Pipe Bending Across the Industries: 6 Practical Applications

Pipe bending is a metal machining process used to form pipes into permanent shapes. It’s one of the most common post-fabrication procedures, so many people take it for granted. However, pipe bending plays an essential role in manufacturing products for use across a wide variety of industries. Read on to find out about six practical applications for pipe bending.

Pipe Bending in the Aerospace Industry

The aerospace industry faces a lot of challenges because it’s very important to fabricate durable, strong bends that exceed standard specifications. Aerospace companies use pipe bending to produce everything from hydraulic and fuel lines to exhaust systems and even seat frames. Aerospace manufacturers need to work with industry experts like Webco Industries that can provide precision services to ensure that their parts meet industry specifications.

Pipe Bending in the Automotive Industry

Carmakers also use pipe bending to manufacture a wide variety of components, from interior parts to cranking fuel lines. They also need parts manufactured with great precision, but to complicate matters even further, automakers tend to have high-volume demands. Automotive pipe bending is used to make complex exhaust components, hydraulic lines, and other systems designed to fit into amazingly tight places.

Pipe Bending in the Heavy-Duty Truck Industry

Like cars, heavy-duty trucks feature a good deal of specialized piping. Small and precise radius bends are the order of the day, and heavy-duty truck designers tend to use heavier, more difficult-to-bend piping materials like 409 or 304 stainless steel to manufacture fuel lines, engine tubes structural components, and custom fabrications. Because many of the pipes used in heavy-duty trucks are especially large, they must be bent using specialized machines.

Pipe Bending in the Shipbuilding Industry

Shipbuilders use this machining process to create specialized parts designed for marine use. Pipe bending is by far the best way to manufacture hydraulic, fuel, and water lines and the massive exhaust systems used in large merchant vessels. However, even small ships usually feature multiple systems that utilize bent pipes.

Pipe Bending in the Construction Industry

Bent pipes are used extensively in the construction industry. They may be featured in HVAC systems as refrigeration pipes, as structural components in modern buildings, and as architectural accents. Although construction industry clients don’t tend to require the level of precision associated with the automotive and transport industries, they should still work with specialized metal manufacturers who can create bent pipes that will meet their specifications perfectly.

Pipe Bending in the Oil and Gas Industry

The oil and gas industries rely heavily on piping for everything from fuel extraction to safe transport. The pipes used in these industries must be able to withstand extreme environments and exposure to chemicals, which places some limits on the types of materials they can use to fabricate bent pipes. Whether fuel suppliers plan to drill offshore or at mainland oil rigs, they need to work with a metal fabricator capable of bending heavy-duty, corrosion-resistant pipes that will withstand the test of time.

Find a Metal Machining Company That Can Do It All

No matter what industry a client works in, it’s important to find a metal machining company that boasts a full array of pipe bending equipment that can process pipes and tubes of all sizes made from even the most durable materials. When in doubt, ask about the company’s experience working with similar clients to make sure they understand the exact industry standards and requirements.