Each tube and pipe is manufactured to meet the most stringent regulatory and internal specifications.
RathGibson's proprietary forming, welding, and finishing processes produce tubing and pipe of superior performance.
Raw material selection
RathGibson raw materials are manufactured to our unique specifications. When selecting suppliers, price is never the primary selection criteria; rather, selections are made based upon raw material quality as well as supplier reputation and past performance.
Forming
Metal strips are precisely aligned then roll-formed for uniformity and concentricity.
Welding
RathGibson employs a number of different welds based upon regulations and customer requirements. Please note that filler material is never used!
- Micro-Welding is performed for a superior weld
- Modern Laser Welding increases productivity and lowers distortions
- TIG Welding is used for precisely blended ID and OD welded surfaces
- Plasma Arc Welding is chosen for its excellent thick section penetration with smaller heat affected zones
Hammer Forging
Hammer Forging, which results in a high degree of grain refinement, is used for commercial tubing and pipe sizes to produce uniform weld bead dimension and structure.
Bead Rolling
Bead Rolling produces a smooth surface finish required by high purity applications.
Annealing
Annealing is the controlled process of heating and cooling a metal to reduce hardness, remove stress,
and homogenize the material.
Bright annealing
produces the proper microstructure and performance; when bright annealing is performed off-line, it is done in hydrogen atmosphere.
Passivation
Exposing the metal to oxygen produces a film of oxide that inhibits corrosion.
Precision Sizing
To ensure uniform tubing roundness, RathGibson employs precision sizing techniques.
Straightening
RathGibson tolerances are routinely better than industry standards [+/-0.030" (0.76 mm) in 3' (0.91 m)].
Cleaning
Cleaning is performed to remove lubricant build-up from sizing and straightening.
Testing
Eddy Current Testing is performed in-line at the tube mill as well as after off-line annealing in accordance with ASTM E426.
Final Stage
Cutting and inspection is done in the final stages of mill operations.
Finishing
RathGibson offers a complete range of surface finishes. For more information please visit the
product finishes page in the
Technical Info section of this site.
Polishing
Mechanical polishing to 20µ-in Ra (0.5 µm) ID max. and 30µ-in Ra (0.8 µm) OD max. surface
Electropolishing to 15µ-in Ra (0.4 µm) ID max. and 10µ-in Ra (0.25 µm) OD max. with packaging and cleaning in the ISO Class 5 Cleanroom.
Packaging for Shipment
Each shipment is labeled with a bar code for identification and proper routing.
Should the tubing or pipe possess polished finishes, they will be individually poly-wrapped and
shipped in cardboard boxes. Electropolished grades of tubing and pipe will be polyamide patched,
capped, and sleeved as per specification(s) and shipped in wood boxes. Large quantities of commercial
quality tubing and pipe are shipped in square or hex bundles, while small quantities are shipped in
triple-wall cardboard or wood boxes.