Product category:
Tanks, pipework, nozzles, tube fittings
News Release from: Parker Instrumentation | Subject: Quality of low cost fittings
Edited by the Processingtalk Editorial
Team on 26 November 2007
Quality of lowest cost 'economy' tube
fittings
Globalisation has led to significant new competition from low-cost producers in high volume product categories that can be copied easily: industrial tube fittings are no exception
The leading tube fitting designer and manufacturer Parker Instrumentation has published a white paper that details tests made on products from an example 'low cost producer' As many fittings end up being used on plants processing harsh media, or in environments that are corrosive, users need to be aware of the potential implications of choosing parts based mainly on cost criteria
This article was originally published on Processingtalk on 14 May 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
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In conjunction with the University of Plymouth, Parker Instrumentation subjected an example low cost producer tube fittings to a test programme involving optical, scanning electron microscope and laser microscopy observation, plus traditional mechanical performance measurements and corrosion tests.
The results clearly demonstrate that the use of poor quality steel - containing lots of inclusions and impurities - and the subsequent processing treatments, resulted in poor end products with little resistance to corrosion.
The test results show for example, the onset of corrosion after only 24 hours of exposure to salt spray - a common problem in offshore environments.
"Buying goods on price alone can be an extremely poor decision.
Tube fitting failure can have disastrous consequences in a large proportion of common applications.
Parker views it as no less than critical that users carefully consider the design and production process before making a purchasing decision," says Parker Instrumentation R+D director Spencer Nicholson.
"Copying a design and producing a 'look alike' part is easy, but that does not make it fit for purpose.
The material for our own tube fittings comes exclusively from high quality European sources, and is subjected to an independent intergranular corrosion test before product manufacturing even begins.
This is followed by a number of unique processing stages aimed at optimising reliability and corrosion resistance". Request a free brochure from Parker Instrumentation ...
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