Stainless Steel Fasteners Ltd (SSF), a leading UK manufacturer of high-integrity specialist fasteners, is the first fastener manufacturing company to be awarded NORSOK M-650 accreditation by Statoil ASA.
SSF has been qualified for the hot forging of its range of super duplex stainless steel fasteners. The Chesterfield- based company attributes the accreditation to a 30% increase in turnover over the last six months as oil & gas operating companies increasingly recognise that hot forged fasteners manufactured from super duplex to NORSOK standard can contribute significantly to the life and integrity of tools and assemblies.
The standard verifies SSF’s skill in developing a process that eliminates the risk of the problems associated with the hot forging of this high-grade material.
Heat treatment problems with duplex and super duplex, which are commonly used in process and seawater piping applications, have been rising over the last 25 years as the materials have become increasingly used in the offshore industry. The use of defective materials can cause potentially catastrophic failure; an issue which has been acknowledged by the HSE and many operators have written their own documents to control procurement of these stainless steels.
SSF has four specific procedures for hot forging, loading, heat treatment and testing which ensure product consistency and uniformity. NORSOK M-650 qualifies the company’s processes to ensure that all SSF die forged fasteners will perform to specification in the demanding offshore environment.
