Full Function Orbital Pipe Welding
GDS Inc performs full function orbital pipe welding on process piping from 1″ through 6″, joining schedule wall pipe under computer control with wire feed and multi pass programming. Our ASME IX certified technicians weld in the shop on computer controlled lathes and on site with mobile orbital equipment.
Every joint is made to a qualified procedure and documented as it is welded, so the hundredth weld in a distribution loop matches the first.
Get a Free Quote TodayFull Function Pipe Welding Capabilities
Full function equipment closes the gap between thin wall tube fusion and heavy pipe. Where a standard weld head joins thin wall tube in a single autogenous pass, full function systems add wire feed, arc voltage control and multi pass programming, which is what schedule wall pipe requires to reach full penetration with a controlled root and a properly filled cap.
- Pipe size 1″ through 6″
- Tube size 1/8″ through 4″
- Multi pass welding with wire feed
- Autogenous GTAW for thin wall
- Arc Machines and Dimetrics orbital equipment
- Weld joint design and end prep in house
- Shop lathe or mobile field weld head
- ASME IX qualified weld procedures
Typical Applications
- USP purified water and WFI distribution loops
- Clean steam headers and distribution
- CEDI and reverse osmosis system piping
- Process and product transfer piping
- Bulk storage tank tie ins
- Flanged spool pieces and reducers
- Branch connections and header assemblies
- High pressure gas distribution
- Inert gas and vacuum system piping
- Point of use drops and loop expansions
For thin wall tube work below this range, see high purity orbital welding.
Sanitary and High Purity Distribution Loops
Regulated production carries a documentation burden ordinary pipe welding cannot satisfy. USP purified water and WFI loops, CEDI and reverse osmosis systems, clean steam and point of use drops all demand crevice free, full penetration welds with controlled heat tint and verified interior condition. GDS fabricates to current UHP and GMP practices, and delivers the paperwork to prove it.
Documentation and Testing
- Real time weld parameter data acquisition printouts
- Digital borescope inspection with recording
- Material tracking with mill certifications
- 3D as built drawings
- Weld and purge gas certification
- Helium leak testing, inboard and outboard
- Hydrostatic and pneumatic pressure testing
- Dye penetrant and radiographic testing available
- Certified passivation report per ASTM A967
- ASME IX procedure qualification records
Quality groups moving a facility through commissioning, IQ and OQ receive a tested and documented turnover package rather than a stack of loose weld logs. Equipment and facility specifications are listed under capabilities.
Shop Fabrication and On Site Field Welding
Where the welding happens changes the cost of a job more than most schedules account for. Prefabricating spools off site keeps hot work, grinding and welding fumes out of an active production area and shortens the shutdown window to the tie ins alone.
GDS fabricates spool pieces, headers and skid piping in house, pressure tests and passivates them, and delivers them ready to install. Our engineering and product development group handles 3D CAD layouts and weld joint design up front, so fit problems are solved on screen instead of on your floor.
When the work has to happen in place, our field installation crews bring mobile orbital equipment into your plant and work to your hot work permit and site protocol. We also build skidded systems, custom spools and adaptors, OEM weldments and general fabrication. Browse the full range of GDS services or read more about our team.
Materials
- 300 Series Stainless Steel
- 316L Series Stainless Steel
- 17-4 Series Stainless Steel
- Titanium
- Hastelloy
- Inconel
- Monel
- Copper
Business Advantages
- Single Source Turn Key Supplier
- ASME IX Certified Welding Technicians
- Shorter Shutdown Windows Through Prefabrication
- Consistent Weld Quality Across Long Runs
- Reduced Rework and Inspection Failures
- Tubing Inventory 1/2″ Thru 4″
- JIT Inventory Control
- Pressure, Helium Leak Testing