Shipbuilding and marine engineering industries make extensive use of new technologies for the construction of floating facilities for offshore exploration, drilling and storage. Examples can be seen on drill ships, semi-submersibles and FPS vessels (floating production, storage and offloading).
While most traditional yards still employ welding techniques for hydraulic connections, the offshore industry now prefers weldless technology for high pressure hydraulic connections. In Norway, the home of offshore technology, a leading OEM supplier uses only weldless connection technology because welding is expensive and time-consuming. A further motivation is the serious risk presented by a naked flame during the operation and maintenance of offshore platforms.
Nothing but Parker
Parker Hannifin’s Parflange F37 connector system meets these requirements, and the company’s offshore and shipbuilding customers have recognised the clear cost and time savings offered by this technology. Backed by decades of experience, the excellent sealing performance and high mechanical strength of the Parflange system are achieved by continuous orbital tube forming.
Among the users who have put their confidence in the Parflange F37 system is National Oilwell Varco (NOV), a global manufacturer of offshore drilling equipment packages. In Kristiansund, Norway NOV has standardised on Parker EO2-FORM and EO2 connectors for pipe diameters up to 42 mm, while above 42 mm the weldless Parflange F37 connectors are the only allowable connection technology for flanges. NOV technicians were especially convinced by the high manufacturing quality and reliability of the Parflange F37 system.
In Korea, NOV manufactures drilling equipment, such as knuckle boom cranes, box and lattice boom cranes, pipe-handling cranes, BOP cranes, riser and gripper yokes, BOP bulkhead guides, BOP trollies, BOP sea-fixing and gantry cranes and crown mounted compensators.
The knuckle boom is a slew-bearing crane mounted on a pedestal with a cylinder controlled, box construction articulated arm. This crane was specially developed for applications on ships and platforms for offshore service. NOV Korea equips its hydraulic systems for cranes, winches and drilling equipment with Parker EO2-FORM and Parflange F37 products.
A comprehensive service package
Parker’s Korean branch supports NOV with development and application technicians, who together with the customer’s designers specify every component and guarantee that the equipment specifications are complied with.
In 2011, the Marine Service centre installed a Parker on-site service container to support NOV at the Samsung Heavy Industries yard and NOV’s Onsan factory. Operations such as flaring, bending, tube manipulation and cutting can be carried out as part of this on-site container service. Reactions to on-site requirements can be much more rapid and efficient and the time needed for procuring spare parts and manufacturing replacement hose assemblies is substantially reduced.
Adding value
Parker offers its customers in the shipbuilding industry other unique added value services. Breadman is an innovative logistical delivery service whereby Parker products and kits are delivered directly to the assembly line, workplace or customer’s store. The Parker Tracking Service (PTS) was developed to reduce the customer’s downtime by rapid, carefully timed, precise delivery of parts.
Cape Town
The Parflange F37 system and other Parker value added services are also available through Parker Hannifin South Africa. Since 2011 the Parflange F37 system has been available from hydron hydraulics, a hydraulic engineering company operating out of Cape Town. The company has been in existence since 1981 and, since 1994, has been a Parker Hannifin distributor.
Over the years, hydron has grown to become a respected player in the hydraulics industry, particularly in the offshore oil and gas sector. This position has been achieved through its ability to deliver first class products and services to local and international markets, and the company has established a base of loyal customers in the marine, offshore, industrial and mobile fields. It has an established supplier network of quality suppliers in various fields that enables it to offer turnkey project solutions whenever required. hydron is ISO 9001:2008 certified and is a member of the South African Oil and Gas Alliance as well as SAFPA.
For more information contact Mark Johnson, Parker Hannifin, +27 (0)11 961 0700, [email protected], www.parker.com/za
| Tel: | +27 11 961 0700 |
| Fax: | +27 11 392 7213 |
| Email: | [email protected] |
| www: | www.parker.com/za |
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