TOBO Industrial (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., a leading manufacturer and global supplier of precision-engineered piping components, has announced the expansion of its high-performance flange portfolio with a comprehensive range of Copper-Nickel 70/30 (CuNi 70/30, UNS C71500) Forged Flanges, meticulously engineered to comply with the ASME B16.5 standard and available across a comprehensive pressure spectrum from Class 150 to the formidable Class 2500 . This development marks a significant milestone, offering engineers and project specifiers an unparalleled combination of material superiority, forged integrity, and certified performance for the most demanding global projects .
The Material Advantage: CuNi 70/30 for Harsh Environments
The cornerstone of this offering is the Copper-Nickel 70/30 alloy, a material long revered as the premier choice for seawater and aggressive chemical service. With a composition of approximately 70% copper and 30% nickel, this alloy exhibits exceptional resistance to seawater corrosion, biofouling, stress-corrosion cracking, and erosion from high-velocity fluids . Its performance far surpasses that of standard stainless steels in chloride-rich environments, making it indispensable for offshore oil & gas platforms, seawater cooling systems in LNG terminals, desalination plants, naval shipbuilding, and coastal power generation facilities . The choice of this alloy for flanges—critical connection points in any piping system—ensures longevity and system integrity where failure is not an option .
The CuNi 70/30 alloy also provides excellent mechanical strength, making it suitable for high-pressure and high-temperature systems . Its natural resistance to biofouling prevents the growth of marine organisms, reducing maintenance costs for shipbuilding and desalination plants .
Forged Construction: The Integrity Advantage
The manufacturing methodology is equally pivotal: forging. Unlike cast or fabricated alternatives, forged flanges are produced by shaping the CuNi 70/30 billet under immense pressure at high temperatures . This process refines the metal's grain structure, eliminates porosity, and significantly enhances its mechanical properties—including tensile strength, impact toughness, and fatigue resistance . For a flange, which must withstand cyclic pressures, thermal stresses, and bolt loading, the homogenous strength and reliability of a forged component are non-negotiable for safety-critical applications .
"Forging is the only process that gives us the confidence to guarantee these flanges for Class 2500 service in subsea applications," stated the factory's Chief Metallurgist. "It ensures structural integrity from the inside out" . The advanced metallurgical processes, including hot forging, heat treatment, and CNC machining, produce flanges with precise dimensions and superior surface finishes .
The ASME B16.5 Standard: Global Interoperability
Adherence to the ASME B16.5 standard provides the universal framework for dimensions, tolerances, materials, testing, and marking. This standard ensures global interoperability, allowing these CuNi 70/30 flanges—whether weld neck, slip-on, socket weld, blind, or lap joint types—to mate perfectly with valves, pumps, and piping from any other ASME-compliant supplier worldwide . It is the lingua franca of industrial piping, enabling seamless integration into international projects .
Unprecedented Pressure Range: Class 150 to 2500
The true engineering feat lies in the offered pressure class range: from Class 150 to Class 2500 . This spectrum covers virtually every conceivable application :
Class 150 & 300: For lower-pressure seawater intake lines, shipboard cooling systems, and auxiliary process lines.
Class 600 & 900: For intermediate-pressure services in chemical processing, offshore production risers, and high-volume seawater pumps.
Class 1500 & 2500: For ultra-high-pressure, critical applications such as subsea oil & gas Christmas trees, seawater injection systems for enhanced oil recovery, and main coolant loops in advanced marine vessels .
Producing a CuNi 70/30 forged flange for Class 2500 requires extraordinary precision. It involves mastering complex heat treatments to optimize the alloy's properties, precision machining to exacting tolerances for sealing faces and bores, and implementing rigorous non-destructive testing (NDT) protocols . Each high-class flange undergoes a battery of tests, including ultrasonic examination for internal flaws, liquid penetrant or magnetic particle inspection for surface defects, and often a final hydrostatic test to verify its pressure-containing capability .
Comprehensive Flange Types and Sizes
TOBO's comprehensive product line includes a variety of flange types to meet diverse design requirements, including Weld Neck (WN), Slip-On (SO), Blind (BL), Socket Weld (SW), Threaded (TH), and Lap Joint flanges, with facing options including Raised Face (RF), Flat Face (FF), and Ring-Type Joint (RTJ) . Sizes range from 1/2" to 24" nominal pipe sizes, with custom dimensions available .
Quality Assurance and International Certifications
TOBO's manufacturing capability is supported by a full suite of international certifications, including ISO 9001, PED, NACE MR0175, and approvals from classification societies like DNV-GL and ABS for marine applications . This certification portfolio assures global customers of a world-class quality management system overseeing every step, from raw material traceability (with certified mill test reports) to final shipment .
Quality control measures are implemented at every stage of production, including chemical composition analysis, mechanical testing, dimensional inspection, and non-destructive testing (NDT) to ensure product reliability .
Applications Across Critical Industries
The demand for CuNi 70/30 forged flanges is prevalent across various industries due to their reliability and superior performance. Key application sectors include :
Marine and Shipbuilding: Used in seawater cooling systems, fire suppression systems, ballast water treatment, and shipboard piping.
Offshore Oil and Gas: Essential in pipeline connections, subsea infrastructure, seawater injection lines, and heat exchangers.
Power Generation: Employed in cooling water systems of thermal and nuclear power plants, ensuring efficient heat exchange and corrosion protection.
Desalination Plants: Critical for handling highly saline environments in multi-stage flash (MSF) and reverse osmosis (RO) plants.
Chemical and Petrochemical Processing: Suitable for handling acidic and corrosive fluids in refineries and processing plants.
Industry Response and Future Outlook
"Securing reliable, certified CuNi 70/30 flanges for high-pressure, high-corrosion duty has historically been a procurement challenge with long lead times," noted a senior engineer for a major offshore wind farm developer. "This factory's capability to deliver the full range from Class 150 to 2500 from a single, quality-assured source is transformative. It de-risks our projects, ensures material consistency throughout the system, and simplifies logistics" .
As industries continue to prioritize durability, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness, CuNi 70/30 forged flanges remain a top choice for high-performance piping systems . The ability to withstand harsh environments, combined with precise engineering and adherence to international standards, makes these flanges indispensable for critical infrastructure projects worldwide .
About TOBO Industrial (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
TOBO is a professional manufacturer and exporter of precision-engineered metal products based in Shanghai, China. With robust production capacity and a commitment to metallurgical excellence, TOBO serves customers worldwide across marine, energy, chemical, and industrial sectors. The company specializes in copper-nickel alloys, stainless steels, duplex steels, nickel alloys, and associated products for demanding applications, with strict quality control and complete traceability .