Day two of the Global Petroleum Show has something for everyone.
If there is one thing the Global Petroleum Show in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, isn’t lacking it’s new technologies to make jobs easier for those working in the gas and oilfields across North America.
Miller Electric Mfg. Co., headquartered in Appleton, Wis., showcased some of this innovative equipment in one of the many outdoor exhibits at this year’s trade show.
“We try to package the equipment in a way that is feasible, or convenient, to use in the field,” said Joe Ryan, marketing segment manager for Miller. His primary focus area is process pipe welding. “We’ve eliminated control cables, we’ve made the equipment durable. It’s outside often.”
Miller showcased induction heating, sub arc, hydrogen reduction and dual-operator solutions. They also provided live welding demonstrations throughout the show on Tuesday and Wednesday.
One of the new technologies the company displayed to help contractors was its PipeWorx FieldPro.
“It was designed specifically for field welding,” Ryan said. “It comes with traditional Stick, TIG, MIG and Flux-Cored processes, and can run the advanced Regulated Metal Deposition and Pulsed MIG processes with the addition of the FieldPro Smart Feeder.”
The PipeWorx FieldPro System also brings remote control capabilities to the welder at the joint, eliminating travel to and from the power source, optimizing uptime, simplifying process changeover and helping to improve overall weld quality and productivity.
“The system simplifies cable management by eliminating all of the communication cables that cause clutter and hassle on job sites,” Ryan said.
All of the units Miller showcased could be hauled on a pickup truck for mobility.
“Portability is key for field welding,” Ryan said. “You still have to get it somewhere near electricity if it’s a plug-in unit, but if it’s a diesel, it’s generally on a trailer or a skid of some sort that is craned to a position where you need it.
“There are safety issues with making your laborers carry things, and there are rules against it. Once the equipment is installed on-site near electricity, we really try to focus on using remote control technologies to assist in portability.”
Miller also showed off its heat induction blankets, which are used to heat a pipe wall before and during welding to help maintain weld integrity.
The flexible, lightweight induction heating blankets come in a variety of sizes and are capable of preheat temperatures up to 400 degrees F. The blankets easily conform to circular and flat parts and install in a matter of seconds.
“The blanket is designed for a specific pipe size, anywhere from 8 5/8 inches all the way up to 72 inches,” said Kristi Endries, heating solutions specialist for Miller.
Victaulic, an Ontario-based company, also displayed its pipe-related technology in one of the indoor halls. The company manufactures grooved mechanical couplings and pipe-joining systems.
“Our technology makes it simple for anyone to put together two pipes, just by snapping them together with our couplings and tightening the bolts,” said Scott Frey, marketing manager for Victaulic.
The company displayed a series of pipes and valves all attached with its own couplings.
“Myself and another marketing person put this together in about 35 minutes,” Frey said. “We’re marketing people and know nothing about putting this stuff together, but we were able to figure it out in 35 minutes, that’s how easy it is.”
Technologies are changing — and fast — which means companies have to keep up.
The Global Petroleum Show wraps up today at 5 p.m.
Visit Gas, Oil and Mining Contractor at booth #4648 in the Upper Big Four building.
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