Tuflesa contracts SMS group to upgrade its ERW pipe welding line

Tubos y Flejes SLU, known as Tuflesa, has commissioned SMS group to modernise the sizing section of its electric resistance welding (ERW) tube line at its production site in Las Torres de Cotillas, near Murcia, Spain.

SMS group will replace four outdated sizing stands and the associated changeover tooling to improve product quality

The ERW-RD-240 line was supplied by SMS group in 1998, and Tuflesa has been using it to produce welded pipes for almost 30 years. The upgrade is aimed at securing the plant’s long-term availability and improving product quality. After the modernisation of the forming and welding area in 2024, this is the second upgrade project carried out by SMS group on the line. 

Production on Tuflesa’s ERW-RD-240 line is focused on structural products with diameters ranging up to 240mm for rounds and 200 x 200mm for squares, including challenging, tolerance-critical products for the solar industry. After almost 30 years of operation, the sizing equipment has worn, resulting in a loss of dimensional accuracy. SMS will therefore replace the line’s four existing sizing stands as well as the related changeover equipment. The main drive, base frames, and changeover cars used for the automatic stand exchange will remain in service. The new sizing stands will restore the required accuracy, ensure more reliable compliance with product tolerance targets, and improve line productivity. Reusing these existing and adjacent components enables Tuflesa to reduce the overall scope of the upgrade and associated labour and costs. 

SMS will supply the new sizing stands fully pre-assembled, wired, and piped, thereby facilitating an efficient replacement process during the planned 2027 summer shutdown. In addition to supplying the equipment, SMS will supervise commissioning and assist in the start-up phase to ensure the smooth resumption of production. 

Susanne Zeller, head of Tube/Pipe & Section Solutions, SMS group, “By replacing the aged sizing equipment while retaining selected existing plant components, we are providing a technically optimised and efficient solution. This will help Tuflesa ensure reliable production, restore product quality, and meet future product requirements.”