The installation of the instruments on a skid can be done either in the workshop with orbital welding equipment or directly on site at the end user's location according to his technical specifications.
These welds are usually carried out with closed welding heads whenever the space permits it. In the case of certain flange connections, the use of open heads can be an option.
Before going into further detail on the welding conditions, it is important to be aware of their implications for the relevant market.
Using a skid in the pharmaceutical industry: a demand for high purity
If one had to choose a field where high purity skids are widely used, one would immediately think of the pharmaceutical industry where a high degree of reliability is required not only in regard to the welds, but also in terms of the process.
Orbital welding guarantees the absence of any bacteria that could contaminate the entire production process. Every modification of the installation poses a certain risk, which proves the importance of using skids, that eliminate any risk of bacteriological pollution. Orbital welding also meets this requirement for high purity.
Countless applications of skids in high purity sectors
Even if the pharmaceutical sector is particularly interesting for the use of skids, other fields such as life sciences, biotechnology and high-end food for example are also covered. Here is a quick overview of some typical applications:
- Purified or sterile water
- Water for injections
- Clean compressed air
- Cleaning in place (CIP)
- Sterilization in place (SIP)
Skids are used for the production of liquids, injection liquids, vitamins, enzymes, or any other nutritional additives. Certainly, these applications are also found in the field of high purity gases.
Why choose TIG welding for the manufacturing of skids?
To assemble all the components of a skid, i. e. the tubular systems and the different instruments, TIG welding is recommended for applications in high purity areas or for root passes in other welding processes. Some industries also opt for MAG welding.
In the production of skids in the pharmaceutical industry or in the semiconductor industry that use thin stainless-steel tubes, cleanroom type manufacturing conditions are desirable. TIG welding is particularly suitable for these conditions.
This is also true for NDT (Non Destructive Testing) in order to avoid any intrusion of particles or total organic carbon.
In these industries, endoscopic tests are carried out to validate the quality of the individual welds. Depending on the customer's specifications, these tests will be performed either by the skid manufacturer or by independent organizations.
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