Technical Ceramics

HF Tube Welding Rolls

We use our advanced ceramic materials to make high performance welding rolls and guides for High Frequency - Electric Resistance Welding (HF-ERW) in continuous steel tube production.

Our welding rolls and guides are made using Nilcra® Zirconia, a tough monolithic ceramic material that maintains strength and hardness even at high temperatures, making it highly resistant to wear, deformation, galling and corrosion. It has a low coefficient of friction and even abrasive materials have minimal effect on its surface. Nilcra® Zirconia is ideal for use in ERW applications because it is non-conductive and is not affected by the resistance-welding field that operates in close proximity to the rolls. 

Use of Nilcra® Zirconia rolls and guides improve the surface finish of the tube and reduces scrap rates. Manufacturers benefit from reduced down time, better process efficiency and higher yields. Investment in tooling inventories can be correspondingly scaled down too. Unlike steel rolls, Nilcra® Zirconia rolls do not draw power from the ERW equipment, so they stay cooler, which enhances the bearing life and reduces energy consumption. 

For more information on our advanced ceramic welding rolls and guides for ERW applications in continuous steel tube production, contact us today. Or, for more information on our grades of zirconia, see our dedicated zirconia materials page.

Contact Tim Hazlehurst for more information

+44 7584684681