This section provides an overview for seamless pipes as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 13 seamless pipe manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked seamless pipe companies as of November, 2024: 1.Totten Tubes Inc, 2.U. S. Steel Tubular Products Inc, 3.American Piping Products Inc..
Table of Contents
A seamless pipe is a pipe with no joints in the longitudinal direction of the pipe.
Steel pipes are generally manufactured by rounding steel plates into a cylindrical shape and welding them together. However, the presence of joints in pipes can lead to serious accidents in terms of strength and reliability, such as crude oil leaking from pipes depending on the intended use.
Seamless pipes are manufactured using the Mannesmann method or other methods that do not produce joints that could cause a reduction in strength. Since there is no risk of defects occurring at joints, seamless pipes are used when high strength and reliability are required.
Seamless pipes are widely used to transport fluids such as gas, oil, and water. There are also many types of seamless steel pipes, as there are also pipes for construction applications.
Since the materials and standards of seamless pipes vary depending on the application, it is necessary to select the seamless pipe that best suits each purpose. Examples of specific applications include oil and natural gas facilities, boiler tubes for thermal power plants, and high-pressure piping for industrial machinery.
The Mannesmann process is the typical manufacturing method for producing seamless pipe. It is the most productive way to produce seamless pipe. Simply put, the Mannesmann method forms pipes from round bars, not steel plates. Since the pipe is formed from a round bar, no joints are created.
In the mannequin method, the material for the round bar-shaped pipe, called billet, is first heated to a high temperature (about 1,300°C) until it becomes bright red. When the billet is ready to be rolled, a tool called a plug (for seamless pipe bore forming) is pressed against the center of the billet to form it into a pipe.
If the plug is just pressed against the billet as it is, the billet will be pushed out to the outside and will not be formed into a pipe shape. Therefore, the billet is formed by holding the outer circumference with rolls such as cone and barrel molds. The material pushed out by the plug is pushed forward, so the outside shape can be formed while the inside diameter is formed.
In general, severe rolling of hot billets inevitably results in deterioration of surface properties. Similarly, thick-walled products, which are subjected to a lighter rolling process, are relatively easier to produce. However, there are now companies that specialize in thin-wall processing despite seamless piping. They range from ultra-thin small-diameter seamless pipes with a thickness of 0.08 mm to large-diameter seamless pipes with a diameter of 426.0 mm, the largest diameter ever manufactured in Japan.
The difference between seamless pipe and welded pipe is the use of welding in the pipe manufacturing process. The reason why seamless pipe is needed in the first place is that "grooved corrosion" occurs at welded joints.
This groove corrosion is a V-shaped corrosion that occurs on the weld (inside) of the pipe. Because welding is generally accompanied by high temperatures, changes in the metallurgical structure of the joint are inevitable. The difference in microstructure between the weld and the base metal causes a potential difference, which in turn causes corrosion. Once corrosion occurs, the formation of grooves accelerates corrosion, which eventually reaches the surface of the pipe or leads to fluid leakage due to lack of strength. This is the mechanism of grooved corrosion.
The primary reason for selecting seamless pipes is to prevent groove corrosion, but there is also a type of welded pipe called groove corrosion-resistant steel pipe. Groove corrosion-resistant steel pipes are made by adjusting the molecular composition of the base material (reducing sulfur content) and adding special elements to the weld zone. They are more expensive than ordinary pipes, but not as expensive as seamless pipes, and are widely used for liquids that pose no risk of leakage, such as water.
This section describes the price difference between seamless pipe and welded pipe (ERW pipe is used here as an example). Here, as an example, we consider SUS304 as the material. The price of a seamless pipe is about 1.5~2 times higher than that of an ERW pipe. The price difference is small when the pipe diameter is small, but the larger the diameter, the larger the price difference.
