Pressure testing of welded assemblies (KUKA Systems UK)

KUKA had a job friction welding stainless teel tube to aluminium extruded panels, the customer wanted each weld tested to 75bar with water. The additional requirement was that the outside of the stainless-steel tube could not be marked or damaged when it was pressure tested, removing the use of olives and compression fittings as an option for connecting the test assembly.

Darvick’s UKAS accreditation for pressure testing up to 100bar, combined with the ability to design a bespoke gripping assembly made them a perfect partner for the challenge. A clamping arrangement was designed for the three different sample sizes that left no marks on the tubes but held for the 75bar test pressure, with a control system, calibrated pressure gauge, pipework and control valves. The samples were each tested to 75bar with water, held for 2 minutes and depressurised. A UKAS test report was issued for each batch tested.

"KUKA Systems UK, a world-leading competence centre for friction welding, commented as follows: It was a pleasure to work with Darvick on this project, and we were impressed by their testing expertise and technical support. The delivery of this project was well managed, and our customer was very pleased with the testing work and reporting carried out." Mike Russell – Managing Director