New Delhi: ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India) has demonstrated its world-class manufacturing capabilities by becoming the first steel company in the world to produce the highest strength welded pipes (EQ70 grade) used in marine engineering projects, with certification from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS). The ABS is a leading maritime classification society that provides independent validation of compliance, including strength parameters, with globally recognised standards.
While setting a new benchmark in offshore engineering, this endeavour by ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India strongly supports the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Viksit Bharat’ initiatives by enabling the domestic availability of indigenously produced highest strength welded pipes, replacing seamless pipes currently imported from Europe for critical applications such as oil & gas platforms, offshore wind structures, and deepwater pipelines. With high performance welded pipes, customers from India’s offshore and engineering sectors will benefit with enhanced supply security, shorter lead times, and lower costs, as well as improved competitiveness both domestically and internationally.
The company’s latest advancement further reinforces its commitment to steelmaking innovation, supported by the strong technological expertise, R&D capabilities, and global best practices of its parent companies ArcelorMittal and Nippon Steel. Aligned with its brand promise – ‘Smarter Steels, Brighter Futures’, this milestone underscores ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India’s role in building a resilient domestic steel ecosystem while catering to highly specialised and regulated global applications.
ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India has already supplied a substantial quantity of welded pipes to a leading oil and gas producer in the country.
Equivalent to the American Petroleum Institute (API) 5L X100Q, EQ70 grade is a high-strength low-alloy steel grade with a minimum yield strength of 690 megapascals (MPa) and exceptional toughness. EQ70 grade welded pipes meet the demanding requirements of offshore applications such as leg bracing in jack-up rigs and deepwater pipelines. Their superior strength allows for thinner, lighter pipes without compromising structural integrity, while their advanced weldability and corrosion resistance ensure reliability in harsh marine environments.
The successful fabrication of welded pipes from ABS EQ70 grade plates using Submerged Arc Welding (SAW) at the company’s flagship plant in Hazira, Gujarat, sets new industry standards for safety, sustainability, and cost-effective production for critical offshore projects. Producing ultra-high strength welded pipes is technically challenging, as it requires maintaining uniform strength and toughness across both the base metal and the welded seam, while ensuring structural integrity under extreme offshore conditions. This innovation advances India’s manufacturing capabilities further up the value chain.
The ABS certification has provided an independent validation that the welded pipes met globally recognised standards for safety, strength, structural integrity, and performance in marine environments. The certification is widely regarded as a key requirement for participation in offshore and marine projects, enabling the product to be considered for regulated international applications.