When considering a whole plant, the price of piping alone is 1.5~2 times higher than that of a single pipe, so the price difference is not that great when replacing a part of the piping, but when constructing a new plant, the overall cost changes significantly. Therefore, it is important to select appropriate piping according to the fluid to be handled to reduce costs.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Totten Tubes Inc, founded in 1955, is an American manufacturer based in Azusa, California, specializing in custom tubing services. The company offers rectangular, structural round, and square steel tubing, along with structural steel pipes crafted from an array of materials including carbon steel, galvanized steel, seamless steel, and stainless steel. It also provides jumbo hollow structural sections (HSS) steel tubes, which find prevalent use in various large-scale industrial steel construction. Custom tubing services, such as tube laser cutting, are also available. The company caters to various industries through its capabilities, including aftermarket automotive, agricultural equipment, commercial construction, industrial racking, and steel fabrication.
United States Steel Corporation, founded in 1901 and headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, is a manufacturer and supplier of tubular products for the energy sector. Their extensive product range encompasses different tubular goods, including casing, tubing, and line pipe, pivotal in the oil and gas industries. These products are utilized for drilling, exploration, and transportation of energy resources. United States Steel Corporation plays a critical role in supporting the energy infrastructure by delivering quality tubular products that adhere to stringent company standards. The company also enhances the efficiency and reliability of energy operations.
American Piping Products Inc., founded in 1994 in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, is a manufacturer of carbon, specialty, and steel pipes, tubing, and related products. The company manufactures a diverse range of products, including seamless and welded steel pipes, tubes, flanges, and fittings, for optimal strength, durability, and corrosion resistance, making them essential for applications that need genuine fluid transport and structural support. Industries spanning from oil and gas to power generation and chemical processing use the offerings for pipeline construction, equipment manufacturing, and infrastructure development. It has an ISO 9001:2015 certification and operates throughout the nation, serving multiple industries.
ANSSEN Metallurgy Group Co., Ltd., located in Dalian, China, is a manufacturer of metallurgical and mechanical products and equipment. The company specializes in making graphite electrodes, plasma electrodes, lifting plugs, torque wrenches, and carbon anodes. It also produces finned tubes, valves, carbon steel seamless pipes, casting products, and forged products. Its graphite electrodes are important conductive materials in the smelting industry with good electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and mechanical strength. It serves various industries, including steel, foundry, and precious metals smelting.
Oshwin Overseas, established in 1999, is a manufacturer and supplier based in Mumbai, India, specializing in high nickel alloy and stainless steel products. The company produces stainless steel seamless pipes and tubes that increase durability due to the absence of weak points, reduce the risk of corrosion, and allow more efficient flows due to smoother internal surfaces. Other products include instrument fittings, instrumentation valves, buttweld fittings, and flanges. These products are utilized in diverse industries such as medical, structural engineering, oil and gas, marine, and aerospace. Oshwin Overseas holds ISO 45001:2018 and ISO 14001:2015 certifications.
Permanent Steel Manufacturing Co., Ltd., established in 2004, is an Chinese manufacturer based in Changsha, Hunan, specializing in carbon steel pipe, hollow sections, and piping equipment. The company offers various types of carbon steel pipes, ranging from electric resistance welded (ERW) and longitudinal submerged arc welding (LSAW) to spiral submerged arc welded (SSAW) steel pipes. It also provides stainless steel (SS) pipes, encompassing seamless and welded variants. Furthermore, the company provides hollow sections, comprising rectangular and square stainless steel tubes, alongside ERW rectangular and square tubes. The company also supplies other products including pipe fittings, piping spools, cable protectors, and coatings.
Bri-Steel Manufacturing is based in Canada as a manufacturer of Large Diameter Seamless Steel Pipes. The company makes seamless Carbon-Steel pipes and Low-Temp pipes that undergo various processes starting with Thermal Pipe Expansion, then they are assessed with a laser measurement system for the straightening procedure. The pipes are then cropped and the fragments are sent for destructive testing while the pipes are descaled and are further sent for non-destructive and Hydro testing and a few other processes. These pipes are used as a resource for industrial, mechanical, and construction industries.
