Cold forming bends in metal pipes has been done for years. However, induction pipe bending is often now favoured for a number of technical as well as commercial reasons. Put simply, this method uses a coil that is placed around a pipe to raise its temperature. When the metal pipe is sufficiently heated consistent levels of pressure are applied to the pipe to reshape it with the desired bend. Let's examine some of the principal reasons why cold formed pipe bends are less common nowadays.

Precision Turn Engineering

By comparison with cold forming techniques used to bend pipes, heat induction bending is a lot more accurate. Essentially, induction pipe benders are able to form metal pipework in such as way that minimises the deformation of the material when it is bent. Indeed, the level of distortion that occurs across the cross section of a pipe is noticeably lower when tighter radii of bends are called for. This is because cold forming tends to be weaker when metal is overworked which is often the case when tight turns are needed. In short, smoother curves are created when induction-based methods are used.

Greater Consistency

The modern hot bending procedure now widely used in the leading fabrication and manufacturing centres is also preferred over cold bending because the pipe walls tend to maintain their structure better. This means that problems of thinning pipe walls and rippling effects are lessened and non-existent in many cases. Circular pipes will appear less oval and, overall, the consistency and predictability of the hot bending process leads to higher quality pipes being produced. Ultimately, this leads to fewer maintenance problems down the line and greater onward cost savings.

Flexibility

As well as its reliability as a method for bending metal pipes, the heat induction approach is suited to other metalwork which can be shaped in the same way. For example, steel beams are frequently formed using the process. Indeed, large pipes and structural steel sections can be bent to exactly the same radius so they will fit together on site like a hand in a glove. Given the flexible nature of induction bending, this means that pipes and beams are not just shaped for the specific needs of the construction industry, but also for many other industrial applications. Examples include the chemical industry, the gas and oil sector, processing plants of all kinds plus the power generation industry. The method is even suited to some food processing applications and to certain shipbuilding requirements, too.

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