The samples taken at the production line are processed in our workshop. Highly automated machinery is used to machine the test specimens from the material samples.

In our certified testing center, the most modern in Europe, the exact measurements are taken from the specimens before they are fed to the tensile testing machine. There they are exposed to a uniaxial load. With this test we get information on the mechanical properties such as yield and tensile strength as well as tension.

Depending on the requirements of our customers a variety of additional tests can be made e.g. the notch impact test. This test measures the energy which is used by a pendulum to break a notched specimen. When the specimens are stored in a cooling liquid, the material quality at extremely low temperatures can be determined. In this way the toughness of the material is examined within a specified range of temperatures.

Testing of line-pipe steels usually requires Battelle drop weight tear tests. Specimens with a defined notch are cooled to specific temperatures, put under a drop hammer and hit by a load with high energy. The evaluation of the fracture surface provides indications whether a ductile or a brittle fracture has occurred.

Steels for sour service applications are tested in acid solutions in our corrosion lab. High alloy materials for our clad plates are also tested for their corrosion resistance.

Our research & development department continually developes the basis for new materials for more complex applications and contributes to the optimisation of our production processes. Additional work includes simulations of material performance such as weldability, deformation and edging behaviour, fatigue tests and fracture mechanics. These tests provide a complete performance profile of our steels under practical conditions.