Specialised stainless steel distributor Euro Steel’s has made a significant 
investment in a new production plant, in Wadeville.

The company reports that the largest-diameter stainless steel pipe is traditionally 
imported from overseas suppliers, 
resulting in long lead times and high shipping and transport costs. Historically, the fabrication industry could not wait for the long production and shipping lead times and would roll and weld cans to form pipe – a crude, yet effective, method of producing pipe in an emergency.

However, the company reports
that few companies could produce a large-diameter pipe in one continuous 6-m length, conforming to stringent international specifications. Realising the need for a local producer, compliant with the international specifications of large-diameter pipe in the South African market, Euro Steel decided to set up a new stainless steel pipe plant.

The new plant has the latest technology with its Italian Davy Pramu pipe rolling machine 
coupled with the automated welding equipment from stick welding manufacturer Lincoln. The company is now able to produce large-bore longitudinal stainless steel welded pipe ranging between 12 inches and 80 inches in full 6-m lengths, 
locally, to any international specification.

To complement this new invest-
ment, Euro Steel has installed 
hydrostatic testing equipment, as well as in-house X-ray facilities. Further, the company has commissioned its own on-site pickling and passivating plant, which, it believes, allows for quick turn-
around time and high-quality products for the local stainless market.

The company recently delivered Euro Steels 800Nb big-bore pipe to paper manufacturer Mondi’s Richards Bay. This delivery formed part of a contract for over 50 t of stainless steel. Mondi will use the Euro Steel pipe in its odour abatement project, which aims to tackle the most significant sources of odour from the mill.

Euro Steel stocks and supplies a wide range of stainless steel products, including welded pipe and fittings.