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The global market of HDPE pipes for the transport of pressurized fluids shows a continuous and growing interest in large-diameter thick-walled pipes, considering that lines for pipes with two-meter (6.56 ft.) diameter and wall thicknesses greater than 140 mm (5.5 in.) are already commonplace today. Sica, thanks to over fifty-year of experience in the development and marketing of downstream machinery for plastic pipe extrusion lines, has produced and installed numerous machines dedicated to the haul-off and cutting of large diameter and thickness HDPE pipes.
The new Sica P3500/24 Plus multi-caterpillar haul-off, capable of hauling pipes up to 3.5 m (138 in.) diameter, represents the new technical reference in the downstream machinery world for extremely large HDPE pipe extrusion lines. Despite being able to achieve maximum pulling force equal to 900000N (≈ 200890 lbf) using all its 24 caterpillars, it still guarantees reduced energy consumption thanks to the adoption of high-performance mechanical transmissions and requires minimum level of maintenance.
To confront the oily behavior of polyolefins, all rubber pads of the caterpillars are made with new and special compounds. Their specific anti-wear properties combined with high contact friction, allow highly effective gripping action and a surprising increase in the average life of the pads.
To avoid malfunctioning on these extraordinary dimensions lines, the new haul-off has been equipped with cutting edge management software and specific devices that constantly check the efficiency state of the machine during the pulling phase. Examples of these devices are: redundant encoders for precise speed monitoring, and digital pressure sensors for continuous monitoring of working pressures and caterpillar tensioning force. Moreover, the independent control of each caterpillar makes this machine extremely versatile despite its considerable size and allowing a particularly wide range of processable diameters (from DN2000 to DN3500). Robust pipe supports with electric handling both on entry in and exit from the haul-off complete the standard equipment, making the management of the pipes simplified and safe, despite the sizes and extreme weights.
As Sica stresses, its proposal for haul-offs for HDPE lines is complete, and combines maximum performance and minimum energy consumption, ease of use and process versatility, operational safety and environmental awareness, all of which are indispensable today.
