For a shutdown or turnaround, machines are needed that can operate on the pipe in situ, performing strictly cold machining and without the use of open flames. In the phases of plant downtime, the most used equipment are portable pipe bevelers for diameters up to 16″, flanked by pipe cutters for large diameters in cases where more substantial restorations are required. For those planning to buy, the GBC range offers machines designed to cover a wide variety of diameters, equipped with pneumatic or hydraulic power.

Why plant downtime changes the criteria for choosing machines

In a scheduled shutdown, the work window is defined in advance, and every hour of delay impacts the calendar of all the teams involved. Those who buy equipment for scheduled maintenance usually look for a machine that mounts directly on the pipe where it is located, performs cutting and beveling in a single phase and allows you to restart immediately with welding without recovery work.

Then there is the issue of hot work. In process plants, national safety regulations and internal procedures of operators generally provide for a hot work permit for operations that generate flames or sparks near the lines, together with the setting up of fire-fighting devices and dedicated controls. The rules vary from country to country and from site to site, but the practical result is the same: where the use of flame involves permits, safeguards and extra time, cold cutting greatly simplifies planning.

For this reason, GBC Industrial Tools machines are specifically designed for work in the field. The entire range, with the sole exception of the GB CUT flame pipe cutter, operates cold and avoids the formation of heat-affected zones. The manufacturer offers versatile portable pipe cutters and pipe bevelers, which can be used with maximum effectiveness both in the workshop and directly on site.

Portable pipe beveling machines up to 16″: the most commonly used equipment in retainers

According to GBC’s direct experience, in plant shutdowns and power plants, the most used machines are pipe bevelers with a capacity of up to 16 inches. These are portable pipe bevelers designed to prepare the ends of the pipes to be rewelded directly on site, performing V-bevels, J-bevels, turning or internal and external tapering.

In  the category of portable pipe bevelers, the choice of equipment is mainly oriented towards the diameter to be machined:

• the Boiler series and the Superboiler T5 cover medium-small internal diameters, up to 207 mm with the T5 model;
• the Supermaxi 4_16 works from 94.5 to 318.5 mm in internal diameter, reaching 418 mm (equal to 16.45″) through the special extension kit;
• the Supermaxi 7_24 manages diameters from 180 to 504 mm, extending its capacity up to 24″ with the use of the relative kit.

The machines of the Supermaxi series perform turning, tapering and internal and external beveling operations using interchangeable tools, ensuring maximum operational flexibility thanks to pneumatic, hydraulic, electric or brushless motors. Designed specifically for on-site construction sites, for the Oil & Gas sector and for offshore applications, they find in the Supermaxi 4_16 the ideal solution for working on thick-walled pipes typical of Oil & Gas. The use of interchangeable tools also allows bevels with different shapes and angles to be made using the same machine.

For machining on smaller diameters, the range offers the Mini series, the TC series and the Boiler line. Specifically, the Mini series and the Boiler pipe beveler are also available in a battery-powered version, while the TC series models have been specially developed to operate in extremely confined spaces.

Pipe cutter for flameless pipe restoration

When the plant shutdown requires substantial interventions, such as the restoration or replacement of entire sections of pipe, and the flame is not usable, GBC offers the portable pipe cutters of the MCA Cutter, FAST and Supercutter series, equipped with pneumatic or hydraulic power supply standards. This equipment allows you to perform the cutting and simultaneous chamfering of the pipe for subsequent welding directly on the point where the pipe is located.

Three models make up this offer:

• the MCA Cutter works from 33.4 to 1095 mm in external diameter, performs simultaneous cutting and beveling and is equipped with a body that can be divided into two sections, a feature that allows a single operator to easily position it at any point on the line;
• the FAST covers a range of diameters from 153 to 1545 mm (6″-60″), also has a two-part structure and integrates, unique in the range, a self-centering device with high-grip jaws that drastically reduces positioning times while ensuring high stability; the angular gearbox on the motor reduces its overall dimensions to operate even in confined spaces;
• the Supercutter covers diameters from 168 to 1530 mm, has a body that can be opened to allow installation at any point of the pipe and uses an external profile copying system capable of compensating for any ovalization of the pipe. In this model, the tools are made to measure according to the type of machining required, while the upper jaws show the indication of the diameters that can be machined to speed up the zeroing and assembly phase.

In a standstill system, the speed of positioning affects the overall time as much as the cutting speed. The simplicity of assembly on site, the FAST self-centering system and the cold working drastically reduce the accessory phases that revolve around the actual cutting operation. All three models perform cutting and chamfering at the same time and can be integrated, in addition to the standard versions, also with electric or brushless motors.

For larger diameter lines, the range of pipe cutters extends further with dedicated models capable of covering pipes up to 100 inches in diameter.

How to plan your purchase before the stop

The preparation of a turnaround starts with a detailed analysis of the list of lines to be processed: this is the ideal time to discuss with the manufacturer, when the technical and logistical choices are still open. GBC offers a specific configuration for each case, defined on the basis of diameters, thicknesses, materials, available access spaces and extension of on-site power supplies. A simple list of lines complete with diameters and materials is enough to start the dialogue and allow technicians to indicate the most suitable models and engines to be combined with each intervention.

In addition to direct sales, GBC offers a machine rental service, which can be supplied with or without an operator, to respond promptly even when plant downtime is short or undergoes last-minute changes.

A final fundamental criterion for those planning the purchase concerns full compatibility with the entire range of industrial materials. GBC machines work with maximum effectiveness on carbon, stainless steel, duplex and Inconel, allowing the same fleet of machines to serve different lines within the same plant. For non-standard operational needs, the tube cutting line also includes the possibility of using completely custom-made tools.

Discover GBC  portable pipe beveling machines and cold pipe cutters. To set up the technical equipment for the next shutdown, describe the diameters, materials and power supplies available to the GBC technical team: you will receive the proposal of machines and accessories tailored to your line list.