The Benefits of Using Induction Bending Process

Industrial & Manufacturing Blog

A wide range of pipe bending processes exists in the industry today. Some of the methods used include press bending, rotary draw bending, roll bending, packing, bending springs, and induction bending process. The nature of method used has a great effect on the quality of the pipe bends produced in the process. For this reason, induction bending process has proven to be one of the best methods to bend pipes.

Induction bending involves the use of a series of inductors to locally heat steel and other metals by induction, which results in a narrow heat band in the shape to be bent. A clamp is used to firmly hold the shape at the desired radius that is accurately mounted on a free pivoting arm. The formed shaped is then pushed through the inductor using an accurate drive system that induces the hot section of the metal pipe to form a bend at the target radius. Some areas of application for this process include petrochemical, power generation involving conventional and nuclear power, shipbuilding, and general construction. Check some reasons why most industries would prefer induction bending over other methods of pipe bending.

Better in Undertaking Smaller Radii

A big stride in evolution of induction pipe bending technology has led to significant advances. These include improvements in the dimensions and shape of the pipe bends produced. The induction bending process is highly automated and continuous from the start to the finish. This aspect gives the process ability to work on small radius bending which is a major challenge with most types of pipe bending processes. In addition, computer aided technology allows the use of multiple curves which leads to creation of many structures including railway stations, stadium roof beams, pedestrian bridges, and many others.

Reduction of Labour Costs

The process of induction bending uses bends in place of elbows which cuts down on labour costs. It also reduces cases of welding, which in turn eliminates inspection costs in the process. In addition, due to the reduced welds in the process, the structural integrity of the metal is maintained improving the quality of the bends produced in the process. Other advantages of induction bending process include:

  • It is a clean process and may not need any lubricants 
  • The bends can be made from the same base material as the straight pipe
  • The induction bends produced are stronger with uniform thickness
  • The process does not need mandrels or bend dies.

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