Tube and Pipe
Spiral Pipe Mills

Meta Vision Systems is the world leading supplier of laser seam tracking systems for spiral pipe mills, with systems installed in environments from the Arctic Circle to the Equator. Our systems are commonly used for the complete range of spiral mill products, including piles, water pipes and oil and gas pipes. Many of our customers are API certified anduse laser seam tracking to ensure that high quality is maintained.

Quality Benefits

The main quality benefits from laser seam tracking result from the fact that the system ensures that the weld is made in the correct place in the joint all of the time. A unique feature of Meta’s advanced image processing software is the ability to locate the true root of the joint –even when edge bevelling is not constant. This means that root penetration is better controlled compared with either manual seam tracking or other, less capable, laser vision systems and results in more consistent interpenetration between ID and OD welds. Also, since the Meta system controls the vertical welding head position as well as the horizontal position, general weld quality is improved.

Productivity Benefits

The use of laser seam tracking is able to offer significant productivity benefits. This is not only because of the reduced manning needed to run the mill itself. Perhaps more importantly, as a result of the much lower defect rate, fewer repair welders are needed. This speeds up the whole flow of production through the factory.

Proven Applications

• ID welding on conventional mills
• OD welding on conventional mills
• online UT guidance
• tack welding on two stage mills
• ID welding on two stage mills
• OD welding on two stage mills
• off line UT guidance
• mismatch measurement
• gap measurement and control

Gap Control

The combination of:
• high resolution triple stripe sensor • advanced image processing algorithms
• extensive spiral mill experience
means that Meta is the only company which can offer credible gap control systems.