In 2010, Brisbane-based company Sunset Equipment became the Australian distributor for the world-renowned Vietz range of ancillary equipment for the oil and gas pipeline industry.
Sunset is known as the distributor and hirer (through sister company Morooka Rentals) of the Morooka tracked transporters, with the pipeline industry being a core market for these machines.
While the brand is still relatively new to Australia, overseas contractors such as CCC, Max Streicher and Saipem have entered into joint ventures with local companies and are already very familiar with the brand.
The Vietz range of equipment is manufactured in Germany and widely used in Europe, northern Asia, the Middle East and South America. It covers welding and welding-related equipment, pipe lifting equipment, pipe bending equipment and pipe laying equipment.
Monadelphous subsidiary KT Pipelines has purchased a large pipeline bending machine and mandrels to handle 762 mm pipe on a pipeline for the Gorgon LNG Development. This has been supplemented by vacuum lifting attachments and pipe cradle shoes. Vacuum lifting is experiencing renewed interest in Australia and appeals to contractors because of its greater safety (the excavator operator controls the lift remotely from the cab) and elimination of damage to the pipe coating from lifting chains.
Pipe induction heating systems have also been supplied to Nacap and McConnell Dowell for pipe welding. These are fitted to the Arcotrac crawler and use electrically-powered ring coils to heat the pipe ends to 200 degrees Celsius in a matter of minutes for consistency of welds.
Vietz produces equipment for welding polyethylene (PE) pipe as well as steel pipe, and there will be a large demand for PE pipe welding equipment for feeder transmission systems for coal seam gas in Queensland. Vietz has an Arcotrac crawler (FusionTrac 500) fitted with a McElroy fusion welder in an enclosed cab for undertaking PE welding in a controlled environment. The FusionTrac 500 allows for better and safer handling of the PE pipeline for quieter, consistent and more efficient operation due to the robust features of the machine.
Sunset is also working with Vietz on the development of vacuum lifters suitable for PE pipe. Sunset identified this requirement in the Australian market and encouraged Vietz to develop suitable solutions, which will include spreaders for handling the large size range of pipes.
Sunset Vietz Product Manager Tony Crane encourages contractors to be conscious of lead times when ordering equipment, due to the demands and constraints of European manufacturers.
Article reproduced from The Australian Pipeliner Oct 2011
Morooka
Vietz
Hydrema
Toro