Pines Technology

New Pipe-bending Machines Are Bigger and Better.

Bigger is better when it comes to the latest technology in tube- and pipe-bending machines.

Pines Technology recently shipped two machines that are impressive not simply in size but also in sophistication of the controls. The new Heavy Duty CNC 150s, which bend pipe for use in boilers and other petrochemical applications, are the first of 10 machines ordered by Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), the largest energy-related manufacturing and engineering firm in India. More

Insights Into In-sourcing.

IanRising material and transportation costs, higher carrying costs and lack of supply chain flexibility are changing the outsourcing equation for U.S. manufacturers.

By Ian Williamson, Pines Technology CEO

We are all hearing reports of a slowing economy and the long-term decline of the manufacturing sector. The media have long blamed cheap imports from China and India. Our customers, however, are seeing many new projects resulting from the repatriation of products formerly sourced overseas. More
Ask the Expert

TimHow do I know whether to choose a hydraulic or an electric bender?

Response by: Tim Kreja, New Product Manager.

I spend a lot of time in my position making sure that what the customer buys is what the customer needs—in other words, ensuring that the machine is the right one and has the proper configuration to effectively handle the job. When it comes to the question of hydraulic vs. electric, there are only few instances where one type of engine is required. More
Tech Tip: Changing Hydraulic Oil

Under normal conditions, you can use the hydraulic oil in your bending machine for up to 1,500 hours of operation. Certain factory conditions such as excess dust or moisture can shorten the life of hydraulic oil. When oil has become partially oxidized and has lost its rust prevention and detergent-action properties, your machine may not perform as accurately or efficiently.

Use the following procedure to clean out the hydraulic system and change the oil in your machine:

• Add a gum solvent (in an amount proportionate to the oil capacity of the
machine) to the hydraulic oil and continue to operate the bender for 20
hours of normal production.
• After 20 hours, drain the oil and clean out the oil reservoir with a light solvent.
• Refill the machine with the proper type and amount of oil

Orders Up!

Pines Technology thanks all of our customers, including the following industry leaders, for allowing us to fulfill their equipment needs.
Aeroquip Group, Eaton Corp.
American Metal Products
Anchor Coupling Company
Arrowhead Products
Babcock & Wilcox
Betts Industries
The Boeing Company
Bombardier
Bostrom Seating
Bruckner Supply Company
Bunn-O-Matic Corp.

Caterpillar Inc.
Cybex International
Devilbiss Air Power Company
Dresser Rand
FM Precision Golf Mfg.
Ferguson Integrated Services
Fuji Industry CorporationInvacare
Kohler Inc.
Lennox Mfg. Inc.
Mueller Industries Inc.
National Tank Company

Oriskany Mfg. Technologies
Parker Hannifin Corp.
Rheem Mfg. Co.
Royal Seating Corp.
Seminole Tubular Products
TI Group Automotive Systems
Unarco Industries
Yokohama Aerospace
York International/IMECO

New Pipe-bending Machines Are Bigger and Better

Bigger is better when it comes to the latest technology in tube- and pipe-bending machines.

Pines Technology recently shipped two machines that are impressive not simply in size but also in sophistication of the controls. The new Heavy Duty CNC 150s, which bend pipe for use in boilers and other petrochemical applications, are the first of 10 machines ordered by Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), the largest energy-related manufacturing and engineering firm in India.

“They selected us based on two main criteria: 1) technical competence and 2) cost,” says Ian Williamson, CEO of Pines Technology. “We were up against a whole host of people, including other U.S. manufacturers. They eliminated all of the manufacturers except Pines and two European companies. Ultimately, they recognized our long-proven competence in building such equipment and integrating the necessary support systems. The position of the U.S. dollar vs. the Euro at the time of purchase was also in our favor.”

In addition, Williamson notes, BHEL has a solid history with Pines, as it already owns several of the company’s machines. To earn the business, Pines had to comply with a 60-page list of requirements for the new machines that would both improve the efficiency of BHEL’s manufacturing processes and allow the company to build boilers more efficient at producing steam for energy generation.

