Advantages
Hydro Cutting involves the use of UHP (Ultra High Pressure) Waterjet as a cutting tool for cutting of virtually any material.
The advantages of Hydro Cutting versus other processes are:
- Neat and clean - cut edge neat
- Versatility - can cut any material, ferrous, non-ferrous, composites, laminated materials, steels clad with wear and heat resistant materials.
- No Effects of Heat - Does not burr, deform or create heat affected areas in materials cut
- Environmentally friendly – No dust or fumes
Benefits specific to the Mobile Hydro Cutting are:
- Fire Risk - Safe method of cutting in dangerous environments by its cold flameless action
- Health & Safety - Safe for Humans in that it is remotely operated and not hand held
- Pollution - no airborne dust or smoke
- Accurate - Can be used for rough destruct type work or accurate cuts controlled within 1 mm.
- Angled Cut - Cut can be executed with angle/bevel, no grinding of weld preps
- ‘Live’ Cuts - Can cut into pipe lines or vessels containing hazardous product
- Confined Spaces - Can work in fairly confined spaces 150mm to 300mm
- Reduced Labour - by virtue of its Automated nature
As far as disadvantages are concerned, there are no major concerns except for the fact that there is water being sprayed and this contains abrasive granules of garnet (special sand). Here we place fair emphasis on containment of spray and water run-away, but there will be minor water and abrasive sand residue.
Applications
Applications are vast and limited only to how the technology can be applied.
Type of Applications:
- Demolition of plant
- Mechanical or plant refurbishment projects
- Modification or Specific in plant Part replacements
- Line tapping or tie-inns
Job specific applications are:
- Pipe Cutting - peripheral cuts from 8 inch to 36 inch pipes are regularly cut in the petrochemical industry
- Tank Cutting - peripheral cuts from small to large diameters (we have cut up to 8 meters in Diameter)
- Hole Cutting - circular cuts are made with specialised jigs ranging from 50mm to 1000mm, typically for man ways or access ways, line taps, etc
- Linear cuts - general linear cuts in any material
- Angle or Bevelled cuts - for weld preps
- Hydro demolition - cutting of steel, concrete, and other tough materials
Besides these solutions, we have the ability and enjoy the challenge of conceptualising and engineering cutting rigs and jigs to perform virtually any cutting job.
Mobilisation
Mobilisation is fairly quick, but subject to prior commitments. Being mobile, we are required to move around nationally and therefore need fair notice and planning. Once committed, physical establishment can happen within hours.
Regarding the equipment, our mobile UHP Pump unit is trailer mounted and can be positioned up to 100meter of the actual cut.
Site requirements are water, potable or hydrant, and single-phase power if available. These two resources can obviously also be externally supplied on a mobile platform.
The mechanism that drives our actual cutting attachments are hydraulically driven which requires electrical power.
We are currently working on Intrinsically Safe (Explosion Proof) electronic units as well as CNC (Robotic) systems for better control, precision and versatility.
