ThyssenKrupp VDM, one of the world’s leading suppliers of nickel alloys and special stainless steels, has further optimized some of its high performance materials for use on drilling platforms and in pipelines. With experts forecasting continued high demand for oil and gas and long term rising prices, this is also an interesting growth market for ThyssenKrupp.
It is cold and dark at 2,500 meters below the ocean’s surface. The task is to lay pipelines for oil and gas production. Increasing pressure at ever greater depths and the high salt content of the deep-sea water pose major challenges for the people and technologies involved and call for highly specialized products.
ThyssenKrupp VDM has been supplying high-performance materials for oil and gas production for many years: high alloy special stainless steels and nickel alloys for use on drilling platforms and in pipelines. They are used to manufacture oil and gas pipelines, power and chemical supply lines, pipe supports and sucker rods. Dr. Rainer Behrens, project manager at ThyssenKrupp VDM said that the safe exploration and production of raw materials for energy generation calls for very special materials, such as Nicrofer 4320Ti, which ThyssenKrupp VDM now produces by an optimized process. He added that "The introduction of new equipment in recent years has significantly enhanced our melting and hot shaping capabilities. The knowledge we have gained has now been transferred step by step to the highly complex production process for Nicrofer 4320Ti."
ThyssenKrupp VDM holds a significant share of this market segment, which it is looking to increase. ThyssenKrupp VDM supplies bar materials which are fabricated by customers into products such as flanges, valves and retaining bars in diameters of 150 to 400 millimeters. Nicrofer 4320Ti is a proven and reliable material for these applications. Dr Behrens said that "Our existing customers are very enthusiastic, and new customers have been attracted. The good mill products we have manufactured using the optimized production process have convinced even more customers of the advantages offered by Nicrofer 4320Ti."