Husteel Industry Group, established in 1967 in Tianjin, Jiangsu, China, is a manufacturer of steel products, such as steel pipes, tubes, and welded pipes. The company manufactures various products, including seamless steel pipes, welded steel pipes, and steel plates, that come with structural integrity, resistance to corrosion, and adaptability, which makes them crucial for construction, industrial, and engineering applications. Industries ranging from oil and gas to construction and manufacturing rely on the products for infrastructure development, equipment fabrication, and structural components. With a global network, ISO 9001:2015 certification, it continues to serve with optimal steel solutions for various industries.
Jiangsu Haotie Metal Products Co., Ltd, established in 2021 in Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu, China, is a manufacturer of stainless steel products. The company manufactures various steel products, including stainless steel pipes, tubes, flanges, and fittings that come with corrosion resistance, optimal tensile strength, and durability, making them essential for various applications requiring genuine metal components. Sectors such as petrochemicals, energy, architecture,and automotive use the products for fluid transportation, structural support, and equipment manufacturing. The advanced technology and precision machining ensure the products are optimal for industrial uses and are available at reasonable prices.
Shandong Tisco Steel Group Co., Ltd, founded in 2000 and headquartered in Tai'an, Shandong, China, is a manufacturer of stainless steel and nickel alloy products. The company produces a diverse range of steel products, including stainless steel sheets, coils, plates, nickel alloy, and hatelloy products that have corrosion resistance, optimal strength, and aesthetic appeal, making them ideal for applications requiring durability and flexibility. Industries spanning from construction and architecture to automotive and manufacturing use the products for structural components, decorative finishes, and industrial equipment. Delivering over 300,000 tons monthly, it operates globally and specializes in B Stainless steel products.
Xuzhou Global Precision Steel Tube Co. Ltd, established in 2003 and headquartered in Jiang Su, China, is a manufacturer of development and production of seamless steel tubes. The company's products include galvanized cold-drawn steel tubes for hydraulic and pneumatic lines. It offers customized solutions for automotive, engineering machinery, and hydraulic systems, equipped with testing equipment such as non-destructive eddy current inspection, high-pressure testing machines, and metal element analyzers. The company has been honored with 'Technology Enterprise,' 'High-tech Enterprise,' and 'Research and Development Center of High Precision Hydraulic Steel Tube Technology' accolades.
Golden Asia Industrial Co. Ltd, founded in 1999 and based in Taiwan, is a manufacturer and supplier of carbon steel pipe and hard chrome piston rods. The company specializes in steel tubes, hard chromed bars, and hydraulic cylinder components. Its products include cylinder tubes, piston rods, and chrome shafts, and it serves the construction, mining, and agriculture industries. Its advanced equipment and rigorous testing ensure precision in 5mm to 500mm diameters. The company is honored with the "12th Rising Star" and "The Model of Taiwanese Entrepreneur" awards by the Taiwanese government.
Yamamoto Special Steel Co., Ltd., established in 1969 with headquarters in Osaka, Japan, is a distributor and supplier of stainless steel and stainless steel piping. The company's products include seamless stainless steel pipes, duplex stainless seamless pipe, duplex seamless fittings, and bright annealed coil. These products have numerous applications and are used in ignition components, heat exchangers, flue gas desulfurization equipment, and chemical processing equipment. It also offers custom stainless steel pipe processing on demand. The company serves markets including food processing, automotive, chemical processing, power generation, and water desalination.
Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | Totten Tubes Inc |
18.0%
|
2 | U. S. Steel Tubular Products Inc |
16.2%
|
3 | American Piping Products Inc. |
12.1%
|
4 | Bri-Steel Manufacturing |
9.3%
|
5 | Permanent Steel Manufacturing Co.,Ltd |
7.1%
|
6 | ANSSEN Metallurgy Group Co.,Ltd |
6.1%
|
7 | Oshwin Overseas |
6.0%
|
8 | YAMAMOTO SPECIAL STEEL Co.,Ltd. |
5.7%
|
9 | Husteel Industry Group. |
5.5%
|
10 | Jiangsu Haotie Metal Products Co., Ltd |
4.3%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the seamless pipe page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
China | 5 | 45.5% |
United States of America | 3 | 27.3% |
India | 1 | 9.1% |
Canada | 1 | 9.1% |
Japan | 1 | 9.1% |