RathGibson, a manufacturer of welded, welded and drawn, and seamless stainless steel, nickel, and titanium tubing, has incorporated an in-line U-Bend manufacturing center to produce ultra low stress feedwater heater tubing. RathGibson’s U-Bend tubing has less than 5000psi residual stress for stress corrosion susceptible alloys in predisposed environments. As part of their Janesville, Wisconsin facility, the RathGibson U-Bend system also includes a laser mill, bright annealing, U-Bender, and drawing. Bright annealing, a heat treatment used to obtain certain desirable metal characteristics, is performed in a controlled environment to prevent toxic emissions. This method of “green” processing was engineered into the U-Bend system to meet the company’s dedication to utilizing clean initiatives.
