SOT Plant Switches Cold Bending Machine from Diesel to Electricity

Once in place, they will optimize the time and financial costs of equipment maintenance. The Italian-made T. M&D cold bending machine was commissioned in 2006 to produce pipe bends across the entire range of nominal diameters, from 426 mm to 1,420 mm. In the past, the bending machine was used in the field, along major pipeline routes. In recent years, however, it has remained deployed within the cold bending station of SOT plant, which has made it possible to switch the machine to electricity. As part of the retrofit, the machine's internal combustion engine has been replaced with an electric motor, eliminating fuel and lubricant costs and ruling out maintenance downtime during in the cold time of year. Experts have estimated potential savings at RUB 300,000 per 1,000 motor hours.

"Our plant has the technical capability to manufacture connecting pieces for pipelines of various complexity, including two cold bending machines – an Italian one and a Russian one", says SOT plant Executive Director Leonid Malamud, adding: "Cold-bent pipes with a bend radius of DN 40-60 are in high demand with our key customers: Gazprom and Transneft. That is why it is very important for us to utilize our equipment up to maximum capacity, thus ensuring that we fill the orders on time. Specifically, the cold bending station is currently making pipe bends for the Zapoliarye – Purpe Oil Pumping Station pipeline project".