Pipe Metallurgical Company, Moscow, Russia

I. Yu. Pyshmintsev, Dr. Eng., Research Director

TMK Research Center, Chelyabinsk, Russia
A. A. Korsakov, Cand. Eng., Head of Seamless Pipe Dept., e-mail: korsakov@rosniti.ru

In 2025, the world celebrated the 140^th anniversary of the Mannesmann brothers’ revolutionary invention – the cross-helical rolling process. The axial fracture (loosening) of metal during rolling in a helical mill became the basis for the development of seamless pipe production technology. This article covers the historical development of screw rolling, from the early stages of using ingots and pilgrim mills to modern methods employing continuous casting (CC) billets and digital modeling. Particular attention is paid to the challenges associated with the transition to CC billets and the solutions proposed by the Ural Scientific School and the Chelyabinsk Research Institute of Pipe and Tube Industry. Key innovations are discussed, including 3D modeling of the deformation zone, the development of new tool calibrations, optimization of piercing modes, and the creation of digital assistants for mill operators. The role of the Pipe Metallurgical Company (TMK) in the widespread adoption of CC billets for seamless pipe production is highlighted, which significantly reduced costs while maintaining the required quality.

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