At the end of 2003 the world's most modern rolling mill for seamless steel tubes was brought on stream in Tianjin near Beijing (figure 1). It is the world's first plant to feature the so-called PQF~R technology. PQF~R is the abbreviation for Premium Quality Finishing and stands for a seamless tube plant designed in a consistent and all-inclusive manner, embracing all essential components for optimum process reliability and product quality. The PQF~R plant ensures high product quality. Dimensional deviations, which in the case of tubes mean deviations in diameter and wall thickness, result in additional, and avoidable, costs associated with the material use and further processing. Dimensional deviations and additional costs play a decisive role with a view to other competitive seamless tube manufacturers and to welded tube products.
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