro, we are also the UK’s largest material and fittings stockholder serving the oil industry worldwide, ensuring that the materials our clients require are available exactly when they need them. Should problems arise we can provide a 24 hour emergency call out cover to give our clients reassurance in times of difficulty. Our quality control process complies with BS EN ISO 9001, which is fully approved by Lloyds Register Quality Assurance and means we can help meet the world’s energy demands.