From STEEL GRIPS online Europe ERW tube welding line for Arvedi, Italy Feb 4, 2010 A 12 ¾” ERW (Electric Resistance Welded) tube welding line for heavy wall thicknesses  has been commissioned  at Arvedi Tube Acciaio S.p.A. in Cremona, Italy. Only one year was needed, from excavation of the foundations to the successful commissioning. The line already achieved high production shortly after completion. The aim of the project was to develop a high-output line for producing high-end tubes in a wide range of sizes and material grades as well as with heavy wall thicknesses. A high degree of operational reliability of the equipment was also demanded. The solution was a tailor-made ERW tube welding line with conventional forming and the proven SMS Meer quick-change system for inline size changes on the URD stands (Uniform Rigid Design) and off-line roll changing as well as the quicksetting system. A computercontrolled, automatic roll-setting system and a chock-changing system allow maximum flexibility in operation. The line turns out highly demanding products such as hollows for cold-drawn cylinders, rear axles for trucks, line pipes, API tubes, round bars and sections, in diameters ranging from 114.3 mm to 323.9 mm. In spite of heavy wall thicknesses (up to 16 mm), a high maximum mill speed of up to 60 m/min is achieved. The mill went into production in Q4 2009. The annual production capacity can reach 150,000 t. © Copyright 2007 by GRIPS media