Bespoke Cold Welding Solution
Streamlines Tube Production
A customised cold welding system developed by British company PWM in partnership with US manufacturer Virtus Precision Tube ( formerly Luvata ) has streamlined and improved the process of copper tube production .
The system has improved uptime , reduced costs and created a better working environment for operators , according to Joe Napier , VPT ’ s Engineering Program Manager .
“ We produce over 40 million pounds of roll-and-weld copper tube each year , in sizes from 1 / 4 ” to 1 / 2 ”, he said . ” The cold welding system we have developed with PWM is part of our continuous improvement program . It supports our on-going drive to develop high-performance tubing solutions for the HVAC and refrigeration heat exchanger markets .
“ Copper strip is supplied in large narrow rolls and approximately every 20 minutes , the tail end of one roll has to be joined to the head of the next roll . The new cold welding process is more straightforward than the crossweld process we used for a decade , and works the first time , every time . It ’ s faster , easier to standardise , requires less operator input and training . Most advantageous of all , the new weld is stronger and capable of handling the tensions we place on the strip during tube production .”
Before approaching cold weld specialists PWM , VPT also tried alternative methods of joining strip such as brazing , dovetail profiles , lap joints and laser welding .
PWM successfully test welded VPT ’ s strip using a portable ST40 cold pressure welding machine ,
6 WIRE NEWS July 2018