Saudi Steel Pipe Company Ltd (SSP) passed its API audit in December with flying colours and is now in full pursuit of API 5L business in and around the Middle East for its new High Frequency Induction (HFI) welded steel pipe mill in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.

SSP's new factory was designed and engineered by DMS-France with considerable technical assistance provided by Shinho Steel of South Korea. At the heart of the system is a solid state HFI welding system (a technologically-advanced version of Electric Resistance Welding - ERW) provided by Elva of Norway.

In a system, a wide spectrum of operating variables will be continuously monitored to achieve the highest reliability of welding integrity.

Two unique features of the new mill are its continuous processing capability via a 200 Mt strip coil accumulator supported by a 20 Mt end-to-end coil joiner and a sophisticated strip edge milling machine from Linsinger (Austria) providing engineered strip edges to the welding station for more uniform joining.

Every component decision made, from the selection of computerised cage roll forming, ultrasonic inline/offline NDT and the industry's best seam annealing system was carefully studied with the goal of providing its customers with the industry's most reliable pipe product. Production, product development and Quality Assurance will be supported by a state of the art metallurgical laboratory.

SSP has long been recognised as Saudi Arabia's premier manufacturer of black and hot-dip galvanised welded steel pipe.

With an existing capacity of 80,000 tonnes per year, the company provides product from 1/2" to 4" in diameter to a wide range of wall thicknesses, lengths and industrial specifications.

The new plant moves the company into API 5L in support of the oil and gas industry with a rated capacity of 80,000 tonnes from 6" to 16" diameter, across the full range of API grades and wall thicknesses.

SSP is an industrial joint venture between Saudi entrepreneurs Rabiah & Nassar Co, Al Khorayef Sons Co and Fahad Moh'd Al Saja and Shinho Steel Company of South Korea.

For further information about the company and its products and services, see www.sspipe.com or contact John Breton, Product Development Manager: johnbreton@saudionline.com.sa