What steel pipe materials can an ERW line produce?

ERW lines are versatile. Shijiazhuang Faith MachineryCo.,Ltd configures ERW production trains to process a broad range of strip materials, though each material family carries specific handling and welding considerations. Below is an overview of commonly processed materials and the key process adaptations required for each.

Common materials suitable for ERW production

1. Low-carbon mild steels (cold-rolled and hot-rolled)

·Characteristics: Good formability, predictable weldability, economical.

·ERW considerations: Standard forming rolls and HF welding heads cover most sizes; minimal pre/post treatment required for many structural applications.

2. High-strength low-alloy (HSLA) steels

·Characteristics: Higher yield strength for lighter weight structures.

ERW considerations: Requires tighter control of heat input and cooling to avoid excessive HAZ hardening; welding parameters and roll pressures must be qualified for each grade.

3. Galvanized and pre-coated steels (GI, pre-painted) ·Characteristics:Coated for corrosion resistance or surface finish. IPRM

·ERW considerations: Surface protection measures (non-marking guides, low contact forces) and optimized welding parameters reduce coating burn-off; optional inline re- coating or seam treatment can restore local coating.

4. Alloy and micro-alloy steels

·Characteristics:Used where improved mechanical properties are required.

ERW considerations: Alloy content affects weldability; PQRs and qualified welding parameters are essential.

Practical limits and ranges

·Typical diameter ranges for ERW lines: small to medium diameters.

.Wall thickness ranges: commonly from ~0.6 mm up to several millimetres (8 mm or greater on heavy-duty ERW mills), depending on the mill’s forming roll capability and welding head power.

·Coil steel thickness and width: ERW lines accept typical coil gauges and widths compatible with forming geometry; machine selection should match intended product range.

Adaptations required for different materials

· Forming roll profile and material selection: Different materials require different roll radii, surface finishes and coatings (e.g., polyurethane sleeves for sensitive coatings).

·Welding power and frequency: Adjust HF power, frequency and contact design to suit conductivity and thermal diffusivity of the strip.

· Cooling and post-treatment: Add inline quenching, tempering or annealing where required by the metallurgical specification.

·Surface protection: For coated strip, include non-abrasive guides, low-force pinch rolls and optional seam re-coating or passivation.

Qualification and traceability

Each new material grade introduced to an ERW line should be validated through a formal qualification program: WPS/PQR development, sample production, mechanical testing, NDT verification and production-scale trials. Maintain traceability between coil MTRs and produced pipe lengths to support audits and field performance tracking.