“While the physics for bending tubes hasn’t changed over the years,” Williamson noted, “the control systems of the machines have gotten more complex. The new machines we’ve built feature the powerful and proven design characteristics of the traditional Pines equipment plus the benefits of new, user-friendly controls, programmable setup, automatic pipe loading and robust material handling.”

The CNC 150s—as well as the even larger CNC 250s, which Pines will begin producing shortly—offer the following customer benefits:
  • controllable wall thinning on the outside of the bend,
  • programmable tool and pressure settings,
  • serrated Booster Jaws for grip and push to control wall thinning,
  • faster setup,
  • repeatability,
  • less scrap,
  • increased capacity and productivity,
  • spring-back control,
  • improved safety with autoloader,
  • less welding (lower resulting labor cost and reduced quality risk),
  • split-die tooling for 180-degree bending,
  • adaptability (easy to add options),
  • quick tool change, and
  • increase in output.
This new technology, while designed specifically for the boiler-making industry, positions Pines well for future advances.


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Insights Into In-Sourcing

Rising material and transportation costs, higher carrying costs and lack of supply chain flexibility are changing the outsourcing equation for U.S. manufacturers.
By Ian Williamson, Pines Technology CEO

We are all hearing reports of a slowing economy and the long-term decline of the manufacturing sector. The media have long blamed cheap imports from China and India. Our customers, however, are seeing many new projects resulting from the repatriation of products formerly sourced overseas. For example, Pines recently sold a machine to a furniture-component manufacturer contracted to make metal chair parts that used to be imported from China. The manufacturer’s client had overlooked the following issues when deciding to source these components overseas:
  • A full container of components takes three to four weeks to reach Los Angeles.
  • Clearing customs and delivery to the U.S. factory adds another week.
  • The parts must be paid for before they leave China.
  • Additional personnel are needed to administer the contract, arrange for shipping and deal with the extra paperwork.
  • Inventory carrying costs are much higher.
When making the parts in the United States:
  • Delivery from the component manufacturer to the customer is 1.5 hours, allowing just-in-time delivery of relatively small buckets of parts.
  • Payment terms are net 45 days (or more).
  • Specifications can be changed without worrying about the five weeks of inventory in the pipeline.
  • Any quality issues can easily be dealt with without the confusion resulting from translation issues.
Parts may be cheaper when made in China, but companies are discovering that the logistics costs, which continue to rise, often more than negate such cost savings. For tubular products, which are mostly air, the weight isn’t an issue. But because tubes don’t pack tightly in a container, shipment size increases. Manufacturing such products in the United States eliminates many of the logistics issues and actually proves to be cost-effective.

As more U.S. manufacturers begin to examine all of the costs involved, they will see the benefits of in-sourcing their products.


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Ask the Expert

How do I know whether to choose a hydraulic or an electric bender?
Response by: Tim Kreja, New Product Manager

I spend a lot of time in my position making sure that what the customer buys is what the customer needs—in other words, ensuring that the machine is the right one and has the proper configuration to effectively handle the job. When it comes to the question of hydraulic vs. electric, there are only few instances where one type of engine is required.

For instance, for pipes smaller than one-quarter inch in diameter, an electric bender is the only choice because hydraulic cylinders can’t be made that small. On the flip side, hydraulic is the only viable option for pipes larger than 4 inch IPS because of the level of power that’s needed.

Other than that, electric and hydraulic machines—as well as hybrids of the two— typically are capable of handling the same jobs. Considering the following may help you make your decision:

While hydraulics are very powerful and reliable—the technology has been around for a long time—disposing of the waste can be more expensive and difficult.

Electric technicians are relatively easy to find; fewer technicians today are schooled in hydraulics. If you have in-house technicians who can troubleshoot hydraulic systems, then maintenance of these machines is not an issue. If you’ll be servicing the machine externally, an electric drive may be a better option.

Overall, when deciding which bender to purchase, you should focus on the features it offers and whether it can meet the requirements for your product line. The overall level of sophistication has the greatest impact on the machine cost. Don’t forget to factor in the maintenance and repair costs as part of the life cycle cost of the machine.

To submit a question to Ask the Expert, please send e-mail to asktheexpert@pinestech.com


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