Our electric resistance welded (ERW) automotive and mechanical tubing is available in an extensive range of capabilities provided by our seven North American facilities, each offering unique characteristics.
Tubing can be supplied as rounds, squares and rectangles as well as a wide variety of special shapes. It can be fully annealed or stress relieved for improved formability.
ArcelorMittal Tubular Products is a leader in the supply of advanced high strength steel (AHSS) and high-strength low-alloy (HSLA) grades, which offer a distinct advantage in strength/weight ratio, potentially reducing both section weight and overall unit costs.
Capabilities
A comprehensive range of tubular products are available within ArcelorMittal Tubular Products North America:
Size capability may vary by specification and facility. Please inquire for more specific information.
Manufacturing process
In ERW tubing, slit to width flat steel strip passes through a series of tooling rolls that progressively cold form it into a tubular shape. Using high frequency induction, heat is generated by the natural resistance of the steel to an electric current which is confined to the narrow strip edges in the weld vee. Once the proper temperature is reached, the two edges are forced together by pressure rolls to create the weld. Unlike MIG welding, no extraneous metal is added during the process, so the weld has the same composition as the body of the tube. The forging process expels material which removes impurities creating a small amount of outside and inside weld flash.
The inside weld flash is treated differently depending on customer requirements.
- When the ID is non-functional, or an inside fit is relatively unimportant, the specific application will determine the appropriate ID flash condition.
- When the ID is functional, the flash is controlled to within a specified height from the tube’s inside surface. There are several degrees of flash control available.
Following the flash control process, the tube is cooled and sized to the specified round or shaped dimensions by a series of finishing rolls and is then cut to order length.
