Dredge Yard Delivers Heavy Duty Dredge Ball Joints to Middle East

Image source: Dredge Yard

As one of the first projects of 2019, Dredge Yard successfully delivered 50 heavy duty dredge ball joints to the Middle East for immediate use in the gulf region.

These dredge ball joints are suitable for a thick pipe with internal diameter of 750mm at continuous pressure of at least 30 bar, said the company.

“The ball joints are manufactured at Dredge Yard facilities in collaboration with our partners in the Republic of Turkey. The manufacturing process involves casting and heat treatment of all components, which is followed by machining to the finest tolerances,” said the company.

Some of their dredge ball joint benefits include:

  • Easy assembly and dis-assembly;
  • Low maintenance required;
  • Low friction between ball and gland due to grease grooves and polished ball and gland face;
  • Replaceable liners made from wear resistant materials;
  • Quick fix and release of locking.

Dredge ball joint testing & quality control

“To ensure high quality and durability, all of our ball joints undergo heavy testing and quality control. Dredge Yard team of engineers always supervise the manufacturing and testing process. Therefore, we can guarantee that all parts are delivered in accordance with Dredge Yard specifications and to customer’s satisfaction. Accordingly, each dredge ball joint component is tested both – separately, and in combination with the other parts. This ensures its functionality and interchangeability in the dredging field,” said the company.

During delivery, dredge ball joints are tested at pressures, which exceed the maximum operating pressure on site. More specifically, several dredge ball joints are statically tested over 30 bar for a duration of one hour.

Additionally, one of the dredge ball joints is tested at a special facility in a so-called dynamic test.

During the dynamic test, the dredge ball joint is fully pressurized up to 30 bar, while a movement of the ball joint is created by a hydraulic cylinder. Dredge Yard does this to simulate the forces encountered when in use, and ensure durability of the component under severe conditions.