Internal Welding Maching (IWM)

CRC Evans’ (CRCE) Internal Welding Machine (IWM) is a combination internal clamp and automatic multi-head internal root pass welding system.

Available in two variations: one for barge or offshore applications and one for land or standard pipeline right of way. A self-contained low voltage electrical source provides power for the shielding gas, air control valves, ring drive and wire feed motors. The self-contained pneumatic system operates the travel motors, brakes, drive wheels, aligners, and front and rear clamping shoes.

Manipulation of the internal welder is controlled by an operator using a 40’/80’ reach rod control box, or master control box located on the nose cone. The lightweight tubular reach rod contains the control cable, all welding leads, airline, gas charge hose, and battery charge cable. The welding heads are located symmetrically around the rotating ring and perform root pass welding from the inside.

The IWM has four to eight welding heads depending on machine size. This is a highly efficient system for pipeline root pass welding, On a 36” pipeline the root pass welding arc time is >1m. The internal root pass technique is more tolerable to pipe mismatch (high/low) than any other external root pass technique.