Rolled & Welded Pipe (R&W Pipe): Large-Diameter Custom Steel Pipe
Seamless (SMLS) pipe is manufactured without any longitudinal weld seam. It is produced by heating a solid steel billet and piercing it to form a hollow tube, followed by elongation and wall-reduction processes such as mandrel milling, hot extrusion, or hot pilgering. The result is a completely homogeneous pipe with uniform wall thickness and mechanical properties throughout its entire length.
Key Features and Benefits
- Unlimited Diameter Capability: Commonly produced from 48″ up to 200+ inches OD – perfect for projects no mill can supply directly.
- Thick Walls Possible: Wall thicknesses from 3/8″ up to 4–6 inches (or more with special approvals).
- Full-Penetration, High-Quality Welds: Longitudinal seams are 100% double-submerged arc welded (DSAW/LSAW style) and nondestructively tested (UT, RT, or both). Circumferential welds are also SAW with the same rigorous inspection.
- Material Flexibility: Carbon steel (API 5L Gr.B to X80, ASTM A516 Gr.70, A572, etc.), high-strength low-alloy, stainless, and clad plates available.
- Custom Lengths & Precise Tolerances: Fabricated to exact project lengths (often 40–80 ft per section) with tight ovality and straightness control via press braking or three-roll bending.
- Cost-Effective for Large Sizes: Significantly cheaper and faster than castings or forged alternatives at extreme diameters.
Common Applications
- Large-diameter water transmission mains and penstocks
- Outfall and intake pipelines (wastewater, cooling water, desalination)
- Wind-tower foundation monopiles and transition pieces
- Tunnel liners and ventilation shafts
- Pile casings for deep foundations and combi-walls
- Structural columns in high-rise buildings and bridges
- Pressure vessels and storage tanks when rolled as segments
Why Choose Rolled & Welded?
When the job demands diameters beyond the reach of traditional mill production, Rolled & Welded pipe delivers custom-engineered, heavy-wall cylinders with the same weld quality as DSAW but in sizes only specialized fabricators can provide. Fully compliant with AWWA C200, API 2B, ASTM A139, EN 10219, and project-specific requirements, it is the proven, economical choice for the biggest infrastructure and energy projects worldwide.
