Technical Articles

February 15, 2024

Advancing Aerospace and Space Exploration with TUBACEX America’s Premier Stainless Steel Tubing Solutions

Introduction

For over two decades, TUBACEX America has been a leading manufacturer of stainless steel tubing, serving the Aerospace & Defense and Space Exploration industries with unparalleled quality from our facility in Greenville, PA. With the addition of our new state-of-the-art facility, TUBACEX Durant in Oklahoma, we are even better equipped to provide critical applications for aerospace advancement and space exploration, while continuing to leverage on the reliability that is provided by belonging to a fully integrated global seamless stainless and special alloy leader.

Leading Tubing Manufacturer

Company’s History and Expertise

Since our inception, TUBACEX America has been synonymous with excellence as a leading manufacturer of stainless steel tubing used in a diverse range of industries, including Space Exploration, Aerospace & Defense, Energy Transition, Hydrocarbon Processing, Upstream, and Industrial Applications. Our stainless steel tubing encompass a wide array of solutions, including Aerospace and Defense Tubing, Space Exploration Tubing, Medium Pressure Tubing, High Pressure Tubing, OCTG Tubing, Instrumentation Tubing, Coiled Tubing, Hydraulic Tubing, Heat Exchanger Tubing, Line Pipe/Furnace, Nuclear and Power Generation Tubing, Precision Tubing, Mechanical/DOM Tubing, Fittings & Special Components, Bars and Billets, and Hollow Bars.

Aerospace & Defense and Space Exploration Applications

Our tubing plays a crucial role in a variety of applications within the Aerospace & Defense and Space Exploration industries. From instrumentation to fuel, air, and hydraulic lines, our stainless steel tubing ensures reliable performance in critical systems. Additionally, our tubing is instrumental in hydraulic controls, operating seamlessly under pressures ranging from 3000 to 5000 psi. Moreover, our tubing solutions are also trusted components in landing gear systems, providing durability and strength essential for safe and efficient landings in both commercial and spaceflight applications.

Pulskamp, A. (2023, December 15). Identifying Components in a Hydraulic System. Brennan. https://blog.brennaninc.com/identifying-the-components-within-an-aircrafts-hydraulic-system
Arnot, M. (2020, November 24). Heavy Load: How the landing gear works on airplanes. The Points Guy. https://thepointsguy.com/news/how-airplanes-landing-gear-works/
Pulskamp, A. (2023, December 15). Identifying Components in a Hydraulic System. Brennan. https://blog.brennaninc.com/identifying-the-components-within-an-aircrafts-hydraulic-system

Key Projects

TUBACEX America takes immense pride in its extensive portfolio of key projects and esteemed clients across the Aerospace & Defense and Space Exploration industries. Our stainless steel tubing have been integral to numerous groundbreaking endeavors, ranging from powering commercial aircraft engines to propelling space exploration missions. We have built amazing partnerships that has allowed us to be a part of a few of the most successful engines ever built: PW GTF Engine, Leap Engine, and two space rocket propulsion engine. These engines have one common element: our tubing plays a crucial role in their fuel, air, and hydraulic lines.

P&W GTF Engine

  • Applications: Fuel, Air, and Hydraulic Lines
  • Grades: 625 and 321
  • OD Dimensions: ¼” to 2″

CFM LEAP Engine

  • Applications: Fuel, Air, and Hydraulic Lines
  • Grades: 625 and 321
  • OD Dimensions: ¼” to 2″

Product Specifics

Our stainless steel tubing solutions boast extensive size and production capabilities tailored to meet the demands of various applications.

Size and Production Capabilities

  • OD Sizes: .125” – 2.00”
  • Wall Sizes: .020” – .300”
  • Lengths: Straight – 2 ft. through 100 ft., Coil – 48 ft. through 1200 ft.
  • Pressure Range: Up to 60,000 PSI
  • Roughness: Down to 10 RA
  • Tolerances: +/- 0.002″ OD +/- 5% WH
  • Tempers: Annealed condition & 1/8 hard to full hard condition
  • Types of Alloys Used: Austenitic, Nickel, PH Grades
  • Standard Specifications: ASTM, ASME, AMS, MIL-T, AES, HIP

Manufacturing Process

At TUBACEX America, we pride ourselves on our advanced manufacturing process, which integrates advanced techniques to ensure precision and quality at every stage. Our state-of-the-art facilities in Greenville, Pennsylvania and Durant, Oklahoma utilize the latest technology to produce seamless stainless steel tubing of unparalleled quality. With great care and attention to detail, we craft each tube to meet the highest industry standards. Our dedication to excellence extends to every aspect of the process.

Overview of Manufacturing Process

  • Cold Pilgering
  • Welding & Bead-Reducing
  • Cold Drawing
  • Cutting & Grinding
  • Polishing
  • Electropolishing
  • Cleaning
  • Passivation
  • Annealing
  • Testing
  • NDT
  • Straightening
  • Packaging

Quality Control Measures and Certifications

Quality is at the forefront of everything we do. Our commitment to excellence is reflected in our stringent quality control measures and industry-leading certifications. We adhere to rigorous standards to ensure that every product meets the highest level of quality.

  • AS 9100D
  • ISO 9001:2015
  • ISO 14001:2015
  • ISO 45001:2018
  • ADW0 + PED
  • NORSOK
  • NADCAP

Available Testing

We ensure the highest quality standards through rigorous testing protocols. Our comprehensive testing capabilities encompass a wide range of methods. Our NADCAP approved laboratory capabilities further reinforce our commitment to delivering premium quality products to our customers.

  • UT, Hydro, ECT & Boroscoping
  • Tensile / Yield / Elongation
  • Hardness / Flare / Flatten / Bend / Reverse Bend / Reverse Flatten / Surface Roughness
  • Metallographic Evaluation / Grain Size / Surface Condition / Loose Material / Passivity
  • Corrosions: A262 Practice A,C,E / G28 Method A&B / G48 Method A A923 Method A & C
  • Ferrite Test / Air Underwater / Eddy Current / Ultrasonic Test / PMI
  • Customer-specific control plans

Regulatory and Compliance Information

TUBACEX America adheres to stringent regulations, including ITAR Compliance (International Traffic in Arms Regulations), ensuring that our products meet the necessary standards for national security and export control.

Moreover, we are dedicated to sustainability and minimizing the environmental impact of our business activities. By implementing environmentally-friendly solutions, we actively reduce waste and closely manage our energy usage. Our commitment extends to recycling practices, where we recycle everything from our raw materials to our shipping crates. Additionally, we adhere to ISO 14001 guidelines at all our facilities, ensuring responsible environmental management practices are integrated into our operations.

Partner with TUBACEX America

As a leading tubing manufacturer in the Aerospace & Defense and Space Exploration sectors, TUBACEX America continues to set the standard for premier stainless steel tubing solutions. From playing a role in powering commercial aircraft engines to propelling space exploration endeavors, our commitment to excellence remains unwavering. Join us in shaping the future of Aerospace and Space Exploration with TUBACEX America’s unmatched performance, precision, and quality.